Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Lapierre 
I don't think that's quite true. Undermining would only occur if a) science showed the belief to be wrong, or b) confidence in the validity of the belief was not very strong. Since most religious beliefs are stated in such a way that they can't be tested scientifically, there is no opportunity for science to falsify it. (also, if science shows that a belief does not reflect reality, and thus the house of cards is destabilised, was it really a stable house in the first place?)
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That's pretty much the point I was trying to make. One's belief structure is very near and dear to oneself; I know mine is, but I also know that mine doesn't fit well with any 'organized' religion out there. It's on a more personal level.
But back to the point at hand; faith is belief in that which is unprovable. To attempt to scientifically prove that could easily result in the confidence IN the belief structure to become suspect. For instance, let's take a long, hard look at the bible; there is evidence that supports it, but it is all secondary evidence. For the big hitters, there is nothing, no proof whatsoever. To attempt to prove that Noah built an ark x by y in size would result in failure; it's been tried, and the boat was simply too big and collapsed upon itself. Repeatedly.
At that point in time, you've conducted your scientific experiments to prove out your belief structure, and your belief structure came up lacking, for science certainly cannot. Science is the knowledge learned from tested and proven scientific method. This is why science and faith should never intertwine.
While I agree that many of the things stated in religious texts cannot be tested scientifically, there are things that are rather clearly drawn out, and Noah's ark was given rather specific dimensions that simply will not hold up in reality. Obviously, neither does the fact that he had two of each animal on the vessel, but that's neither here nor there. IMO, the ark was simply a metaphor for the church to show that the church can sustain mankind throughout whatever the world throws at it, but again, that's just my opinion.
Regardless, it's a discussion that can go round and round for quite some time, and no answer ever resolved. Everyone's faith is theirs to own and cherish; science is to be shared and learned from.
