Science & Religion

Answer: Science deals with the world that we know the material world that is comprehended by the senses: religion is concerned with a supra-mundane world - a world that we cannot be said to know. Science believes in things that can be proved: religion is preoccupied with ideas that have to be accepted without proof. Science depends on reasons: religion on intuition. l' he scientist works in the laboratory of the material world: the religious teacher works within the recesses of his personal experiences. Religion begins where science ends. Science says that tile First Cause is unknowable. Religion says that it can be known through the discipline of religion, for it is God who is not only self-existent but self revealed. Hence, there is bound to be hostility between the man of science and the man of religion. Science ends when matter ends. But religion opposes to this finite world of matter, the God who is endless.

According to common perception, a huge gulf exists between science and religion. Apparently, no doubt, science deals with things concrete, whereas religion is based upon abstract ideals. Science implies fact, religion involves faith. Religion is basically a matter of instinct and science that of reason. But these are the broad characteristics of science and religion which have meeting places also-and the first meeting place is in the human mind and nature themselves. It is the human mind which proves facts and starts believing in them and it is the mind alone which nurtures faith and reverence and believes in some higher entity. When one talks about two apparently divergent things like science and religion or other seemingly opposite things. one has to keep in mind the complexity of human nature. Its very complexity demands influences from antithetical ideas and makes their co-existence nec­essary as well as feasible.

Science relies on experiment, whereas religion on experience. Any religious experience, be that of Christ or Ramakrishna, is personal and subjective and it cannot he tested by any experiment. One has to believe in it. On the other hand, the experiment of science is an impersonal venture. Also, objectivity as a temperament of the mind is needed in this pursuit. So rationality is one of the tools that science employs. Proof is provided in the form of tangible results which can he perceived with the eye and at times can be sensed.

Religion is subjective as religious enlightenment has to be felt by one's own experience. Unless and until religious experience is felt by an individual himself, he cannot reap any pleasure out of it. The moral and religious rules are allied and have to be followed by individuals in appropriate ethical situations. Science, on the other hand, deals with the objective side of life. Scientific discoveries are common property. They are experience felt by all and sundry. They are open to common men and not shrouded in mystery or haziness. They are truths, universally true and subject to scientific calculations. A systematic scholarship and concentration is needed to get at scientific truths which are subsequently tested and approved by hypotheses and experiment.

But so long as scientific knowledge is imperfect, the place of religion and God will continue to be highly relevant. So long as scientific theories do not reach perfection, humans have to fall back upon their own reasoning and secondary -'powers of their own soul and spirit. In this sense, science and religion actually converge. Both scientists and saints have to undertake solitary travels Into the regions unknown and to depend on themselves only and nobody else. But once a line is drawn between them, their ways bifurcate and take separate routes. Religious truths remain essentialty the property of the individuals who experience and realise them through their own inward soul and mind and not through the external manifestation of things which have a physical behaviour. Scientific truths, on the other hand, become the property of the whole world and go to inflate the store-house of human knowledge.

To use a term from the world of music one can say that in the initial stages of human civilisation human knowledge was of the “mono” type, i.e., undifferentiated. The sort of complexity which has crept into the human world in modern times was lacking. Religion had scientific connotations also. During the Rigvedic period the worship­ping of gods and goddesses and the subsequent beginning of many religious customs and practices were inextricably woven with scientific purposes. For example, the common practice of offering jai (water) to the sun-god during sunrise. It is a fact that the first rays of the sun are beneficial to the eyes. The practice of fasting prescribed by religion as a mark of abstinence was also derived from the fact that it cultivates patience and will-power (besides being good for physical well-being). Similarly the custom of hawan during a puja or a Vagya had its origins in the fact that it purifies the atmosphere. But gradually during the later Vedic period with the increased influence of the priests and their tendency to misuse religion for their own mercenary considerations the scientific part of these practices got suppressed by superstitions and nameless fears.

