Let's not forget that science began as an observation. The creator of that observation took steps, to the best of his or her ability, to find conclusions that either proved or disproved the theory behind the observation. But before that conclusion, he or she was just another person with a wacky idea that lacked evidence to support it. Over time, the knowledge received from that conclusion was able to lead to other conclusions, which led to others, and so on and so forth. Throughout the process, fantasy became fact, and fact became fantasy as more and more evidence was collected. And thus, we have science. The biggest argument [i]for [/i]science and [i]against [/i]religion seems to be that one has progressed further than the other, therefor, the one with (admittedly) no evidence is pure fallacy. And from a scientific view, the argument holds true at the moment. But if science teaches us anything, it's that we as humans do not have all the answers, or even the means to obtain all the answers just yet. New lessons are learned, new facts present themselves. And these facts broaden, arch, or dramatically alter the course of what we hold as truth. Dissuading anyone from searching for answers, regardless of the likelihood of success, seems plain wrong and completely against the purpose of science. How many mathematicians gave up on an equation thinking it was completely wrong or impossible only to have another break it? How many quantum theories were mocked by the scientific community only to have their eyes opened down the line? I'm not saying that religion is factual, likely, or even possible. I'm saying that the pursuit of knowledge is ever-changing, adapting, and nowhere near any level of completion. And that the lack of proof today does not necessarily equate to the absence of it later. Perhaps generation upon generation of people search for, and never find proof of a "god" or divine intervention. Perhaps one day the proof emerges; forcing the entire world to, once again, reevaluate the universe and their place in it. Regardless, the search itself should never be downplayed, mocked, or tossed aside. As for your other four paragraphs.. you simply reiterated my last point. People attempting to force theory onto others is the problem. Not the attempt to prove the theory itself.