Free sample essay on Science and Religion (Free to read). Many people believe that science and religion are contrary to each other. But this notion is wrong. As a matter of fact, both are complementary to each other. The aim of both these institutions is to explain different aspects of life, universe and human existence.
There is no doubt that the methods of science and religion are different. The method of science is observation, experiment and experience. Science takes its recourse to progressive march towards perfection. The tools of religion are faith, intuition and the spoken word of the enlightened. No deviation from the set course is permissible, though some more rationalistic religious leaders also allow questionings and their satisfactory answers. But, in general, while science is inclined towards reason and ratiocination, spiritualism is the essence of religion.
In earliest times when man appeared on earth, he was over-awed at the sight of violent or powerful aspects of nature. In certain cases, the usefulness of different natural objects of nature overwhelmed the man. Thus began the worship of forces of nature like fire, the sun, the rivers, the rocks, the trees, the snakes etc. Later magic appeared on the stage. The clever magicians and then priests held the common people to ransom. The holy scriptures were written by those who had developed harmony between external nature and their inner self. Their object was to ennoble, elevate and liberate the human spirit and mind. But the priestly class took upon itself the monopoly of scriptural knowledge and interpretation to its own advantage.
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In this way, the entire human race was in chains. Truth was flouted and progressive, liberal and truthful ideas or ideas expressing doubt and skepticism were suppressed and their holders punished. It was in these trying circumstances that science emerged as the savior of mankind. But its path was not smooth and safe. The scientists and free thinkers were tortured. This was the fate of Copernicus, Galileo and Bruno and others. But by and by science gained ground. The people at last accepted that the sun did not revolve round the earth, nor was the earth the centre of the universe. Darwin’s theory of the origin of species shattered the theory of divine origin and hence superiority of man.
Later, just as religion, especially regimented religion degenerated into orthodoxy and tyranny, science brought in the forces of destruction in the shape of terrible and diabolical war weapons. Today the need is for proper blending of science and religion.