To read the full article, please go to the author’s website.  This article has been moved do to copyright concerns.

Then came the Scientific Revolution, which sought to use science, not religion, to explain the universe.

Both these movements helped to set the stage for the Enlightenment, the most influential philosophical movement of the modern European age.

“Enlightenment” mean to “bring light”, that is, to bring rationality, logical thinking, and reason to people.

In this time period Europe became secular, or it separated religion from the government.

It is also the time period where science, rather than religious superstition, became the dominant force in daily life for Europeans.

The Enlightenment is who Europe and the Western World today remains strongly secular, separates religion firm government, and relies on science to explain the universe.

Below is a list of comments on the relationship on how science relates to the supernatural and the Bible. It includes a reference to creation science and world views.

1. Being an independent thinker means you will often disagree with others, particularly with those in positions of authority

1. Thinking for your self dose not mean not believing in God. It can also mean believing in God when others criticize you for doing so.

1. If you start with the assumption that something does not exist then any theory you produce will support that assumption.

1. Claiming that because some things once thought to be supernatural are now known to be natural events means that all events have natural explanations is like claiming that all convicts are innocent because some people are falsely convicted of crimes they did not commit.

1. Science that discounts even the possibility supernatural explanations is no longer a pursuit of the truth but the development of atheistic mythology.

1. The supernatural is not unscientific it is simply events who’s causes are from outside our universe.

1. World views are like noses. Everybody has one but not everyone has the same world view.

1. Creation Science is not anti science but anti atheistic assumptions being imposed on Science.

1. Any theory that presupposes that the Bible is wrong will inevitably interpret data in a way that disagrees with the Bible. 

1. Knowing something about a topic creates a bias about how you see other information on that topic. So as a result you can only totally objective if you are totally ignorant.

1. Total objectivity in science is like the speed of light, You can try to reach it all you want but you will never quite reach it.

1. The apparent conflict between science and religion results from an anti-religion, atheistic scientific establishment not scientists who believe in God and the Bible.

Religion and science have overlapping conflicts that make it fairly safe to say that only one can be the truth. Science is all about the unknown. The unknown of the universe is what continuously alters what philosophers claim is the root of all creation and nature. But, one has to take note of the fact that the philosophies of the earliest men were flawed and sometimes altogether wrong. Claudius Ptolemaeus, or Ptolemy, a Greek scientist, used astrological knowledge to concoct a theory of how the universe operated. He created a model that showed how the universe revolved around the Earth, rather than the sun. This model was widely respected by the religions of that time, and it wasn’t until astronomers such as Galileo Galilei proved this theory wrong that the true structure was known. This shows how science, although supposedly based on fact, can be proven wrong at times and must change its theories. 

In addition to the falsehood of the philosophies of many scientists, they blatantly refute the basis of a God who created the world. This being the utmost important aspect of any faith sets the conflict at a standstill. Al-Ghazali, a well-known scientist, excelled in the teachings from Aristotle and Socrates, but then attacked them in his work The Incoherence of the Philosophers. Al-Ghazali observed how scientists believed there was no God and that there is no reason to live by any religious text: “They have abandoned all the religious duties Islam imposes on it followers. They laugh at the positive commandments of religion which enjoin the performance of acts of devotion and the absence from forbidden things”.

In the original text of Novum Organum, Francis Bacon challenges the works of Aristotle. Bacon starts his legacy as one of the first advocates of science based on experimentation. Earlier methods of science were all about logical deduction and reasoning rather than observation and actual testing. These early methods were sometimes based on principles from the Bible and Bacon believed this made them all false. Bacon therefore reinforces how scientific reasoning is ever-changing and that it is constantly proven wrong: “The art of logic, therefore, being (as we have mentioned), too late a precaution, and in no way remedying the matter, has tended more to confirm errors, than to disclose truth”.

In addition to Francis Bacon disputing the past works of Aristotle, Averroes does the same with Al-Ghazali in his work “On the Harmony of Religions and Philosophy”. Although religion and science have many differences and subjects too opposite for both to be considered true Averroes points out selections in the Quran to compare the two. But, rather than debate on the main points such as how the earth was created, Averroes centers his points on how scientific reasoning must be used to fully understand religion: “Now, it being established that the Law makes the observation and consideration of creation by reason obligatory–and consideration is nothing but to make explicit the implicit–this can only be done through reason. Thus we must look into creation with the reason”. Averroes attempted to get philosophy back into the Islamic world but failed because the people of Islam still rejected many viewpoints of science.

Ever since religion and science were created they have been debated. This is because of the overlapping areas that make both parties either right or wrong and the nonstop change of scientific views. Some may protest that science and religion, due to some texts may be able to coexist, but this is because they do not relate to the main topics of the two subjects. Scientists do not believe in the ways that religion states that the Earth was created and this is one of the main aspects of the religious faith. The way that science is constantly evolving makes it impossible to coincide with something that has stayed the same for thousands and thousands of years.

