There are many Christians who seem able to reconcile the two. The first requirement, obviously, is not to take the bible literally. Progressive Christians, like most of those involved in my own education and that of my children, seem happy with the proper application of scientific method, yet they profess faith in Christ and God. I don't quite see how they can do this, but at least it means there was no nonsense about a 6000 year old flat Earth, or no evolution, or any of that sort of rubbish. As a scientist, I have worked with both religious and non-religious types. It did not seem to make a difference to their ability to do good science. Perhaps the religious ones somehow managed to compartmentalize their faith to keep it from contaminating their science. I don't know — I agree there does appear to be a contradiction. So most of the Christians I have known would actually agree with your mom.

As for identifying myself as an atheist, well, if I do so, it's only for simplicity. I don't believe in a deity, but I can't rule one out, so yes, I'm technically agnostic.

Sure. Science and religion can co-exist. In fact, the very nature of science demands that it be so.

Science, or the scientific method if you will, is an ever expanding and changing catalogue of postulates and theoroms based upon the laws of physics as we currently understand them.

A person of science can identify as an agnostic, but they cannot identify as an athiest. To identify as an athiest is to deny the very nature of why science exists and the long term goals which it sets out to accomplish.

Sorry mum, can't see it.
Religion requires faith
science seeks proof.