'Science without religion is lame and religion without science is blind.' Discuss.
Science and religion are two
separate subjects that has the ability to co-exist. Despite their individual
conflicting definitions, science and religion gives meaning to life, the
practices that people do and the way of the natural world works. ‘Science’
(2014) is defined as the pragmatic activity concerning the systematic study of
the way the physical and natural world works through observation and experiment.
Religion (2014), on the other hand, is “the belief in and worship of a
superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods”. Science, in
other words, is a clinical approach to life and religion is a theoretical
approach that is unproven in the world of science. Despite their conflicting
definitions, these two independent subjects are interdependent as portrayed in
the famous quote, “Science without religion is lame, religion without science
in blind.”
I agree that science and
religion are interdependent, as both subjects needs the existence of the other
to make sense. Science without religion is incomplete because science needs
religion to soften its harsh logic with morals and values. Religion without
science is impaired because religion needs science to give it reality checks. Therefore,
I agree with Albert Einstein that neither science nor religion is complete
without the other. This is evident in many religious traditions and this essay
will be focusing on world religions such as Judaism, Buddhism and Christianity.
Firstly, I agree with the Albert
Einstein’s statement, in the context of traditional religious teachings of
ethics, as many religious traditions shows the need for religion to guide human
nature to the positive light and the need for science to form the basis of understanding
for such traditions. As derived from the famous philosopher, Thomas Hobbes, human nature is materialistic. Human beings are
self-centred. Humans pursue their own self-interest relentlessly by avoiding
pain and pursuing pleasure. (Leviathan, 2014) This materialistic view of human nature is
biological. It is instilled in humans and it is the basis for the conduct of misdeeds
and sins. This scientific interpretation of human nature provides the factual
explanation of the behaviour of human. Science shows ‘what human nature is’ but
it does not explain ‘what humans should be ’. Thus, science without religion is
incomplete. There is a need for religion to guide human nature after
understanding it through science. Religion is needed to guide humans in the way
they should behave, how they should treat their community and what is right and
wrong. Many religious traditions include teachings and rituals to guide humans
to abandon the self-centredness in them and follow what God expect them to be.
For example, in the religious
teachings of ethics in Judaism, humans are believed to be created in the image
of God. This means that humans are responsible for the way they behave, the
things they do and choices they make. In the Torah history, Noah and his
family, who are deemed to be righteous people, are chosen to repopulate the
earth and survive a worldwide flood. They, the most righteous people, ended up
conducting misdeeds and sins due to the human nature (Matthews, 2013). Thus,
the story of Noah and his family is the illustration of human nature, as
explained in the paragraph above, which reflects what human is and would be
without religion. Religion, is hence the solution to human nature. Judaism
promotes the commitment to universal values, such as care to animals, people
and the environment. Judaism teaches people the right way to treat others by
setting a standard for relationship through the ethical laws of the Torah. One
example of the ethical laws is to ask people to love their neighbours as much
as they love themselves. Besides Torah, the Ten Commandments should be followed
to promote compassion towards less fortunate in a habitual basis. Therefore, in
Judaism’s traditions in the practice of ethics, it clearly reflects the
interdependency of science and religion. Without the Ten Commandments and
ethical laws in Torah, humans would continue to sin the way human nature allows
them to and there would be no compassion and love for others in the world of
self-interest. In other words, science is ‘lame’ because the absence of a
religion to inculcate values and morals in humanity only makes human a body
without a soul. Without the understanding of human nature through the story of
Noah and his family in the Torah history, people would not possible understand
the need to follow the Ten Commandments and ethical laws in the Torah. This
means that such religious traditions would be ‘blind’ without understanding
human nature.
