Sure, I'll give it another go.
3,000 years ago, all manner of natural phenomena were attributed to the actions of gods. As the natural causes of these phenomena came to be understood, they ceased to be explained by religion and instead entered into the domain of science.
What you have, then, is not a merging of science and religion, but rather an expansion of scientific explanations at the expense of religious explanations.
There is a limit, of course; science is limited to that which -- at least in principle -- is susceptible to the scientific method. There are some things, then, which will always remain outside the purview of science.
OK, that's understood. But this view (Science VS. Religion) is what I pray goes away. The universe and the possible things to know are large enough to accomodate Science AND Religion.
I am not sure how observing and describing God's handiwork necessarily prevents the scientist and the theologian from appreciating each other and viewing the other discipline as being complementary, not competitive.