Image via Wikipedia

Science and religion are often seen as being in conflict, but as Stephen Hawking recently demonstrated recently most of the conflict results from the anti-religion position of atheists like himself. It is the insistence of such people on assuming that God and the supernatural do not exist that cusses the conflict. This is because if you start with the assumption that something does not exist you will produce theories constant with that assumption.

When asked if religion and science could be reconciled Hawking said. “There is a fundamental difference between religion, which is based on authority, and science, which is based on observation and reason. Science will win because it works.” However this not an accurate statement since it is not totally accurate ether science or religion.

For example while Christians see the Bible authoritative, reading and understanding it is up to the individual Christian not just ministers. Nor are Christians required to take a pastor’s preaching at face value but are encouraged to compare it to the Bible. Further more much of the Bible is a result of the observation of events often witnessed by the human authors. The bases of the resurrection of Jesus is not some vision but on the reports of men and women who saw the risen Jesus themselves. Even today we can go to Jerusalem in Israel and observe the empty tomb for ourselves.

On the other hand while science is ideally based on observation and reason. This is not always the case. Stephen Hawking is actually a good example of this because he personally does little if any actual observation, but most of his work is the result of theorizing within his own mind. Furthermore, little if any of his work has produced testable predictions that have ever been successfully tested by observation. Despite this he himself is seen as an authority in science with some people taking his every word as truth with as much unquestioning faith as is seen in the most gullible regions person you could know.

The point is that in his ABC news interview he showed clear contempt for religion, and there by showed the real source of conflict between science and religion. That is atheistic control of establishment institutions.

 . 

I am having a thought about reincarnation while watching a video from youtube of a boy relating his past life. The video is truly amazing and many speculations rose from everyone who ever watches the video, much more with the people who personally known the boy. I know there are lot of people out there who believe in reincarnation and I do not judge them for believing so. Good for the ones who live their lives doing good things in fear that, they might reincarnate in an animal bodies if they will live a bad life, as form of punishment.

Now, here is one thing that made me think deeply. If reincarnation is true and if someone, who lives a bad life will reincarnate in an animal body as punishment, then why people these days are getting wilder and beast? Is their old life as an animal gives them this kind of behavior that make them live like animal in human bodies? Come to think of it. If I lived my past life as an insect or animal, might be a tree and I was given the chance to rebirth and become a human once again, then, I will live my life as a good person. I will never wish to be punished and reincarnate as animal or a tree once I am dead. I bet no one wants to be punished and keep reincarnated as dog, cat or an oak tree. Who wants to be?

If reincarnation is true, that means, we existed since the world begun. How many lives we have passed or how many times we ever reincarnate till date. I cannot remember any of my past life during Jurassic Time or Stone Ages. I never had any memories with centuries ago, not having any flash back of past life being  an animal or how it is to become a tree. Just thinking out loud guys, no offense meant.

Image via Wikipedia

Top myths about the Bhagavad Gita:

It’s for the Hindus alone: No, Bhagavad Gita is not meant for the Hindus alone. It’s a practical guide to life that can be used by any one regardless of religion, nationality, race, age, gender, culture and social background. It’s Universal, evergreen and immortal.

It’s for the old people: No, it’s good if a young man or woman reads the Bhagavad Gita and learns the art of living. It’s for all ages undoubtedly.

It teaches you to become a sage: Many people think that Bhagavad Gita teaches us to grow beard, become a sage and live in forests. It’s just a myth.

You can’t possess wealth: Bhagavad Gita never opposes possessing of wealth, though it recommends living without desires. It may look a bit complicated to understand this philosophy. The Bhagavad Gita teaches you to do your duties with passion but without worrying about the outcome of your efforts. When you develop attachment to something, your mind can’t be calm and when the mind is in an agitated state; your action can’t be to your full potentials.

Image via Wikipedia

The teachings of the Bhagavad Gita: It teaches you to do your duties with passion but without bothering about the results. Your mind must be calm free from anger, jealousy, lust (desires), greed, deep emotional attachment and arrogance. Your soul is immortal. You should have tremendous concentration while performing an action. You can surrender to God, meditate and get enlightenment. Eventually you can enter the kingdom of the God.

Summary: Bhagavad Gita is not just for the Hindus. It’s a Universal book and a practical guide to life. Though the Bhagavad Gita is 5000 years old, it never becomes obsolete. Any one can read the Bhagavad Gita to learn the art of living and enjoy its amazing benefits. Thanks for reading.

                                  The amazing benefits of Yoga

I make money on Triond. If you want to write and earn, join Triond HERE. It’s free. 

