What Science Can Learn From Religion

Professor David Desteno's essay (Sunday Review, Feb.3) is only partially valid. The only sciences that can benefit from an exchange with religious practitioners are psychiatry/psychology to the extent that those disciplines seek to unlock the secrets of human nature and the functioning of the human mind. I challenge the professor to identify any other science that can benefit from exploration of religion. Geology, re: the age of the Earth? Biology, re: the evolution of the human species? Physics, re: the parting of waters? Chemistry, re: the transmogrification of water to wine?

While Professor Desteno acknowledges, in passing, the invidious effects of religious conflict, separation and displacement of inquiry, I submit that his overly analytical approach, by not focusing on the detriment to scientific progress imposed by organized religion, obscures its role as an impediment to  such progress and does a disservice to science.