as my professor in "Philosophy of Science" would have stated: A Theory contradicted by empirical evidence is not a theory, nor is it true. A valid theory msut be able to stand up when compared to empirical evidence. Otherwise, it is a religion, taken as a matter of faith.
Even religion can be treated empirically.
The divine, like the hypothesized dark matter, cannot be sensed...but its effects can be measured. I'll bet Gomhorra has one helluva carbon footprint. But more to the point: the measure of the presence or absence of Justice and Mercy. They are not tangible--or even quantifiable--but they seem to have an effect.
Aso a religion may make historical claims, i.e. a man lived, was executed by the state and was seen to be alive again. Such claims can be empirically tested as with any secular historical claim.
