The paradox, which every religion has been grappling
with unsuccessfully, is this. On the one hand it demands blind faith
to accept its tenets and on the other it tries to make those tenets
look scientific and rational. It refuses to see the obvious that a
rational idea does not require blind faith. Rationality has been the
casualty in this undesirable struggle. As a consequence established
religions had to resist science.
Though very late in coming, the acceptance of Copernican cosmology
(earth going round the sun) and the biological evolution of life by
the Catholic Church is a welcome step in the right direction. Other
religions must follow suit.
One may wonder how various religions could suppress free inquiry
when the founder of every religion had been an inquirer. This
difficult task was accomplished by a simple linguistic trick of
literally interpreting the myths and allegories. Now we know that
earth at the center of the universe was a myth and so was the
immutability of species. There is yet another myth still dear to the
believers that human soul has come from god. And a myth in vogue
among the materialists is that there are no souls. I personally hold
a myth that all souls have as humble an origin as our body.
In this great confusion of myths and allegories, we have only one
dependable tool to get at the reality. As science has exploded many
myths in the past, it is sure to continue the good work in future
also. Rationality and spirituality can only be reconciled in moral
science. It reminds one of the most important myths affecting us –
we are accountable for our actions or a moral law pervades life.
Only science can shed some positive light on this contentious issue.
That morals are non-material may be another objection. But,
psychology as a behavioral science is already dealing with
non-material emotions and moods. Biology and psychology have been
able to explode the myth about racial superiority of any race.
Any creed opposing a free inquiry is anything but a religion. Yet
this inquiry into morals by science is sure to be vehemently opposed
by the so called religions. The last Pope had already drawn the
line. He had advised the scientists to leave the soul alone as it is
directly created by god. It appears that the Pope, at the threshold
of the third millennium, had conceded the modern cosmology but
retained the moment of Creation; likewise he had conceded the
biologically evolved body to the scientists but retained the soul.
Though it may go against the gospel truth of many religions, many
lives or rebirths add to the glory of god and the majesty of nature.
Simply put, a god granting millions of lives to each soul is any day
more benevolent and merciful than a niggardly god granting a single
life. Science can make a beginning by studying the effects of
virtues on the psycho-physiology of the person as it now better
equipped to measure and analyze the brain activity and behavior.
Yoga is a good example. It is found to reduce inner conflict and
impart health and cheerfulness. Practicing yoga is, then, a
desirable virtue. In the same manner the effects of honesty,
truthfulness and compassion may easily be studied. The idea is to
find out the relevance of virtues for this life, here and now. Its
relevance for society is self-evident. A society made up of honest
and truthful members is the avowed social goal of every moral
philosophy and creed. And there are small pockets of such societies
scattered in the world.
Research in moral science is sure to throw up morally appropriate
technology to eradicate moral aberration in the individual as well
as the society. For example every body is fed up with corruption and
violence these days. We feel so helpless against this system of
demonic proportions. If only we could empower ourselves with a
polygraph, this system would vanish into thin air and the little
demons will vanish behinds bars.
Summing up, myth is ignorance while true insight into reality is
knowledge. There are myths galore in this modern civilization at the
beginning of the third millennium after Christ, the pride of place
goes to the myth about god communicating with man in human language.
It blocked every inquiry as useless since God could always choose a
new spokesman whenever He felt the need to correct us. How elegantly
simple! The reality, too, is simple thanks to biology and
psychology. My talking to god is prayer; God talking to me is
schizophrenia- a mental disorder.
