MY VIEWS ON THE TOPIC- CAN SCIENCE AND RELIGION CO-EXIST AND CO-OPERATE TOGETHER
During my college days, I used to participate in debates and all. In 2014, I participated in one such debate — “Can Science and Religion co-exist.” Below is my argument on this topic. I argued against the case by highlighting the achievements of Science and the harms of following religion in its current form. Now that I read this again, after 9 years, my view on this topic appears quite aggressive and confrontational! Although, if provided a chance, I will still argue against this statement, but with a more concillatory tone perhaps!!!
Read on….
Good morning distinguished guests.
It feels nice having an opportunity to present my views on a topic that almost everyone thinks about. In this fast-paced life, if people today can live a life where their loved ones are a click away, where they can broadcast their ideas to millions of people in a second, if they don’t have to think much before going to the other corner of the world, if the world has become a global village, we all have to agree to the point that man has on account of the development of his brain has — — made it large. The developments which sometimes even nature seems to salute. From learning to walk on earth and owning it to walking on the moon and beyond ……we have achieved what would have been a miracle a few centuries ago.
But amidst all these glorious feats,…we should not ignore that the human being has been going through chronological development in this nature. And that we have developed up to this stage doesn’t make us forget we once were forest people dwelling in caves. We have developed from there up to now……What I imply is that although we have changed, our basic instincts still persist……..Coming to the debate, I disagree that science and religion can co-exist in their current form. Man has, since time immemorial, pursued the truth……isn’t it? Although products of the same human mind, science, and religion have taken two opposite views on reality in this pursuit….Both have explained enough realities and satisfied us, but the real problems start when religion collides with science.
Before I come to science, let's talk about religion…how did religion arise? What was the factor that turned us from forest-dwelling primate-like animals to such closely-knit societies with religion as the binding force…..I’d like to argue that it is fear. The fear of the unknown. Early man used to live amidst wild animals, and it was necessary to form societies to ensure safety and then to believe in some supernatural powers….he felt weak…
We have a nature of describing everything we can’t perceive normally as a miracle, and hence things like cloud thundering, eclipses, storms, or even tides appeared as a miracle to man at that time. Now today, of course, we can very proudly laugh at early man’s delusional beliefs.
If we have to examine the world's various religions, we find evidence of people worshipping demons, ghosts, spirits of their forefathers, and even animals and birds. Nearly all the religions of the world have someone with supernatural powers, someone who is superior to the general folk, and he/she is worshipped. Sometimes he/she incarnates on the earth to fix people's problems. In general, religions have some rituals associated with these gods whose primary aim is to impress them. God is supposed to take care of the people, and people in return, offer pleasantries to them. Religion has developed throughout, and probably there is not a single human settlement on this planet that does not follow any religion/ supernatural powers. Some kind of Religion is followed in every corner of this planet.
Human beings have conceded that, in some ways, we are inferior to these supreme beings. This fear of being inferior, limiting our potential, has long hampered our growth in general. Each one of us like freebies, don’t we? Religion promises miracles. Religion clearly says to have faith in certain someone, pray, and impress your God, and you’ll be rewarded. Sadly science does not make such claims. It does not promise us freebies. It says here it is, the truth in raw form. Use it your way and accept it or not. It is up to you.
Of course, modern-day religion is very different from those days. These days with the intermixing of faiths and better communication with people, we can understand every religion in detail and then pick and choose which one to follow or not follow. The underlying fact is that what is the purpose of religion? What is the need for it? If we look through a critical viewpoint, what good has it done to us? I mean, what if there had not been religion on this planet? Each one of us has been intrigued by the mysteries of the universe. Of course, science has not been able to discover everything there to know, but why limit it by introducing religion into its domain?
A huge fight has been going on between reason and religion for ages, and as we progress, reason seems to have the edge over religion. Just because it appeals to our intellect and we humans, always inclined towards the truth, accept it without a doubt. Now science which has made path-breaking material progress in recent centuries, has also quietly taken human thinking in its grasp. There is a definite kind of thinking we call scientific thinking, and it is respected all through…..Everywhere around the world, the scientific approach is preferred..to others because of the fact that it appeals to our intellect.