You might also be interested in:

http://telewatcher.com/reality/dancing-with-the-stars/dancing-with-the-stars-2011-season-13-all-the-12-contestants-and-pairs-announced/

                      http://beyondjane.com/family/marriage/a-true-love-story/

                     http://beyondjane.com/relationships/why-do-relationships-fail-top-15-reasons-2/

                  http://beyondjane.com/women/10-top-qualities-that-men-adore-in-women/

            http://writinghood.com/writing/so-how-to-get-1000-page-views-per-day-on-triond-how-to-make-100-per-month-on-triond/

           http://writinghood.com/writing/how-to-write-quality-articles-15-top-tips-for-online-writers/

                http://socyberty.com/society/worlds-top-10-most-handsome-men-of-recent-times/

http://makemoneywithvijayarjun.blogspot.com/2011/03/top-15-ways-to-drive-traffic-to-your.html

Image via Wikipedia

Bhagavad Gita on desires: Yes, the Bhagavad Gita says that we should get rid of desires. Here many of us misunderstand that Gita is against possessing wealth, money or enjoying married life. No, not at all. What Gita says is, we should not get carried away by the desires. For example, if you want to win the Wimbledon finals, you should not think too much about the title and go on playing your natural game with passion, interest and utmost perfection. Title will come to you automatically.

The life recommended by the Gita: Everyone has some special skill or talent. If you are good at singing, I am sure you will have a passion for singing. You need to choose it as your profession and keep on singing with passion and perfection without bothering much about the rewards. You may or may not get the rewards you deserve, never mind and keep on singing that’s your duty after all. Take success and failure equal and never get carried away by them. Needless to say you will come up in life with flying colors.

What do the modern self-development gurus say? If you read carefully the modern self-development books, say the books of Napoleon Hill or Kopmeyer, you will understand that they all are recommending some of the techniques that Gita advocated 5000 years ago.

Summary: According to Bhagavad Gita, we should not have desires. We need to keep on doing our duties with passion and perfection without bothering much about the outcome of our efforts. Failures and successes should not influence us. In other words, you have to keep on doing your duties with a kind of detached attachment. Thanks for reading.

                                      The amazing benefits of Yoga

I make money on Triond. If you want to write and earn, join Triond HERE. It’s free. 

You might also be interested in:

http://telewatcher.com/reality/dancing-with-the-stars/dancing-with-the-stars-2011-season-13-all-the-12-contestants-and-pairs-announced/

                      http://beyondjane.com/family/marriage/a-true-love-story/

                     http://beyondjane.com/relationships/why-do-relationships-fail-top-15-reasons-2/

                  http://beyondjane.com/women/10-top-qualities-that-men-adore-in-women/

            http://writinghood.com/writing/so-how-to-get-1000-page-views-per-day-on-triond-how-to-make-100-per-month-on-triond/

           http://writinghood.com/writing/how-to-write-quality-articles-15-top-tips-for-online-writers/

                http://socyberty.com/society/worlds-top-10-most-handsome-men-of-recent-times/

http://makemoneywithvijayarjun.blogspot.com/2011/03/top-15-ways-to-drive-traffic-to-your.html

Pundits debate about the co-existence of science and religion in the field of knowledge for many years since the philosophy becomes an important phenomena in the educational domain. The knowledge and philosophy also differs to somewhat extent in the West and the East, however, we may sum up our arguments as follows:

-Both science and religion are knowledge-based subjects. Both cover similar fields of activities pertaining to decision-making. But religion being pensively holistic proceeds from the wholeness of universal judgment to the partitive or particular human activities for proving its truth; whereas science as an experimental device, proceed from partitive experiment through generalization to the theoretical whole for establishing the truth of its findings.

-Hence science and religion cannot be mutually identified or fused, but need be adjusted and balanced for the well-being of human life.

-In the East, Hindus, Buddhist, and Muslims classify knowledge into four categories, such as, anubhuti jukti, satya and dibya. These are again grouped together into two kinds, such as, exoteric and esoteric. But in the modern West knowledge is classified into two categories, such as, perceptual and conceptual and the Westerners are not acquainted with the remaining two higher categories of knowledge.

-The two western categories of knowledge are equivalent to the first two categories of Eastern knowledge, which are designated in the East as bidya or mere learning and not knowledge per se. Hence the Western knowledge as compared to the Eastern strands as a halfway house of knowledge.

-The term empirical knowledge as applied to the experimental science turns out ambiguous between experiential and experimental as stated in the Western dictionaries. Empirical knowledge is called empiricism, whereas science cannot be conjugated with ism.

-Experimental science was devised by the Muslims drawn from Quranic sources, which was borrowed by the West from the Muslims as evidenced by the researches of Roger Bacon, probably that is why, his role is being relegated to the background.

-Learning produces arrogance (ahongkar) and may lead to power consciousness as the Westerners are prone to think; whereas knowledge, in the true sense, produces humbleness as Socrates wanted to say; and humbleness produces wisdom. Wisdom is a western terminology, but it is not applied to the western knowledge, such as English wisdom, French wisdom, German wisdom etc. though it is widely applied to the East, such as, Oriental wisdom, Chinese wisdom, Indian wisdom etc.