What is science and
religion where the two meets?
Science is an unbeatable effort of man,
invincible desire and utopian conception to order the nature in his theories,
ideas and concepts. He wants to comprehend the nature for its current behavioral
and phenomenal understanding and future prediction so that he can use and
exploit the nature and its resources for civilizational survival and progress.
The rational and scientific approach is outcome of human’s inclination towards rationality
to overcome his awe, fear and ignorance of the world.
Religion
,very abstract, have definitional range from personal faith ,collective
Conscience, ideological interpretation for social groups, means to sacred way
of life for some individual to path to salvation and heaven for others. 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.
It is being viewed as false consciousness and illusion by Marx. Whatsoever, but
it is reflection of social reality as seen empirically. Objective observation
and subjective understanding of society tell that religion is necessity of
human life.Religious truths remain essentiality the
property of the individuals who experience and realize them through their own
inward soul and mind and not through the external manifestation of things which
have a physical behavior
Both
science and religion are integral parts of human life expresses external and
internal aspects, moreover two side of same coin. Thought there are some
differences between which can be outline to show contrasting ideas. 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. 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.
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.
What science brought to
world and religion added value to it
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
Weapons and fight over resources aided by technological
advancement. Greed cannot be satisfied –religion is the answer for human satisfaction.
Inequalities and deprivation prevailing in society – economic advancement led
by science and technology have doubtful solution. Science taught the humans
about rationalization and thus he did institutionalization of society. It made
and surfaced the psychological impotency of human society. Man considers
medical treatment to healthcare, social work to community welfare, police
protection to safety, military poise to security and rat race to productive
work.
Faith in each other, trust, and harmonic
interdependence based on morality, if not inculcated by religion, then atleast
supported. Universalization of expectations by spread of science but limited
resources led to new alienation among young where religion can be solution
sought for. Cognitive paradigms which have been prism to see the world are ever
changing due to change led by science. But religion is the telescope through
which we saw the world similar beyond time and space thus minimal shocks in
case of structural change in society. 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.
Value addition by science to religion
Currents
of transformation in society and social change have been common phenomenon
throughout human history. Science have been leading and major factor and
contributor of this transformation. Science reconstructs the society and changes
the religious tone by conquering the prejudices, illusion, dogmas and illogical
customary rituals. Science purifies the religion and forces it towards spirituality.
Yoga and meditation are half science and half religion. If at any time religion
became blind then empiricism and rationalism from science and philosophy became
eyes of religion. Scientific
truths, on the other hand, become the property of the whole world and go to
inflate the store-house of human knowledge.
Conclusion:
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.
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.
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.