Now science has turned around the way we approach nature. Gone are the days we used to be scared of thunderbolts. We don’t hide in our homes and pray whenever there is an eclipse. We are not scared to fall off the earth anymore. The foundations on which human civilization was backed have been undermined, and all of us, whatever we may say in public, know in our hearts that we can no more believe. Believing certain things because priests tell us, or certain book says so, or people like us believe it is not the norm anymore. We all are inclined o explore the facts and form our understanding based on this exploration, isn’t it?
The delusions have faded, and now we can boastfully claim the earth to be ours, all because science has enabled us to do so. But of course, humans, sometimes in arrogance, have tried to play with nature and paid a heavy price for it. I am not arguing at all that the developments of science have not impacted the earth in a negative way. Climate change, the nuclear threat, pollution, threat to wildlife are some of the things p[people doing science will never be proud of.
But, if we look in a different way, the truth is that we can live more comfortably on this planet than ever, all because of scientific discoveries. Now, this complex human civilization made such by science needs a scientific approach to every problem we face. Just think about it. Though no wish of itself, science has been commanding human civilization for quite some time. The point I wish to make is that science has penetrated every place within human reach. And whether you agree or not, your religion, his religion, her religion, or any religion is not untouched by scientific thought. You are more likely to be judged by reason.
Let me argue that today’s religion has become more of a show than a realization. Think of it, what do you know about your own religion?
- What do you do to associate yourself with your religion?
- How do you practice it?
- Making deals with some unknown entity, is it religion?
Please visit any temple where you have your gods wearing gold worth millions of rupees while you readily ignore the beggar sitting outside who does not even have food! If we believe in God, what kind of God would let a man sit hungry so near to him?
- For thousands of years, man has wandered aimlessly, guided by his religion, but what has he gained?
- Even with all the miracles and glories, how many times have they been proven wrong by science?
- Do we need to remind the people of men like Copernicus or Galileo?
Numerous superstitions have been mixed with religion to make it more appealing to the masses. These religious authorities have no answer to what they have gained by living off the fears of human nature. Isn’t it true they make money and live off our fears?
For what?
- We seek answers, why man must follow these religious dogmas?
- What benefit has it for us?
- Have we not become fearless enough?
For thousands of years, let me argue, what if not religion has waged wars among humans? See the chaos around us today. Religion provided a refuge earlier, but today in some parts, it has gained supremacy and manifests itself in such a radical form that a brother is ready to kill his brother over it. The situation in the middle east, the tensions around the world, and even terrorism, which has taken religious extremism to a new low, all are solely attributed to religion. Each day as we talk, thousands of individuals are dying just in the name of some religion. So much violence, yet we cannot think of a solution to fundamentalism, which forms a significant part of religion.
I’d like to think that maybe people today do not need a religion, at least in its present form. Look at the state of society today; think about the poor kids in front of the temple; they do not need a religion and don’t believe in rituals anymore. He needs food. People around us need the basic amenities …….they need food, housing…..and security from fellow humans….which are lacking terribly. Even those against me will agree that religion can’t be followed with an empty stomach. Now, of course, people will try to defend religious teachings by linking them with philosophical concepts. Still, the reality is the religion that we follow to gain some returns from an unknown entity has no place in the modern scheme of things.
No one above will be impressed by the gold we put around a stone. Feeding a hungry child is better than feeding the rock. Isn’t it? The real god is standing in front of the temple, in front of your vehicle, just outside the college, begging for food and not in the scriptures we follow. When will we realize this?
There is an immediate need to contemplate the religious path we follow. Religion, if it asks us to discriminate between humans, if it treats someone as superior to others, must be discarded altogether. Such a religion is poisonous to the individual or society. It will do harm unimaginable.
If today we are debating the current form of religion as it exists today, I’ll argue against it. I shall continue to question the ways so-called religious people follow. The aimless pursuit of the unknown entity is not acceptable. Moreover, the religion that teaches us to discriminate, kill, or persecute someone is no good, and I think we will agree.
There are a lot of problems, and religion which is already in decline everywhere, has to survive and will have to change guided by science for the good of mankind. I read this quote somewhere and think it’ll be significant here:
Only in a society where there is freedom of action can science flourish and only when science flourishes can the citizens be free.
Don’t we all want to be free? How long do we want to be chained by these obsolete superstitions in the name of religion? With its illuminating dazzle, science will continue to brighten up the darkest corners and eliminate the slightest superstitions that prevail in human minds. With this, I’d like to finish.
