Conflict Quote by Sam Harris
“The conflict between religion and science is inherent and (very nearly) zero-sum. The success of science often comes at the expense of religious dogma; the maintenance of religious dogma always comes at the expense of science.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The End of Faith by Sam Harris, 2004
Science and religion often clash because each seeks exclusive truth, making progress in one tend to diminish the other.
In simple terms: Science and religion compete for truth.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the tension and seek dialogue.
Themes
conflict
truth
belief
knowledge
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
critical
debate
When to use this quote
- academic debate
- public policy
- education curricula
- interfaith discussions
Key Concepts
epistemology
dogma
science-religion interface
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance scientific progress with religious freedom?
- What dialogues reduce zero‑sum thinking?
A Different Perspective
Both can coexist with mutual respect, but tension remains.
![“Moderates in every faith are obliged to loosely interpret (or simply ignore) much of their canons in the interests of living in the modern world. [...] The first thing to observe about the moderate’s retreat from scriptural literalism is that it draws its inspiration not from scripture but from…” quote by Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b44/sam-harris-457_bible_moderates-in-every-faith-are-obliged-to_6967.jpg)
