I have been thinking about the differences and similarities between science, art, and religion, for a long time, and I am still not quite there, but I think it is safe to say that all three are in search of answers, albeit of very different types. Science searches for general, hopefully objective truths in the form of verifiable facts of the external world. Art does something similar, but its gaze is mostly inward (our perception of and reaction to the world around us), and it revels in individual, subjective answers. Religion could perhaps be seen as an intermediate between the two, and to a certain extent as a precursor of both.
There are heavier and lighter versions of each (true science vs. popular science, avant-garde art vs. retro), and each have a "pseudo"-variant, characterized a high percentage of false or incorrect answers, less rigorous methodology, and often by ulterior motives that are absent from the more serious variants (see also my entry Keeping an open mind). Pseudo-science includes astrology, pseudo-religion sects, and pseudo-art is art that expresses fake or simulated feelings (e.g. in poetry).
And all three have creative and less creative variants.True science and art are still very creative, and proactively so, applied science and craftsmanship much less so. Religion was very innovative for a long time, is mostly reactive these days, responding to societal changes, but not anticipating them, and certainly not driving them, although a case could be made that new age spirituality is taking the place of traditional organized religions.
And last but not least, all three can be corrupted by allowing money to play too big a role ...
There are even hybrids between the three, but I will leave that for another day.
There are heavier and lighter versions of each (true science vs. popular science, avant-garde art vs. retro), and each have a "pseudo"-variant, characterized a high percentage of false or incorrect answers, less rigorous methodology, and often by ulterior motives that are absent from the more serious variants (see also my entry Keeping an open mind). Pseudo-science includes astrology, pseudo-religion sects, and pseudo-art is art that expresses fake or simulated feelings (e.g. in poetry).
And all three have creative and less creative variants.True science and art are still very creative, and proactively so, applied science and craftsmanship much less so. Religion was very innovative for a long time, is mostly reactive these days, responding to societal changes, but not anticipating them, and certainly not driving them, although a case could be made that new age spirituality is taking the place of traditional organized religions.
And last but not least, all three can be corrupted by allowing money to play too big a role ...
There are even hybrids between the three, but I will leave that for another day.
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