Religion, Science, Experimentalism

In contemporary culture, 'Religion vs. Science' frequently signifies a debate about Theory, i. e. Creationism vs. Big Bang and/or Evolution.  Thus obscured is the long, and continuing, concept of Religion as fundamentally Causal.  For, whether it is the performance of a dance in hopes of the arrival of rain, or a prayer seeking salvation, Religion is Practical--a Means to an End.  Accordingly, Theoretical topics, i. e. Theology, are implicitly Practical, e. g. 'God exists' = 'Behaving according to the dictates of God will bring divine blessing'.  Now, in many cases the efficacy of Religion is indeterminable, e. g. when the desired effects are afterworldly.  But in others, they are verifiable, so the efficacy of 'Religion' can be contrasted with that of 'Science', e. g. prayer vs. medicine as a cure for an illness.  Now, such a contrast is governed by Experimentalist principles--the better cure is the one that has the higher incidence of a recovery.  So, where resolvable, Religion vs. Science is an experiment, not a debate.