'Abdu'l-Bahá
said:
I have spoken to you of some of the principles of Bahá'u'lláh:
The Search after Truth and The Unity of Mankind. I will now explain the Fourth Principle,
which is The Acceptance of the Relation between Religion and Science.
There is no contradiction
between true religion and science. When a religion is opposed to science it becomes mere
superstition: that which is contrary to knowledge is ignorance.
How can a man believe to be a
fact that which science has proved to be impossible? If he believes in spite of his
reason, it is rather ignorant superstition than faith. The true principles of all
religions are in conformity with the teachings of science.
The Unity of God is logical,
and this idea is not antagonistic to the conclusions arrived at by scientific study.
All religions teach that we
must do good, that we must be generous, sincere, truthful, law-abiding, and faithful; all
this is reasonable, and logically the only way in which humanity can progress.
All religious laws conform to
reason, and are suited to the people for whom they are framed, and for the age in which
they are to be obeyed.
Religion has two main parts:
(1) The Spiritual.
(2) The Practical.
The spiritual part never
changes. All the Manifestations of God and His Prophets have taught the same truths and
given the same spiritual law. They all teach the one code of morality. There is no
division in the truth. The Sun has sent forth many rays to illumine human intelligence,
the light is always the same.
The practical part of
religion deals with exterior forms and ceremonies, and with modes of punishment for
certain offences. This is the material side of the law, and guides the customs and manners
of the people.
In the time of Moses, there
were ten crimes punishable by death. When Christ came this was changed; the old axiom `an
eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth' was converted into `Love your enemies, do good to
them that hate you', the stern old law being changed into one of love, mercy and
forbearance!
In the former days the
punishment for theft was the cutting off of the right hand; in our time this law could not
be so applied. In this age, a man who curses his father is allowed to live, when formerly
he would have been put to death. It is therefore evident that whilst the spiritual law
never alters, the practical rules must change their application with the necessities of
the time. The spiritual aspect of religion is the greater, the more important of the two,
and this is the same for all time, it never changes! It is the same, yesterday, today, and
for ever! `As it was the beginning, is now, and ever shall be.'
Now, all questions of
morality contained in the spiritual, immutable law of every religion are logically right.
If religion were contrary to logical reason then it would cease to be a religion and be
merely a tradition. Religion and science are the two wings upon which man's intelligence
can soar into the heights, with which the human soul can progress. It is not possible to
fly with one wing alone! Should a man try to fly with the wing of religion alone he would
quickly fall into the quagmire of superstition, whilst on the other hand, with the wing of
science alone he would also make no progress, but fall into the despairing slough of
materialism. All religions of the present day have fallen into superstitious practices,
out of harmony alike with the true principles of the teaching they represent and with the
scientific discoveries of the time. Many religious leaders have grown to think that the
importance of religion lies mainly in the adherence to a collection of certain dogmas and
the practice of rites and ceremonies! Those whose souls they profess to cure are taught to
believe likewise, and these cling tenaciously to the outward forms, confusing them with
the inward truth.
Now, these forms and rituals
differ in the various churches and amongst the different sects, and even contradict one
another; giving rise to discord, hatred, and disunion. The outcome of all this dissension
is the belief of many cultured men that religion and science are contradictory terms, that
religion needs no powers of reflection, and should in no wise be regulated by science, but
must of necessity be opposed, the one to the other. The unfortunate effect of this is that
science has drifted apart from religion, and religion has become a mere blind and more or
less apathetic following of the precepts of certain religious teachers, who insist on
their own favorite dogmas being accepted even when they are contrary to science. This is
foolishness, for it is quite evident that science is the light, and, being so, religion
truly so-called does not oppose knowledge.
We are familiar with the
phrases `Light and Darkness', `Religion and Science'. But the religion which does not walk
hand in hand with science is itself in the darkness of superstition and ignorance.
Much of the discord and
disunion of the world is created by these man-made oppositions and contradictions. If
religion were in harmony with science and they walked together, much of the hatred and
bitterness now bringing misery to the human race would be at an end.
Consider what it is that
singles man out from among created beings, and makes of him a creature apart. Is it not
his reasoning power, his intelligence? Shall he not make use of these in his study of
religion? I say unto you: weigh carefully in the balance of reason and science everything
that is presented to you as religion. If it passes this test, then accept it, for it is
truth! If, however, it does not so conform, then reject it, for it is ignorance!
Look around and see how the
world of today is drowned in superstition and outward forms!
