Nonoverlapping Magisteria

Nonoverlapping Magisteria (NOMA) is a concept introduced by Stephen Jay Gould suggesting that science and religion are separate domains of understanding. Science addresses questions about the natural world—how things work—using empirical evidence. Religion explores moral values, meaning, and purpose—answers about why we exist. According to NOMA, these areas do not conflict because they focus on different kinds of questions and use different methods. This approach encourages respectful coexistence, allowing science and religion to each contribute to human understanding without overstepping their boundaries.