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SCIENCE AND RELIGION

Science and religion are commonly perceived to be mutually exclusive-a contradiction in terms,
as it were. Both the method and the aims of science and religion seem to be different. While
Science is linked to the material, religion is concerned with the spiritual. On the face of it the
scope, sphere and the method of science and religion are different and exclude each other.
Science is objective while Religion is subjective; Science relies on experiment, Religion on
experience.
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 pre occupied with ideas that have
to be accepted without proof. Science depends on reasons; religion on intuition. The 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 the 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 end when matter ends. Over the ages the conflict
has developed between science and religion. But science does not have the answer of everything.
Science without religion gives rise to materialism and other ills of life.
As the words experience and experiment connote, the worlds of religion and science are pole
apart. Science is concerned with how of reality whereas religion is concerned with the why of
reality. Science takes up the tangible entities and analyses them into their minutest parts, and
then comes to conclusions regarding the way in which tangible realities are organized. In brief,
Science is analytical. On the other hand, Religion takes for granted the reality. The path of
religion is metaphysical. The rationalists of religion pursuing the path of metaphysics postulate
the concept of God: But even then, at the highest level religious consciousness, the concept of
God is a matter of faith. This faith enables the religious man to attribute a design or meaning to
the reality. Thus, Science is analytical in approach whereas Religion is synthetical.
Religion is subjective, as religious enlightenment has to be felt by once own experience. Unless
and until religious experience is felt by an individual himself, he cannot reap any pleasure out of
it. The morale and religious rule are allied and have to be followed by individuals in appropriate
ethical situations. Science, on the other hand, deals with the objective side of the life. Scientific
discoveries are common properties. They are open to common man and not shrouded in mystery
or haziness. They are truths, universally accepted and subject to scientific calculations. A
systematic scholarship and concentration is needed to get at scientific truths which are
subsequently tested and approved by hypothesis 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 perfections, humans have to fall
back upon their own reasoning and secondary powers of their own sole and spirit. In this sense,
Science and Religion actually converge. Both scientist 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 takes separate routes. Religious truths
remain essentially the properties of the individuals who experience and realize them through
their own inward soul and mind and not through external manifestation of things which have a
physical behavior. Scientific truths, on the other hand, become the property of the whole world
and goes out to inflate the store house of the 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 prevailing and controlling the universe. Science is of
more recent growth. Earliest phases of science may not be more than four or five thousand years
old, while modern science began only in the 15
th
century.
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 around the sun. In the nineteenth century Darwins
Theory of Evolution gave rise to angry opposition from the Christian Church, since his theories
cut across the biblical version of the creation of mankind from Adam and Eve. But truth
eventually prevailed and science held its ground. Before the nineteenth 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. Religion seemed to be unnecessary and began to
lose the respect and power it had once enjoyed.
But the path of science did not ultimately proved 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 mans
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 freeplay. Man became dishonest, selfish and proud. It destroyed mans simple faith, fellow
feeling, affection and kindness. Besides, the blessing of science gave rise to new social problems.
The gulf between the rich and the poor became wide then ever before. The widespread use of
machinery subjected millions of human beins to the evils of economic expoitations,
unemployment, crowded congested cities and the growth of slums. The average worker lost his

independence and happiness and was reduced with the position of mere clog in the vast
organization of modern industry.
Thus, we notice that there is no anti thesis 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, great scientists never plans what he is about to discover.
The conflict between science and religion is superficial. There approach towards life is , ofcourse
different but their goal is the same. Science follows the path of reason and intellect, religion
travels the road of faith and belief. But both aim at the discovery of the truth. Science and
religion have apparently different aims and objects, yet in fact they are closely related and act an
react on each other.
Science and religion, the two terms have come to signify a contradiction in terms. On the face of
it, it seems difficult to find a compromise between science and religion, for their scope is
different and excludes each other.


References:
Frontline(Oct 4th, 2013)
A Compendium of Essays (J K Chopra)
www.sacred-texts.com
www.wikipedia.com
Ravi Sharma,

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