Changes

There is a lack of consensus as to the appropriate scientific treatment of religious questions, such as those of the existence, [[nature]] and properties of God—mainly because of the lack of a common definition of God.  A major point of debate has been whether God's existence or attributes can be empirically tested or gauged.

There is a lack of consensus as to the appropriate scientific treatment of religious questions, such as those of the existence, [[nature]] and properties of God—mainly because of the lack of a common definition of God.  A major point of debate has been whether God's existence or attributes can be empirically tested or gauged.

Stephen Jay Gould proposed an approach dividing the world of philosophy into what he called "non-overlapping magisteria" (NOMA).  In this view, questions of the [[supernatural]], such as those relating to the [[existence]] and [[nature]] of God, are non-[[empirical]] and are the proper domain of [[theology]]. The methods of science should then be used to answer any empirical question about the natural world, and theology should be used to answer questions about ultimate meaning and moral value. The lack of any empirical footprint from the magisterium of the supernatural onto natural events makes science the sole player in the natural world.  Another view, advanced by Richard Dawkins, is that the existence of God is an empirical question, on the grounds that "a universe with a god would be a completely different kind of universe from one without, and it would be a scientific difference."[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-dawkins/why-there-almost-certainl_b_32164.html]  A third view is that of [[scientism]]: any question which cannot be defined can not be answered by science and is therefore either nonsensical or is not worth asking, on the grounds that only empirically answerable questions make sense and are worth attention.

[http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ Stephen Jay Gould] proposed an approach dividing the world of [[philosophy]] into what he called "non-overlapping magisteria" (NOMA).  In this view, questions of the [[supernatural]], such as those relating to the [[existence]] and [[nature]] of God, are non-[[empirical]] and are the proper domain of [[theology]]. The methods of [[science]] should then be used to answer any empirical question about the natural world, and [[theology]] should be used to answer questions about ultimate [[meaning]] and moral [[value]]. The lack of any empirical footprint from the magisterium of the supernatural onto natural events makes science the sole player in the natural world.  Another view, advanced by [http://richarddawkins.net/ Richard Dawkins], is that the existence of God is an empirical question, on the grounds that "a universe with a god would be a completely different kind of universe from one without, and it would be a scientific difference."[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-dawkins/why-there-almost-certainl_b_32164.html]  A third view is that of [[scientism]]: any question which cannot be defined can not be answered by science and is therefore either nonsensical or is not worth asking, on the grounds that only empirically answerable questions make sense and are worth attention.

As of 2000, approximately 53% of the world's population identifies with one of the three  Abrahamic religions (33% Christian, 20% Islam, >1% Judaism), 6% with Buddhism, 13% with Hinduism, 6% with traditional Chinese religion, 7% with various other religions, and less than 15% as non-religious. (National Geographic Family Reference Atlas of the World p. 49)

As of 2000, approximately 53% of the world's population identifies with one of the three  Abrahamic religions (33% Christian, 20% Islam, >1% Judaism), 6% with Buddhism, 13% with Hinduism, 6% with traditional Chinese religion, 7% with various other religions, and less than 15% as non-religious. (National Geographic Family Reference Atlas of the World p. 49)

==Quotation==

==Quotation==

Evolving mortal creatures [[experience]] an irresistible urge to symbolize their [[finite]] [[concepts]] of God. Man's [[consciousness]] of moral duty and his [[spiritual]] [[ideal]]ism represent a [[value]] level--an experiential reality--which is difficult of symbolization.

Evolving mortal creatures [[experience]] an irresistible urge to symbolize their [[finite]] [[concepts]] of God. Man's [[consciousness]] of moral duty and his [[spiritual]] [[ideal]]ism represent a [[value]] level--an experiential reality--which is difficult of symbolization.