Hello Evangelical,
You wrote above:
"..it seems pretty clear to me that science seeks information on a continual basis in order to discover truth, while religion tends to ignore information incompatible with the "truth" it already has."
I think we approach the subject of religion differently.. You have a more western approach and site as you have a case of a Francisco Ferrer.. Appreciate your citing that as I hadn't heard that..
My view is a perpsective I have about the future of religion which was the original question... I think religion and science have the capacity to support one another. One of the reasons I say this is from my reading and being a Baha'i I suppose.
Einstein also had a perspective on religion that you may have already come across:
Now, even though the realms of religion and science in themselves are clearly marked off from each other, nevertheless there exist between the two strong reciprocal relationships and dependencies. Though religion may be that which determines the goal, it has, nevertheless, learned from science, in the broadest sense, what means will contribute to the attainment of the goals it has set up. But science can only be created by those who are thoroughly imbued with the aspiration toward truth and understanding. This source of feeling, however, springs from the sphere of religion. To this there also belongs the faith in the possibility that the regulations valid for the world of existence are rational, that is, comprehensible to reason. I cannot conceive of a genuine scientist without that profound faith. The situation may be expressed by an image: science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.
The Baha'i view is that religion and science can be in harmony:
Religion and science are the two wings upon which man's intelligence can soar into the heights, with which the human soul can progress. It is not possible to fly with one wing alone! Should a man try to fly with the wing of religion alone he would quickly fall into the quagmire of superstition, whilst on the other hand, with the wing of science alone he would also make no progress, but fall into the despairing slough of materialism.
Have a good day!
- Art
