Keep religion and science separate

SCMP Education Mailbag July 10, 2009

Keep religion and science separate

After reading "Creationism rejected in new guidelines on the biology curriculum" (Education Post, June 26), I would like to express my opinion regarding mixing science and religion in the same subject as taught in Hong Kong schools.

Science and religion are different points of view on phenomena. If one party tries to trespass on the domain of the other, it is infringing the rights of the other party. Science and religion treat a topic with entirely opposite approaches.

Science does not begin with a conclusion. Science starts from observation of a phenomenon, then puts in several hypotheses trying to explain it. Through a series of logical and experimental analyses, each hypothesis is assessed with plausibility and evidence. Then a conclusion is tentatively drawn as a theory.

The theory is never proclaimed to be "the only truth". Any new experiments or findings could lead to revision of the theory. The best example is Einstein's theory of relativity that amends Newton's laws of motion. As new technologies arise, someone could likewise revise Einstein's theories. This is the path that science is taking.

Religion, on the other hand, goes the opposite way. Religion begins with a conclusion that God created the universe. Then religion attempts to find any phenomena that support this conclusion. Anything found supportive will be publicised but anything found contrary to the conclusion will be kept unmentioned. This approach is obviously not a scientific approach.

I would support the motion that creationism and intelligent design should not exist in the biology curriculum. Likewise, any science subjects should not mix with religious beliefs, and vice versa.

HENRY CHAU, Kowloon