How and Why

The ‘How and Why’ view as it’s sometimes called, says that science and religion address different kinds of question. Science investigates questions relating to how nature works; religion is concerned with questions about the meaning and value of life. Those supporting this view argue that religious texts are intended to present religious messages and not scientific claims. They point out that some of the ideas in the Creation stories are now so well established that we forget they ever needed to be said. Here are two examples.

Good, good

The ancient Greeks believed that the world of matter is foul and impure. In their view, the spiritual realm was the more perfect place to be. In contrast the creation stories of Christianity, Islam and Judaism tell the reader many times that the world of matter was created by God and it is ‘good’.

God or gods

At the time when the Creation story was written down, many people believed that there were many gods. Some thought that the Sun and Moon were gods. One of the aims of the Creation story in Genesis was to tell people at the time to believe that there is ONE God and He created everything.

In the video below, Dr Jennifer Wiseman gives a Christian’s answer to the question, ‘What does science tell us and what does religion tell us about why we’re here?’ Prof Jim Al-Khalili then presents a Muslim perspective on the same question.