Another example would be
traditional religious teachings of ethics in Buddhism. It is believed that the
problem all humans are facing is suffering. Even by gaining more properties and
improving standard of living would not solve the problem of suffering because
the underlying cause of inevitable suffering is ignorance. Thus, the only way
to end suffering is to acquire knowledge about suffering. The Middle Path is
about the teaching of a balanced life, modulate one’s impulses and behaviour
which ends inevitable suffering. The Middle path taught by the Buddha is only a
guide to follow but individual efforts of salvation is more important. Besides
the Middle Path, the Eightfold Path is another important guide to end suffering
in life (Matthews, 2013). Thus, science, knowledge in this case, is important
as it aids in the understanding of the need to learn about suffering. Without knowledge,
religion is ‘blind’ because the Middle Path and the Eightfold Path would make
no sense. There is a need to understand the problem of suffering before
believing in the need to follow the Buddha’s teachings. Without these religious
traditions, knowledge is ‘lame’ because it shows what the problem is but it
does not continue to explain what should be done.
Besides showing the validity of Albert
Einstein’s statement in the context of traditional religious teachings of
ethics, the statement is applicable to traditional rituals and festivals
celebrated by religions too. For science could explain nothing beyond real-life
observation and things that happened, religion explains the gap that is left
open to imagination. Religion is as important as science. Many devotees’
involvement in religious rituals and festivals are due to the commemoration of
their God, the need to repay their sins and protect their family spiritually.
Many of these are unattainable in the world of science. Hence, both science and religion have to
coexist to provide a complete explanation that make sense to humans.
For
example, in the Philippines, a predominantly Catholic country, extreme acts of
penitence are carried out voluntarily by Catholic devotees on Good Friday
annually. The extreme acts of penitence include re-enacting the crucifixion of
Jesus Christ, flogging oneself by carrying the most prominent symbol, the
cross, and continuously whipping their backs till it bleed. The crucifixion of
Jesus Christ is a very important event for both Christians and Catholics. It
shows how much love Jesus had for his people and how he was willing to
sacrifice to cleanse the sins for his people. The devotees have to complete the
ritual by marching under the sun for several hours with injured back and their
limbs tied up. Devotees believes that by carrying out these extreme acts of
penitence, it would cleanse their sins, save their families from illness and
perhaps be rewarded (Thakur, 2012). In this case, religion without science is
‘blind’ because such rituals are seen as self-tormenting as it has no link
between nailing oneself on the cross and good health. In the world of science,
medicine and knowledge are the only cure to illness. However, medicine and
knowledge are limited. Without the understanding the limited capacity of
science, religion is ‘blind’. For science is unable to explain the situations
beyond the physical world, religion has the ability to. Thus, science is
incomplete without religion as it does not provided a complete explanation to
life. Hence, religion is needed to complete the incomplete scientific
explanation for the problems these devotees are facing. Religion provides a second
chance to devotees who sin. Religion provides faith when science fails. Hence,
neither religion nor science could make sense independently in this context.
In
conclusion, I strongly agree with the interdependency of science and religion
and Albert Einstein’s statement. Science is a realist whom states what could be
seen in the physical world in the present and past, while religion completes
science by explaining things beyond the physical and natural world even in the
future. Some may argue that religion is only needed when science fails. In my
opinion, I disagree. I believe that in today’s world religion is regarded just
as important as science. One could be as knowledgeable, powerful and rich but
that does not define him as a successful person. A successful person should
embody morals and values that religion inculcates. Religion guides human beings
out of the biologically vicious human nature and provides a solution to it. Science
without religion is incomplete because it would be a world too rigid and
factual. Religion softens the rigidity and give meaning to life. Therefore, in
my opinion, it is true that “Science without religion is lame, religion without
science in blind.”
1524
Words
References
Leviathan,
by Thomas Hobbes ‘Of the Natural Condition of Mankind as Concerning Their
Felicity and Misery’, Adelaide (ed. last updated 1 March 2014), viewed 19
September 2014
Monami
Thakur, 2012, “Barefoot Filipinos
Perform Extreme Penitence During Holy Week” International Business
Times, 6 April (p. 1)
‘Religion’
2014, Oxford English dictionary online, viewed 19 September 2014,
‘Science’
2014, Oxford English dictionary online, viewed 19 September 2014,
Warren
Matthews, 2013, World Religions: Judaism (p. 278), 7th edn, e-book,
Wadsworth
Cengage Learning, Canada ,viewed 19 September 2014
Warren
Matthews, 2013, World Religions: Buddhism (p. 140), 7th edn, e-book,
Wadsworth
Cengage Learning, Canada ,viewed 19 September 2014