Some worship the product of
their own imagination: they make for themselves an imaginary God and adore this, when the
creation of their finite minds cannot be the Infinite Mighty Maker of all things visible
and invisible! Others worship the sun or trees, also stones! In past ages there were those
who adored the sea, the clouds, and even clay!
Today, men have grown into
such adoring attachment to outward forms and ceremonies that they dispute over this point
of ritual or that particular practice, until one hears on all sides of wearisome arguments
and unrest. There are individuals who have weak intellects and their powers of reasoning
have not developed, but the strength and power of religion must not be doubted because of
the incapacity of these persons to understand.
A small child cannot
comprehend the laws that govern nature, but this is on account of the immature intellect
of that child; when he is grown older and has been educated he too will understand the
everlasting truths. A child does not grasp the fact that the earth revolves round the sun,
but, when his intelligence is awakened, the fact is clear and plain to him.
It is impossible for religion
to be contrary to science, even though some intellects are too weak or too immature to
understand truth.
God made religion and science
to be the measure, as it were, of our understanding. Take heed that you neglect not such a
wonderful power. Weigh all things in this balance.
To him who has the power of
comprehension religion is like an open book, but how can it be possible for a man devoid
of reason and intellectuality to understand the Divine Realities of God?
Put all your beliefs into
harmony with science; there can be no opposition, for truth is one. When religion, shorn
of its superstitions, traditions, and unintelligent dogmas, shows its conformity with
science, then will there be a great unifying, cleansing force in the world which will
sweep before it all wars, disagreements, discords and struggles--and then will mankind be
united in the power of the Love of God.
Paris Talks PART II pages
141-146
SCIENCE AND REASON
Religion must agree with science, so that science shall sustain religion and
religion explain science. The two must be brought together, indissolubly, in
reality. Down to the present day it has been customary for man to accept
blindly what was called religion, even though it were not in accord with
human reason.
(Abdú'l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 26)
Third, religion must be conducive to love of all, the cause of fellowship,
unity and light. If it be the cause of enmity, bloodshed and hatred, its
nonbeing is better than its being, its nonexistence better than its
existence. Religion and science conform and agree. If a question of religion
violates reason and does not agree with science, it is imagination and not
worthy of credence.
(Abdú'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 170)
Third, religion must be conducive to love of all, the cause of fellowship,
unity and light. If it be the cause of enmity, bloodshed and hatred, its
nonbeing is better than its being, its nonexistence better than its
existence. Religion and science conform and agree. If a question of religion
violates reason and does not agree with science, it is imagination and not
worthy of credence.
(Abdú'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 169)
Among other principles of Bahá'u'lláh's teachings was the harmony of science
and religion. Religion must stand the analysis of reason. It must agree with
scientific fact and proof so that science will sanction religion and
religion fortify science. Both are indissolubly welded and joined in
reality. If statements and teachings of religion are found to be
unreasonable and contrary to science, they are outcomes of superstition and
imagination. Innumerable 176 doctrines and beliefs of this character have
arisen in the past ages. Consider the superstitions and mythology of the
Romans, Greeks and Egyptians; all were contrary to religion and science. It
is now evident that the beliefs of these nations were superstitions, but in
those times they held to them most tenaciously. For example, one of the many
Egyptian idols was to those people an authenticated miracle, whereas in
reality it was a piece of stone. As science could not sanction the
miraculous origin and nature of a piece of rock, the belief in it must have
been superstition. It is now evident that it was superstition. Therefore, we
must cast aside such beliefs and investigate reality. That which is found to
be real and conformable to reason must be accepted, and whatever science and
reason cannot support must be rejected as imitation and not reality. Then
differences of belief will disappear. All will become as one family, one
people, and the same susceptibility to the divine bounty and education will
be witnessed among mankind
(Abdú'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 175)
Religion must Conform to Science and Reason
569. The fourth principle declares that religion must be in conformity to
science and reason. If a religion does not agree with the postulates of
science nor accord with the regulations of reason it is a bundle of
superstitions; a phantasm of the brain. Science and religion are realities,
and if that religion to which we adhere be a reality it must needs conform
to the fundamental reality of all things.
(Compilations, Baha'i Scriptures, p. 277)
Similarly describe fully in that journal the other teachings which thou art
acquainted with, one by one, a detailed description. For example, that
religion must be the cause of concord; that it should agree with science and
reason; that it must be a factor of progress to the 36 world of humanity,
that it should be free from blind imitations. Another example is that all
prejudices are destructive to the foundation of the world of humanity.
(Compilations, Japan Will Turn Ablaze, p. 35) |