Religion is perhaps as old as mankind. Even in the earliest times man had some idea of the higher power, a superior unknowable force pervading and controlling the universe. The earliest forms of man's worship of serpents, science and statues is clear proof of his belief in an All-powerful Creator. Science is of more recent growth. The earliest phases of science may not be more than four or five thousand years old, while modern science began only in the 15th century. But Religion is very much older and before science made its appearance the former was the chief force guiding and governing human thoughts and conduct. The supremacy of religion, however, gave rise to many evils. Religion encouraged superstition and other evil practices. The heads of various religions assumed almost the powers of a dictator over their followers. The Roman Catholic Church in Europe, the Brahmin priests in India and others behaved as despots and tyrants. The true spirit of religion was ignored on account of these developments. But with the beginning of science, many of these evil growths were badly shaken. The conflict between science and religion was for some time very bitter.

The conflict between science and religion shows how truth has to suffer in order to establish its claims. Pioneers of science had to face numerous difficulties. Galileo, for instance, was thrown into prison for his new theories about heavenly bodies. No better was the fate of Copernicus who pointed out that it is the earth which moves round the sun. In the 19th century also Darwin's Theory of Evolution gave rise to angry opposition from the Christian Church, since his theory cut across the Biblical version of the creation of mankind from Adam and Eve. The Churchmen raised the cry "Religion in Danger" and pressed for the persecution of such scientist. In recent times, the German scientist Robert Mayor was shut up in a lunatic asylum for discovering his theory of the Conservation of Energy. Thus all those who departed from the accepted Biblical theories about God, and universe were regarded as the enemies of mankind and religion. Numerous attempts were made to suppress the voice of reason and truth. But Truth eventually prevailed and science field its ground. Many who had come forward to laugh at science became its chanipions and followers. Before the 19th century had run its course, the triumph of science was complete.

The rapid progress of science changed the face of the world beyond recognition. It conferred unheard of comforts and conveniences on mankind. The wonders of science bewildered man and he began to enjoy numerous blessings in life. Time and distance, disease and pain were rapidly conquered and man seemed to be the master of Iris surroundings. These developments gave rise in some circles to the belief that man is all-powerful and God a superfious being. People lost faith in Heaven or Hell, God or the Supreme Power. Religion seemed to be unnecessary and the Church began to lose the respect and power it had once enjoyed Religion seemed to be dethroned from the hearts of man and science reigned in its place.

But the path of science did not ultimately prove as smooth as its worshippers had thought it to be. It turned out to be a mixed blessing. It did provide bodily comforts, but at the cost of man's moral and spiritual development. It ruined man into a sceptic, a creature without any faith and lofty ideals to inspire and guide him. The loss of such faith brought the baser side of his nature into free play. Man became dishonest, selfish and proud. It destroyed man's simple faith, fellow feeling, affection and kindness. Besides, the blessings of science gave rise to new social problems. The gulf between the rich and the poor became wide than ever before. The widespread use of machinery subjected millions of human beings to the evils of economic exploitation, unemploynient, crowded, congested cities and the growth of slums. The average worker lost his independence and happiness and was reduced to the position of a mere clog in the vast organisation of modern industry. Above all, the use of science in the manufacture of weapons made war increasingly horrible and destructive, and it appeared that the very existence of humanity and civilization was at stake. Consequently the enthusiasm of the supporters of science began to cool down. Also science is not able to answer the fundamental questions of the mystery of life and death and the incalculability of events. The scientist can say that the universe developed from a primeval atom but what made them coagulate into the universe we know. Science fails to answer the question of the `First Cause'. It is here that man and even a scientist has to fall back upon the idea of God and religion.

In fact, science alone cannot give peace and happiness to mankind. Science must be allied to religion. Science makes man materialistic, but religion upholds his faith in God, in the higher and spiritual values of life. It must be admitted that there are more things in Heaven and on Earth than our science can dream of. "file beauty and mystery of human life, its spiritual and moral values are lost if men are guided entirely by science. And without moral and spiritual values mans life is not better than the life of a beast. It is on account of this neglect of the normal and spiritual aspect of life that science has been applied for destructive and immoral purposes during the last century. If this state of affairs continues science will bring about the complete ruin of mankind and civilization.

