If this is the religious view, how come the true exploitation and rape of the earth didn't start until the industrial revolution, when science began to take over? Is it because the conservative right and the religious fanatics are using science to carry out this dogma? If so, science is merely a tool and not something entirely different from religion, merely a way through which it acts. It's an interesting thought. I think basically the fault lies with humankind itself, anything it touches, it finds some kind of excuse to bend to it's own end, whether that excuse is scientific or religious.

It's just a sad but true fact that advanced science has given humans advanced methods by which they can greedily take whatever they want. So whether it's a good thing or a bad thing is debateable.

Also, ideally speaking - but as I said, what's ever ideal? - Religion does not teach that humans shold use the earth or the planets as we wish. Humans were appointed as the stewarts and guardians of nature, not tyrants. The bible specifically says that man holds dominion over the earth, but that doesn't mean domination. Dominion is that which all kings and lords have over their land and people. A lord may spoil the land and treat his peasants miserably, but that only makes him a lousy ruler, and the bible most certainly speaks out against such rulers.

Also, even if politics demands it, things like the atomic bomb should not have been built. Women where persecuted as witches and innocents stoned to death as scapegoats through religion because politics demanded it, but these actions were still despicable. Politics demanding anything does not defend an action. Somebody received a lot of money and built a bomb that would destroy a lot of lives. That's how it happened. It's not the fault of politics, it's the fault of a singular scientist who was a greedy bastard. And without advanced science, it would have never happened.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not Christian, I'm certainly not religious - I think of myself as spiritual. I just get tired of advocates of science sweeping all of science's horrors under the carpet, and dumbing down religion to he point that they claim it alone is responsible for all human stupidity and ignorance. Both science and religion are flawed because mankind is flawed. Neither is better than the other because both will always find ways to justify man's greed and shortsightedness.

Yes, I see your point. I think ideally science is more open-minded than religion... it's only unfortunate that nothing will ever be run ideally, which is the reason why both religion and science will always bring us more trouble than they're worth.