Science and Faith/Religion are NOT Mutually Exclusive

I will open with a quote from St. John Paul the Great regarding the topic of this debate: "Science can purify religion from error and superstition. Religion can purify science from idolatry and false absolutes." Source: http://www.brainyquote.com... This argument is not just for non-religious folks who think all people of faith are anti-science...but it is also for the several branches of Christianity who deny Evolution, who believe in a Young Earth, who do not seek medical attention, and who generally reject "secular science". There is a great misconception about the relationship between faith and science, and how the two can play a role in our lives. This debate seeks to bring a new perspective. DEFINTIONS Science: the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment. Religion: a particular system of faith and worship Faith: Faith is confidence or trust in a person, idea, deity, religion, or any specifiable belief that is not based on proof. While some have argued that many forms of faith (and therefore religion) are opposed to reason, proponents of faiths argue that the proper domain of faith concerns questions which cannot be settled by evidence, and that rationality and faith are complementary aspects of human perceptual and imaginative capacities. BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT While there is seemingly considerable conflict between these two ideas, especially in the modern western world, they have not always been, nor are they even today, mutually exclusive. Here is a short list of professional scientists who are outwardly religious and what they have contributed to the scientific world: Francis Collins (1950-): is an American physician-geneticist noted for his discoveries of disease genes and his leadership of the Human Genome Project. He is director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Before being appointed director of the NIH, Collins led the Human Genome Project and other genomics research initiatives as director of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI). Gregor Mendel (1822-1884): Augustinian monk and father of genetics. Georges Lemaitre (1894-1966): Belgian Priest and father of the BIG BANG THEORY Copernicus (1473-1543): The man who brought us Heliocentrism William of Ockham (1288-1348): Ever hear of Ockham's Razor? This Catholic priest had a huge impact on natural science, and he wrote significant works in logic, physics, and theology. Giovanni Battista Riccioli (1598-1671): Jesuit astronomer who authored "Almagestum novum", an influential encyclopedia of astronomy. He was the first person to measure the rate of acceleration of a freely falling body; created a selenograph with Father Grimaldi who now adorns the entrance at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. Nicolas Steno (1638-1686): made great strides in anatomy and geology. He eventually became a Catholic Bishop. Various parts of the body are named after him: Stensen"s duct, Stensen"s gland, Stensen"s vein, and Stensen"s foramina. He is also the founder of the study of fossils. That's just to name a few. Please browse the following links for a more complete list, and so that you may validate my sources: http://epicpew.com... https://en.wikipedia.org... https://en.wikipedia.org... https://en.wikipedia.org... MITIGATING POTENTIAL COUNTERS I am well aware that there are several branches of Christianity today that deny Evolution, who are Young Earth Creationists, and who generally distrust "secular scientists"...and some who even refuse medical treatment. This argument is for them as well as it is non-religious people who believe that all people of faith are anti-science and reason. I would also like to point out that one of the lists above is made entirely of scientists who were PRIESTS or CLERICS, meaning that their faith was not simply an arbitrary societal classification. CONCLUSION In case there is any confusion on what my stance is...here it is: One can be a devout person of faith, and be a person of science with no conflict between the two ideas of faith/religion and science.