Yet there is another danger: science itself may take the place of religion. If God will continue to be highly relevant. So long as scientific theories do not reach perfection, humans have to tall back upon their own reasoning and secondary 'powers of their own soul and spirit. In this sense, science and religion actually converge. Both scientists and saints have to undertake solitary travels Into the regions unknown and to depend on themselves only and nobody else. But once a line is drawn between them, their ways bifurcate and take separate routes. Religious truths remain essentialty the property of the individuals who experience and realise them through their own inward soul and mind and not through the external manifestation of things which have a physical behaviour. Scientific truths, on the other hand, become the property of the whole world and go to inflate the store-house of human knowledge.

Religion is perhaps as old as mankind. Even in the earliest times man had some idea of the higher power, a superior unknowable force pervading and controlling the universe. The earliest forms of man's worship of serpents, science and statues is clear proof of his belief in an All-powerful Creator. Science is of more recent growth. The earliest phases of science may not be more than four or five thousand years old, while modern science began only in the 15th century. But Religion is very much older and before science made its appearance the former was the chief force guiding and governing human thoughts and conduct. The supremacy of religion, however, gave rise to many evils. Religion encouraged superstition and other evil practices. The heads of various religions assumed almost the powers of a dictator over their followers. The Roman Catholic Church in Europe, the Brahmin priests in India and others behaved as despots and tyrants. The true spirit of religion was ignored on account of these developments. But with the beginning of science, many of these evil growths were badly shaken. The conflict between science and religion was for some time very bitter.

The conflict between science and religion shows how truth has to suffer in order to establish its claims. Pioneers of science had to face numerous difficulties. Galileo, for instance, was thrown into prison for his new theories about heavenly bodies. No better was the fate of Copernicus who pointed out that it is the earth which moves round the sun. In the 19th century also Darwin's Theory of Evolution gave rise to angry opposition from the Christian Church, since his theory cut across the Biblical version of the creation of mankind from Adam and Eve. The Churchmen raised the cry "Religion in Danger" and pressed for the persecution of such scientist. In recent times, the German scientist Robert Mayor was shut up in a lunatic asylum for discovering his theory of the Conservation of Energy. Thus all those who departed front the accepted Biblical theories about God, and universe were regarded as the enemies of mankind and religion. Numerous attempts were made to suppress the voice of reason and truth. But Truth eventually prevailed and science held its ground. Many who had come forward to laugh at science became its champions and followers. Before the 19th century had run its course, the triumph of science was complete.

The rapid progress of science changed the face of the world beyond recognition. It conferred unheard of comforts and conveniences on mankind. The wonders of science bewildered man and he began to enjoy numerous blessings in life. Time and distance, disease and pain were rapidly conquered and man seemed to be the master of his surroundings. These developments gave rise in some circles to the belief that man is all-powerful and God a supertious being. People lost faith in Heaven or Hell, God or the Supreme Power. Religion seemed to be unnecessary and the Church began to lose the respect and power it had once enjoyed Religion seemed to be dethroned from the hearts of man and science reigned in its place.

The general notion that since science and religion represent two different worlds of materialism and spiritu­alism they remain in conflict is, however, not wholly correct. Had science only to do with materialism and religion with spiritualism the conflict would perhaps not have arisen. The problem starts when both encroach upon each other’s field. But as the horizons of human knowledge widen, the barriers to discussion start falling down. As civilisations advanced. philosophers and scientists attempt­ed to explain the moving heavens in rational terms. Perhaps the first major confrontation between science and religion came into being with the publication of De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium by Copernicus. Copernicus, against the general belief advocated by Ptolemy that the sun moves round the earth, stated that it is the earth which moves round the sun. This new theory upset the standard philo­sophical and religious beliefs of the medieval era. It not only meant the collapse of the concept of universe as described in The Bible, but also meant that man no longer occupied a central place in the universe. Man had been removed from his pedestal, and his home was reduced to one of many planets. Goethe, the German philosopher, stated that the theory of Copernicus made “a great demand’: upon mankind to accept the new facts. As he said:

