The essential difference between religion and science is that the former has its basis in value and the latter its basis in fact. There is no incontrovertible evidence within the bounds of human knowledge which can show which one has the greater claim to truth. That being so we don’t know which if any determines life more, whether in its origins or as it is lived out. What probably can be said is that at certain times for certain purposes one or the other works better.

In adversity, to believe in the benevolence of a supernatural being who will make things work out in the end, might be helpful. Belief in gods and spirits has given people comfort through the ages. Faith fills the gap left by ordeals and control loss. More recently, with scientific knowledge, control has been much enhanced. The enormous progress made with technology has given tools to use that generally speaking make for a more abundant existence, less dangerous and safer from the elements (if not from each other). Fair to say that the fact ontology facilitates the physical world and the value ontology the emotional and psychological.

So neither of these, fact nor value, has a certain claim of truth. At particular times one or the other takes precedence. It’s a matter of circumstance and choice.