Science AND Religion
Science and religion are two different thought-ways. Both are different approaches to understand the universe. Both have their own sphere of influence. If we turn pages of history, it tells us that in the beginning there have been many clashes between them. In the past, religion has been always superior in every spectrum of life (even today it is superior for some people). But, since 16th century, science gradually started to compete with religion. And today science is far more important than the religion.
What is religion? Religion is an attempt to understand the purpose and meaning of our universe. It is all about realization. And realization always creates ‘what’ type questions. It focuses on circle of inner details. On the other hand, what is science? It’s an attempt to understand how our universe works. It is all about understanding any phenomenon. Basic element is logic. So, it will always keep creating ‘why’ and ‘how’ type question.
Science is based on logic, observations and experiments. Unless and until something is proven, scientific community won’t believe it. In short, science is rational and empirical. Religion, on the other hand, deals with spiritual philosophies and rigid religious sentiments. If we filter rigid religious sentiments, we find pure form of religion which is spiritualism. It considers ‘GOD’, who has supernatural powers, rules the universe. ‘GOD’ is word that we humans have given to a power that can’t be defined. And GOD’s existence is beyond proof. Science is dynamic (constantly changing) and progressive side of a coin whereas religion is its static and orthodox side. But what I find most astonishing about science is that it teaches us to be independent while religion teaches us to believe in supernatural powers; making to rely on something. Science represents ‘facts’ and religion symbolizes ‘faith’. This is the most fundamental difference between them and it makes difficult to let them have common platform. But both go in parallel fashion inspite of being different and distinct.
They also share thin layer of similarity as science has to assume lot of things in order to simplify complex calculations. So, one may argue that science uses ‘faith’ (intuition) element partially but there is some logic behind that intuition or assumption. We can say science and religion are white and black shades. Where, we know that, white consists of multiple shades and black is one of them. Science (facts) somewhere partially consists of religion (faith) although they don’t share any resemblance in either functional or objective outlook. Similarly, religion also partly consists of science (logic) in every aspect. Basically, they co-exist. For example, astrology (religion) and astronomy (science) both study motion of planets but their functional view differs as methodology of studying it is different and objective view differs as astrology uses it for predicting future and astronomy for understanding how universe works.
Science also has its own boundaries. For example, Human has body as well as spirit. When it comes to body, science may find answers but in case of spirit, you have to rely on religion. Limitation of science itself becomes strength of religion. Faith is something all humans need to hold on as it gives us reason to believe. Therefore, whenever there will be feeling of helplessness, human being will seek help through religion rather than science. Albert Einstein once said, “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind”. It is like watching universe through two different windows and understanding it. Of course justifications are ought to be different but at the end of the day, we know, the universe is same. Rather than interpreting it as “science VS religion” it should be “science AND religion”.