SCIENCE AND RELIGION

JOSELIN

          A scientist’s religious feeling takes the form of a rapturous amazement at the harmony of natural law which reveals an intelligence of such superiority that compared with it, all the systematic thinking and acting of human beings is an utterly insignificant reflection. This feeling is the guiding principle of his life and work, in so far as he succeeds in keeping himself from the shackles of selfish desire. The knowledge of truth as such is wonderful, but it is so little capable of acting as a guide that it cannot prove even the justification and the value of the aspiration toward that very knowledge of truth.

         Science is the century old endeavor to bring together by means of systematic thought the perceptible phenomena of this world into as thorough going an association as possible. It is the attempt at the posterior reconstruction of existence by the process of conceptualization.

        A religiously enlightened person has liberated himself from the fetters of his selfish desires and clings to thoughts and aspirations of super personal value.

Religion is the age old endeavor of mankind to become clearly and completely conscious of the values and goals and to constantly strengthen and extend their effect. If

One conceives of religion and science according to these definitions then a conflict between them appears impossible. For science can only ascertain what is, but not what should be. Religion on the other hand deals only with evaluations of human thought and action; it cannot justifiably speak of facts and relationships between facts.

       A conflict arises when a religious community insists

On the absolute truthfulness of all statements recorded in the Bible. This means an intervention of the part of religion into the sphere of science. Nevertheless, there exist between the realms of religion and science strong reciprocal relationships and dependencies.

      Science can only be created by those who are thoroughly imbued with the aspiration toward truth and understanding. This source of feeling, however, springs from the sphere of religion.

“Science without religion is lame,

Religion without science is blind.”

                        -Albert Einstein

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