Science, at its simplest, is knowledge gained by experimentation. This could be as simple as someone pushing buttons on their new remote control to try and get their TV to work. Furthermore, part of science is being open to new ideas, like a round earth, the cells theory, and others that seemed completely crazy at one time, but now are common belief. Religion is the belief in a deity or other divine force. It does not prevent people from learning about the world around them. Religion deals with the spiritual and the supernatural. These are outside the domain of science. I'm not saying that there is not conflict between the two. There is. This conflict, however, has nothing to do with the nature of religion or science. It is caused by people who refuse to be civil around people with different beliefs. It is caused by people who make generalizations about groups based on the actions of few. Religion and science do not peacfully coexist, but they easily could, if people would stop looking for a fight.