Science without religion is lame Religion without science is blind

When they visit a temple and see a serpent in stone, they worship,

When they see a real serpent, they say “kill, kill”!

When they pour milk on a stone embedded in the ground, they worship,

When a poor saint comes to them for milk, they say “Go away, Go away” !!

Science and religion form the two sides of the “Coin of Rationality.” While one eases the ways of life, the other develops the process to life. The journals and principles of science usually contradict with the values of religion, seen as commandments in stones for resisting and change. Let’s discuss each of the conflicts separately first, then together.

Science without religion is lame.

Modern advancements in science and technology show the capability of the human mind to bring about any change it desires. A world where robots interact with humans to solve their problems, where machines just need a single button to complete the task, and where Artificial intelligence takes the responsibility to channelize the potential in the future. Such an era of advances brings the role of man to facilitate rather than initiate and indulge deeply.

This facilitation role gives ample time & space to maximize profit. The vision of earning currency notes even at the cost of anything else has blindfolded the values & morality of science. No one talks about science & ethics because they are imagined as antithetical to each other.

Adulteration of food to save valuable ingredients and earn the best out of waste shows a lack of those values that religion teaches to an individual. “Do no harm”!! “Do not lie”, “Do not steal,” these are basic principles common to every religion. Yet there is no place for them in day-to-day activities.

The values of compassion towards the weaker section, empathy for the downtrodden, integrity of right conduct, etc., are various teachings of religious scriptures. The Gita mentioned it nicely as,

“Karmanya Vadhikaraste, Maa Faleshu Kadach na”

(Do the right work, do not worry about the result)

But in the race to achieve maximum, religion is lagging behind. Companies finding ways to exploit people for earning more, the rich getting richer & the poor getting poorer, this adds to the miseries of those at the bottom of the pyramid.

Religion without science is blind.

Religion forms the “way of life”. The deeds, beliefs, and faith along with values are all manifestations of “a common teaching” known to man from his family, schools, society & himself. Yet sometimes irrationality of such troughs tends to brainwash the individual or group beyond any correction. Such extremes can prove harmful to society as well as the nation.

For instance, in a small village in Uttar Pradesh, a small boy got ill with fever and mental impairment. The set principle of going to a priest instead of a doctor was so well engraved that his parents followed the procedure blindly.

After getting prayers ‘blessings from the priest, the condition did not improve but kept on worsening. He suffered from a fit & died the next day.

The blame for his death was surprisingly attributed to his actions in a previous birth life.

This anecdote shows the lack of a rational and scientific approach, even during the severe illness he would have survived. Such instances mark the values education teaches, the rationality we learn, and the actions we should take.

And when explained the science behind the wrap, the orthodoxy forms the barrier to disallow penetration & the mindset.

A woman not able to conceive is treated as the “lowest” of society. But no one is sure if she is really the reason for infertility or someone else?

A well-engraved mindset of blaming women for not giving birth to a “male child” shows a typical example of ‘Religion without science.

The balanced see-saw

Religions like Jainism lay down their foundation on three basic principles: Right knowledge, Right faith, and right conduct! Such thoughts, if brought into society and into action, can ensure the right balance we desire.

The initiative of corporate social responsibility in the lives of Mahatma Gandhi’s ‘Theory of Trusteeship’ shows the evidence of the possibility of achieving rationality with compassion. The example of Ratan Tata & the Tata group of companies sets a perfect example in this arena

Our fundamental law: ‘constitution’ also ensures the righteousness of actions and thoughts. The balanced approach in fundamental rights with limited restrictions justifies the actions of not only individuals but the government.

Yet the extremes of terrorism, intolerance, radicalism, low vigilantism, etc., tend to distance the situation to one end.

The scientific ideas along with religious motivation sometimes push an individual into the evil of terrorism. He does not know what wrong he will do; the morality gets wiped away with a single sweep. Such a “duo” is most dangerous and devastating.

Therefore, certain measures need to be taken to ensure the consistency of this balance.

At an individual level, one needs to ensure the accommodation of rational values that will ensure the inbibement of morality (the capability to decide right or wrong).

Educational institutes and religious teachers which impart the right knowledge should also ensure right conduct.

Undoubtedly, the rightest action will include those at the bottom of the pyramid, those downtrodden who look with hopeful eyes for miracles.

While science can ensure change, religion needs to be dynamic enough to incorporate that change.

The science-religion partnership helped in removing the evils of sati, untouchability, child labor, etc. It carries further potential to guide everyone to a better future.

The justification by science and the values by religion form the perfect combination to ensure “sabka sath, sabka vikas” along with achieving the sustainable development goals.

“This can ensure a world peaceful enough to let science flourish and religion mature.”