Spirituality and science are two
different pursuits of mankind. Each has contributed, in its own way, towards
the enrichment of human life and culture. The doors should be kept open between
them for mutual cooperation and exchange.
Recent past was an era of
confusion and there have been instances in which a friend has been mistaken as
a foe and a foe as a friend. The debate that spirituality and science are
mutually contradictory and exclusive is also of a similar nature. In religious
circle it was presumed that science opposes religion. It works against faith,
and expresses disbelief in life beyond. It takes man to be a machine and so
thinks that to make this machine run efficiently it is adequate to fulfill only
its physical needs. It considers perceivable nature to be all that there is and
rejects the existence of immortal soul and concepts like selflessness.
Therefore, while the achievements of science should be utilized its hypotheses
need to be rejected which otherwise will render human life devoid of meaning
and purpose.
On the other hand, allegations by
science have been that religion is based on imaginary concepts and
superstitions; is based on imaginary concepts and superstitions; takes fables
as historical events and statements by mystical personages as absolute truth.
It tries to avoid presenting logic and evidence. Hence it stands on a very weak
foundation. Religion and faith are those imaginary realms in which fools get
deceived by cheats. Fanatically religious communities have grievously divided
humanity. They have created an atmosphere of partisanship and faith in
imaginary concepts, one which is filled with an egoistic insistence to
establish one's beliefs as right and others as wrong. There have been blood-baths
in the name of religion, to establish one's superiority over others and to
force one's beliefs upon others. Therefore religion needs to be decried.
An unbiased reflection would show
that mutual mistrust and denunciation are unfounded. Science has taken religion
to mean intense communal partisanship, which considers one's own traditions as
everything. Similarly, religion has seen only one side of science, in which it
only mocks at faith and beliefs. These are only superficial and incomplete
facets of science and religion. In reality both of these pursuits of human
spirit are undoubtedly useful to humanity and are founded on concrete and
verifiable realities of human life. So there should have been mutual exchange
and cooperation between them as collaborators for all-round progress and
welfare of humanity.
Science believes that it is
essential that religion be scientifically rested for its authenticity. Only
when it proves itself on the altar of truth and utility should it be
recognized. Similarly religion insists that science must recognize its
limitations and not pronounce judgments about a field of existence which is
beyond its reach. Both the demands are justified. Religion has full freedom to
establish its utility and its meaningfulness. It has so many convincing
experiential evidences in support of its basic and incontrovertible tenets and
insights. However it is also essential to accept that several illusions and
distortions, totally contrary to the basic contents of religion, have crept
into it and these need to be corrected and eliminated. It is improper to follow
the principle of statement of a revered man is itself the proof of its
authenticity and to blindly follow prevailing traditions taking them as totally
unalterable. Basic tenets of religion are everlasting. But just as from time to
time there have been alterations in traditions; today also there is much scope
for modifications and improvements in outer practices and traditions of all
religious orders.
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