What offers a better way to understand something, religion or science?

Odd question. Science historically considered Eastern and Southern Europeans lower on the rung of humanity than Northern and Western Europeans. Science "proved" that Native populations were inferior in Africa and the Americas than their European counterparts. This gave justification for their murder and enslavement. When the Catholic church spoke against it and outlawed it in the Western Hemisphere many enlightened countries left the church. Science has it's place but without ethics provided by religion it is doomed to corruption and false findings. Look at the global warming debacle.