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Myth, Reality and Moral Science

The paradox, which every religion has been grappling with


unsuccessfully, is this. On the one hand it demands blind faith to
accept its tenets and on the other it tries to make those tenets look
scientific and rational. It refuses to see the obvious that a rational
idea does not require blind faith. Rationality has been the casualty in
this undesirable struggle. As a consequence established religions had
to resist science.

Though very late in coming, the acceptance of Copernican cosmology


(earth going round the sun) and the biological evolution of life by the
Catholic Church is a welcome step in the right direction. Other
religions must follow suit.

One may wonder how various religions could suppress free inquiry
when the founder of every religion had been an inquirer. This difficult
task was accomplished by a simple linguistic trick of literally
interpreting the myths and allegories. Now we know that earth at the
center of the universe was a myth and so was the immutability of
species. There is yet another myth still dear to the believers that
human soul has come from god. And a myth in vogue among the
materialists is that there are no souls. I personally hold a myth that
all souls have as humble an origin as our body.

In this great confusion of myths and allegories, we have only one


dependable tool to get at the reality. As science has exploded many
myths in the past, it is sure to continue the good work in future also.
Rationality and spirituality can only be reconciled in moral science. It
reminds one of the most important myths affecting us – we are
accountable for our actions or a moral law pervades life. Only science
can shed some positive light on this contentious issue. That morals are
non-material may be another objection. But, psychology as a behavioral
science is already dealing with non-material emotions and moods.
Biology and psychology have been able to explode the myth about
racial superiority of any race.

Any creed opposing a free inquiry is anything but a religion. Yet this
inquiry into morals by science is sure to be vehemently opposed by the
so called religions. The present Pope has already drawn the line. He
has advised the scientists to leave the soul alone as it is directly
created by god. It appears that the Pope, at the threshold of the
third millennium, has conceded the modern cosmology but retained the
moment of Creation; likewise he has conceded the biologically evolved
body to the scientists but retained the soul.

Though it may go against the gospel truth of many religions, many lives
or rebirths add to the glory of god and the majesty of nature. Simply
put, a god granting millions of lives to each soul is any day more
benevolent and merciful than a niggardly god granting a single life.
Science can make a beginning by studying the effects of virtues on
the psycho-physiology of the person as it now better equipped to
measure and analyze the brain activity and behavior. Yoga is a good
example. It is found to reduce inner conflict and impart health and
cheerfulness. Practicing yoga is, then, a desirable virtue. In the same
manner the effects of honesty, truthfulness and compassion may
easily be studied. The idea is to find out the relevance of virtues for
this life, here and now. Its relevance for society is self-evident. A
society made up of honest and truthful members is the avowed social
goal of every moral philosophy and creed. And there are small pockets
of such societies scattered in the world.

Research in moral science is sure to throw up morally appropriate


technology to eradicate moral aberration in the individual as well as
the society. For example every body is fed up with corruption and
violence these days. We feel so helpless against this system of
demonic proportions. If only we could empower ourselves with a
polygraph, this system would vanish into thin air and the little demons
will vanish behinds bars.

Summing up, myth is ignorance while true insight into reality is


knowledge. There are myths galore in this modern civilization at the
beginning of the third millennium after Christ, the pride of place goes
to the myth about god communicating with man in human language. It
blocked every inquiry as useless since God could always choose a new
spokesman whenever He felt the need to correct us. How elegantly
simple! The reality, too, is simple thanks to biology and psychology. My
talking to god is prayer; God talking to me is schizophrenia- a mental
disorder.

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