Science has certainly influenced society by altering the religious thinking and attitude of the people. But science has its own limitations. It has broadened the human reach, it has made possible the things undreamt of, but somewhere along the line it has created a psychological void. Scientific inventions have created for every man a little world for himself. The communication gap is the ‘in’ thing. Surround­ed by electronic gadgets, moving in the throbbing car, man leads a prosaic life. And he feels the void. Can ignorance be the only reason for the existence of many religious and spiritual ‘gurus’-fake or genuine? If that had been the case, one would not have found rich and poor, educated, half­educated and uneducated alike making a beeline for the ashrams, giving donations and alms, going for pilgrimages, etc. For many it might be a matter of faith, for many a way of relinquishing their burden of sins even though remaining steeped in them-and for many just a matter of ritual because their fathers and grandfathers have been doing so for aeons. It reflects a sorry state of affairs that religion has come to be generally identified with only these manifesta­tions of one’s religiosity-and science has to share the blame. It has to share the blame because though it has influenced human life tremendously, it has also, what Wordsworth said about the Industrial Revolution, “blunted the discriminating powers of the mind.” The discoveries of science and their application have created an atmosphere in which the baser element of man’s nature has come to the fore quite prominently. The growing materialism and consumerism have created two distinct classes of haves and have-nots, fostering social and class tensions.

In fact, science alone cannot give peace and happiness to mankind. Science must be allied to religion. Science makes man materialistic, but religion upholds his faith in God, in the higher and spiritual values of life. It must be admitted that there are more things in Heaven and on Earth than our science can dream of. The beauty and mystery of human life, its spiritual and moral values are lost if men are guided entirely by science. And without moral and spiritual values mans life is not better than the life of a beast. It is on account of this neglect of the moral and spiritual aspect of life that science has been applied for destructive and immoral purposes during the last century. If this state of affairs continues science will bring about the complete ruin of mankind and civilization.

As a matter of fact, today we know clearly that the animosity between the two is not-very substantial. The pyramids of ancient Egypt evoke both religious reverence and also the admiration of engineers. Roger Bacon, the inventor of gunpowder, believed in alchemy. Copernicus dedicated his famous book to the Pope. Mendel was a monk by profession. And Einstein remarked that a great scientific discovery was a matter of religious insight.
Historically, in ancient times, there was no conflict between religion and science because human knowledge was an undifferentiated whole. The imaginative shaman or the magician played the role of both doctor and high-priest. The Hippocratic Oath taken by doctors till today refers to a religious belief of the Greeks-Hygeia, the goddess of health. Thus, we notice that there is no antithesis worth speaking between the two all through the ages. Besides, intuition plays a vital role in the apprehension of God or in any religious belief. Similarly, a great scientist never plans what he is about to discover. Before Newton millions of apples must have fallen to the ground but only the supersensitive insight of Newton made him propound the famous law of gravitation. The compatibility of science and religion is well expressed in the couplet:

Nature and Nature's law lay hid in the Night, God said, let Newton be and all was Light.

Outwardly religion and science are the two opposite poles of man's consciousness. But the two do not necessarily repel each other. The meeting point is in the mind of man. Religion without science degenerates into superstition, while science without the help of religion gives rise to materialism and lack of faith. Science, to speak the truth, has only purified religion, whereas religion has given a touch of beauty and mystery to science. The discoveries of science and its conquest of Nature only show the wonders of the Supreme Being. Thus science strengthens the work of religion. A true scientist is not an unbeliever or irreligious person, but a real admirer of God and His wonderful creations. What the superstitious man worships blindly, the scientists worships as the fruit of his knowledge. Hence modern scientists have come to know not only the limitations of science but have given a better understanding of miracles of Nature and the wonders of the Creator. The Religion of Science, if one may use the tents, is a rational approach to the problems of the universe in which the voice of conservatism and superstition has no place. Science has thus ceased to be the enemy of religion: it has, on the other hand: become its helper and champion.

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