NOMA (Non-Overlapping Magisteria)

NOMA, or Non-Overlapping Magisteria, is a concept proposed by scientist Stephen Jay Gould suggesting that science and religion are distinct domains of knowledge and authority. Science addresses empirical questions about the natural world—how things happen—using evidence and testable theories. Religion deals with moral values, beliefs, and meaning—questions about why we exist and what is right or wrong. According to NOMA, these areas do not conflict because they answer different kinds of questions within their own boundaries, allowing both science and religion to coexist peacefully without overlapping or contradiction.