Scientific Evidence and Religious Belief

I think I know why they do it in the first place...The world is getting more scientific. People are starting to find scientific explanations for everything - which is all good and correct, and advances our knowledge and culture etc. In short, people are finding different explanations for stuff that was originally explained by miracles.So religion is faced with a dilemma. Its influence is dropping like a stone because people are enlightened and can't take miracles seriously anymore. Very soon, people will not be able to take anything in religion seriously. They still have faith, they still believe - but all this stuff in the Bible is bullshit. How can they believe that the Bible is the Word of God if science says it's wrong? They are just too enlightened and rational now to accept the explanations that were good enough for their parents and granparents. The leaders of religion face a crisis: How can they possibly get people to believe in the Bible again?Enter creationism. If it can prove that the Bible is right after all, then science has lost, people will be more inclined to believe in religion, and will accept miracles more easily. After all, how can any rational person deny the credibility of the Bible when science actually supports it?Creationists need science to support them because they are facing an Age of Enlightenment where strict religions will be forgotten. The Bible will be reduced to nothing more than an interesting historical document. The power of the leaders of religion will be reduced to virtually nothing. And this is too horrifying for them to contemplate.Well, there's my take on it. Enjoy...The Rock Hound------------------
"Science constantly poses questions, where religion can only shout about answers."

Alternative therapies tend not to be as strict as actual religions. They don't require much faith for a start. They certainly don't care if you believe in them, and they don't care about those who do things they don't believe in. Reflexologists, for example, don't go on holy wars to crush the heretics who practice acupuncture.A lot of the time there is nothing that proves alternative therapies are wrong. There is no scientific explanation for them; but there's also no scientific explanation against them, because science accepts that there's stuff we don't know yet.Personally, I 'm a skeptic, but it still not accurate to lump these in with miracles.The Rock Hound

Good point.Think about it this way, though - stricter religions that clash with science will find that their support among the well-educated (and therefore the people most likely to be running things) will fall considerably. This will place them at a disadvantage that they would probably rather avoid; hence, creationism.The whole 'Age of Enlightenment' thing was more a joke, sorry. I just wanted to highlight a particular view of things.I do wonder though - education is getting better, in Ireland at least. Most young people are leaving the Catholic Church in their thousands, because it's just too restrictive and old-fashioned. ('Course that could just be Ireland.) I can certainly see a time here when the Church will be desperate for new members, and most people won't be interested.The Rock Hound------------------
"Science constantly poses questions, where religion can only shout about answers."

Look, this thread was started in order to ask why creationists bother with science. I just answered with my opinion based on personal experience. I'm sorry if my language was a little harsh - it was really just to illustrate the point. I don't believe that the Bible is all bullshit, and I do think that everyone is free to believe whatever they want.I shouldn't attack anyone for their beliefs, and if it sounded that way then I apologise - I'll try to be more moderate in future. Bear in mind though that science does not require belief, but creationism does - so some attacks, real or imaginary, must be expected.The Rock Hound------------------
"Science constantly poses questions, where religion can only shout about answers."