A Look at Deductive vs. Inductive Reasoning

Deductive vs. Inductive reasoning and how each applies to a religious belief is a fascinating subject. When one testifies that religion primarily involves deductive reasoning where conclusions are preconceived and based on faith, and are therefore beyond proof. While scientific inquiry is primarily skeptical. Scientifically derived conclusions are by nature subject to change as new facts and observations either validate or disprove them. Scientifically derived conclusions are verifiable and testable, thus scientific inquiry primarily utilizes inductive reasoning, as a method for describing and defining order in the universe. When one looks at the categorization in this narrow scope the answer might remain. However when one step's back and scrutinizes the religious faith that one believes in, then religious faith undergoes some of the same testing policies for truth that scientific analysis undergoes.

Every scrutinizing person of faith will question their belief. I know no person of religious faith that hasn't or doesn't explore the possibilities of the infallibility of their dedication to the ideals surrounding their religious belief. But even though they really do not know for a certainty beyond question they stay dedicated to there ideals. Like the scientist in his/her laboratory searching for answers and researching those same questions, until through a process of repetitive findings they come to a conclusion of to answers that eluded them. Does the scientist know to a 100% that he/she are correct in their findings? The person of faith undergoes that same search for the truth to answers of the heart of morality, questions of faith in a higher being. However the research a person of religious faith undergoes is are more constant in nature and of a higher personal cost. While a scientist can research an idea for hours, days, weeks, perhaps years if they are dedicated to the pursuits of there cause. A person of faith will seek their entire life for the answers to the questions of conduct, reason, morality, courage, dedication, temperance portrayed in their chosen faith, and how these characteristics play into their lives on a daily basis.

Certainly there are those in both fields that will say they know the answers to the truth. In doing so they will attempt to sway others to believe as they do, to practice there faith or stratagem. Do they know the answers, are they 100% correct in their approach. Whether it be science or religion there will always be an uncertainty, a question.

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If we define the forms of approach in analyzing the world solely based on attaching forms of deduction of reasoning using the two standards of Deductive reason/Inductive reason where we say that Deductive reason is defined assuming a conclusion and whatever research one does is only utilized to support that given conclusion. With inductive reasoning postponing a conclusion until facts are gathered and weighed against one another and in the end support a given conclusion based on the weight of the evidence. One could easily apply these to forms of reason to both forms of ideology scientific or religious beliefs. When a scientist says, that they have a proven a subject through a scientific approach of reason. In saying this they first started with a Hypothesis, "a logical guess" of how something works or doesn't work.

Whether this be the synthesis of DNA or the action of water within a dishwasher. They look at the given research with a preconceived idea based on facts gathered around them and ideas and knowledge they have been exposed to. A person of religious belief utilizes the same technique in analyzing a given religious belief; what is it, how does it work, is it real, what does it do for them, do the ideals of the faith stand up to a test of time, how do the practices in that faith work in the world, how does a person stay committed to that faith and if they do what effects does that commitment have on the given person and the people around them. It is research like an experiment in a laboratory. Certainly either parties can take information out of context and rush to conclusions. However the question will remain for both that the true answers to the questions will develop and change through time as more information is available.

Often I have heard from people from both sides of the issue saying that there is only one choice in the search for truth and that is to stay dedicated to the only ideals of religion or that of science. The two can commingle and gain strengths from one another. For what is science with out a moral guide and what is religion when it does not recognize realities. Does a person of science think that they alone know the answers? Just think for example the scientists and doctors of our President George Washington time who presumed to know the answers and in the end bled the 1st president to death. What about the men of religion, over time their mistakes are numbered beyond counting. What one can say is that those who seek the answers of faith or science are on a path that will often come against one another. I believe that if coupled that there is a better possibilities for the future.

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