The Coexistence of Science and Religion

This is a subject that carries a lot of water, because religion and science are mixed into politics as into social life. They have their parts of light and of shadow. Some say that science and religion are two things that cannot live together. Others say that the two can live together and in peace. Certainly, before the Renaissance religion dominated the whole people, generally uneducated, and the kings too had to accept what the religious men of the church said.

In the time of the Renaissance Galileo, so as not to be killed, accepted to say that the sun moves around the world; but leaving his trial he also says: 'Be that as it may, it is the world that moves around the sun.' Like Galileo many were tried and some killed. But with time scientists had no problem getting certain things accepted that were not written in the holy books.

The Nobel Prize in physics of 1993 was awarded to Joseph Taylor. He says: 'A scientific discovery is a religious discovery. The more we discover things about our world, the greater is the discovery of God.' Martin Luther King said: 'Science searches, religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge, which is power; religion gives man hokhma, which is control. Science deals with facts, religion with values, and thus they complete each other.' Albert Einstein said: 'Science without religion is a lame person, and religion without science is a blind person.' A sage says: 'Everything around us works like a clock. There must be an intelligence that directs this world. Some call it nature; others call it, like Darwin, evolution. And there are also many others who call it the Creator.'

Thus for many people science and religion go hand in hand. Both come to us from metaphysics. But we must accept that without the work of the laboratories and the curiosity of humans, we would have neither the computer nor electricity, nor would we walk on the moon, nor would we have the mobile phone. On the other hand, science does not try to discuss the roots of the universe. Scientists admit that even now we do not know where these roots are hidden…

Science tells us that every reality is reality until the contrary is shown. Religion tells us that what is written in the holy books is always the truth. Believing in religion does not prevent the scientist from continuing on his path. Science is the study of nature and its laws. The basis of religion is to believe, to have faith. For this reason one does not affect the other. For many people, the more you enter into the enigmas of science, the more your spirituality develops. Many think that science is a school of thought and of wisdom and is a method that has no dealings with religion. Some say the two contradict each other because science is evidence, religion is faith. Science can err, religion never. Science is based on reason and logic, while religion is based on faith and belief. Science acts with the brain, religion with the emotions. Science tells us what is. Religion tells us what ought to be. Science deals with the body, religion with the soul.

In reality, to have a healthy life, one must care for the body and the soul. The only important thing is not to forget that science and religion are like water and oil. The two can fit in one jar but they never mix.