Religion, science and the confusion therein

Probably one of the longest unresolved debates of all times is Religion vs. Science. Every time some fresh development takes place in some part of the world that may influence this debate, the debate is restarted. Although new ideas and facts continue to make this contest richer with every new edition but the basic essence remain the same. The scientists seem to trust physical proof more that something unverified and written a few millennia ago. The religious guys emphasize on the importance of faith and how it helps.

Like every unresolved issue this debate too is a result of unflinching egos. A common characteristic among all the unresolved issues in the world is that longer the debate is dragged on the more rigid both sides become. Science (or let’s just say scientists) has grown tremendously in last few centuries and its growth has surely helped mankind in more ways than religion has ever been, thus swelling its support base.

On the other hand religion has grown a little weaker in terms of percentage of supports but it has also led it to be a little less rigid. As the religious leaders realized that science is getting stronger as a rival a need for more humane form of religion was felt. From a time when religious leaders took gifts(gold and otherwise) to issue certificate for entry into heaven for some and condemning the majority of others to a life worse than hell; today we see a more liberal religion which seems to slowly accept gender equality and to some extent, homosexuality.

How did this change of attitude come? If we take a closer look at the history of Europe and Christianity we realize that as we entered modern era science has empowered people in more ways than previously imaginable. At first religious leaders condemned those who spoke against them but soon it realized that hate could not be a solution. God’s ways is of love and hence it starting accepting those whom it previously condemned.

Whereas science has been on its own. It did not need to do any hard work to gain supporters. Every effort was a success in itself. Unlike religion science has never felt need to attack others for ensuring its survival, from time to time we see scientist and others who feel the need to condemn religion appealing people to be rational rather than religion. While most of them simply state the facts and leave it up to the people to draw the obvious conclusions, some are ferocious and have a burning desire to see people shed their blinds of religion and come out.

Little do the both sides realize that both religion and science complement it each other. While science gives a scientific guidelines to people (laws, both scientific and constitutional) to lead their material lives, religion provides the moral framework guiding us morally. Life without either would be a nightmare.

For example take a situation where science does not exist and we are all as religious as our priest’s etc. wish we could be. In such a world no scientific progress would be made, or no facts stated for the fear of offending God and religion. Slowly human life would come to a standstill with all the progress stalled. Everyone would spend their nights and days repenting for every minor act. We would submit our will to god and thus probably lose our ability to reason and take decisions. This is simply as dangerous as impossible for the flow and growth of human race is unstoppable. One of the basic tenet of human life or for that matter ‘All of God’s creations’ is that they do not stop. They continuously move forward to improvise and strive to be better.

If a world of only religion would bring human race to standstill the only science world would accelerate human growth engine to such great speed that we might no longer be in control. The religion denounces mindless acts and asks for the repercussions to be kept in mind. Although this slows us down, and often unnecessarily but it keeps a check. In a world devoid of religion ethics would take the backseat and would most probably lose our humanity. This check that religion forces upon humanity makes sure that we do not blow up ourselves in anticipation of trying to understand what we are not ready for.

Religion may invent bizarre scenarios and exaggerated stories but if we look carefully beyond the bizarreness and the exaggeration we see important lessons of life, the guiding principles. As for my view these lessons or guidelines did not descend from heaven or were not spoken by someone claiming to be from the heaven but were wise words written by those who had a vision of the dilemmas we might face and they invented fascinating stories containing sometimes real people and places and a lot of imagination to teach us something that we might not learn on our own or might not be ready to accept.

So what do we do? Do we follow the path of science that claims to be based on truth or should we follow the religion which claims to know it. If you want my advice I would say be rational. Don’t halt the progress of science as it will show you the true path to salvation and pay a little more attention to what some wise man might have tried to tell you in guise of a grand GOD and his fantastic universe which might well be!!