Religion vs Science

[Whickerman]

I was going to post this in Science, but it's more the religious side I'm interested in. People continuously say that the christian church has done wonders in the world. I agree that there's been some great charity and educational work done...BUT:
If religion didn't exist, and if there wasn't a complete ban on (so-called heretical) science for the 800 or so years that the Dark Ages lasted for, where would the human race be now?
For me, organised religion stifled human development for close on a millenium. Anybody agree/disagree?

[luna-tic]

I think there are advantages and disadvantages to both camps. I find the fanatical elements within religion are dangerous and sometimes the close scrutiny within the scientific world can render the practioners with tunnel-vision.
But then again I don't really know that much about either, so forget what I just said.

[naomi24]

There's no doubt that organised religion has stifled science, and still attempts to, to a degree. It's impossible to know whether the human race would have advanced considerably more without religion, but my guess is that it would.

It's not only religion that stifles science - scientists themselves often delay progress by immediately declaring innovative ideas to be 'impossible', and failing to carry out research, only to find years later they were mistaken.

Man, especially one with a closed mind, is an arrogant creature, convinced that he, personally, has the answers, even though he has no evidence. Closed minds always succeed in stifling scientific progress.