Do you think science can explain everything around you?.
According to religion and philosophy , there is an intellect behind this universe, which can be called God.Now this cannot be explained by physics.But do you think, science can get an ultimate answer without considering this.Science go from one discovery to another, but can they end somewhere and say this is the last of it??.Can it end without the help of something beyond physics??
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First we need to define science. Science is systematized body of knowledge. Science begins with curiosity. The law of gravitation and Archimedes theory were discovered out of curiosity. Science depends on experimentation and theory needs be proved by subsequent observations.
Religion and philosophy depend more on reasoning than experimentation. Religion has been segregated into rigid beliefs based on communities. A Hindu or a Muslim are born with given set of beliefs. On the other hand, no body is born as a scientist with preset beliefs or notions.
The universe is endless and the human means are limited. so, it is not probable that there can ever be last word in Science. As religion and philosophy also (philosophy is linked with religions) depend on uncorroborated logic and rigidity, there can always be last word. Also, those who do not accept as last word or gospel truth the beliefs of sacred books or prophets, may be declared atheists, blasphemous and satanic. Religion is closed. Science is always open to new thoughts and experiments.
Religion and philosophy depend more on reasoning than experimentation. Religion has been segregated into rigid beliefs based on communities. A Hindu or a Muslim are born with given set of beliefs. On the other hand, no body is born as a scientist with preset beliefs or notions.
The universe is endless and the human means are limited. so, it is not probable that there can ever be last word in Science. As religion and philosophy also (philosophy is linked with religions) depend on uncorroborated logic and rigidity, there can always be last word. Also, those who do not accept as last word or gospel truth the beliefs of sacred books or prophets, may be declared atheists, blasphemous and satanic. Religion is closed. Science is always open to new thoughts and experiments.
Although it has not been possible for science to offer explanations for all the wordly phenomena,it has been the goal of science to seek truth through enquiry and experimentation.And it has been observed where real and pure science has failed voodoo science has taken over!!As far as religion is concerned I do not see any contradiction with science both of which are in pursuit of seeking truth.
Santosh- Science only discovers the nature and the scientific inventions make use of the law of nature discovered through science. Science does not create any thing new out of thin air. This is a feat known to magicians.
In fact, it is scientifically proved that matter which may be in form of solid, liquid or gas, is never destroyed but only is transformed. Scientific inventions just make use of transformation of matter and law of nature. There is no question of giving birth or making a dead body alive.
In fact, it is scientifically proved that matter which may be in form of solid, liquid or gas, is never destroyed but only is transformed. Scientific inventions just make use of transformation of matter and law of nature. There is no question of giving birth or making a dead body alive.
@Gulshan,
From your words I understand that you have seen only the surface of the ocean of spiritual knowledge.Your idea about religion is actually based on the concepts in Semitic religion.There are much deeper things in religion and I shall attempt to introduce it to you.I am a Hindu and so I can talk only about my religion.But I have found similar idea in all other religion.
1.You said that religion is based on belief.
This is a very wrong concept.The idea of belief comes from the idea of personal God.To believe a personal God and follow the book is kindergarten study in Hinduism.The high levels in Hinduism is not about struggles and attempts to believe a certain doctrine or dogma, but in realizing-not in believing but in being and becoming.And this is very much a scientific process, that it constitutes observation, understanding, debates and direct proof by experience.The lab here is the inner world of thoughts,mind and beyond and to name one tool is introspection.
2.[quote]As religion and philosophy also (philosophy is linked with religions) depend on uncorroborated logic and rigidity, there can always be last word. Also, those who do not accept as last word or gospel truth the beliefs of sacred books or prophets, may be declared atheists, blasphemous and satanic. Religion is closed. Science is always open to new thoughts and experiments
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Religion is very much open and all the discoveries of spiritual laws proclaimed in Vedas are based on the revelations and understandings, studies and observation just like it is with science.It is very much a scientific process.All these discoveries are made by rishis, whom I will very well call scientist who discovers the laws of spiritual world.Now who told that atheism has no place in Hinduism.Rishi Carvaka is the one of the most ancient person who uphold the ideas of atheism and materialistic world,and he is very well respected as a great saint in the Hinduism.
At this point you may very well ask me.Is there any base for what you are taking.These are ancient people.What did they discovered so big.How can you talk about modern science at that time.
Now I can give you one proof.There was a recent discovery in CERN.the European Organization for nuclear research(the same guys working with Hadron collider).They found that the movements of some subatomic particle are very much similar to the dance of nataraja.(The cosmic dance of shiva).Now this dance is very ancient.So can you get glimpse of depth I am taking.The Indian gov even presented them a nataraja idol for this.Just do a Google search for all the details.or here is one article http://hinduism.about.com/od/lordshiva/p/nataraj.htm
So i believe you are an atheist and I have great respect for you.Because from what I know,you uphold he greatest ideas of religion, namely karma yoga(the central idea in geeta).A karma yogi need not believe in God, but he is much greater person than who chant the name of god thousand times without doing anything real and good.
From your words I understand that you have seen only the surface of the ocean of spiritual knowledge.Your idea about religion is actually based on the concepts in Semitic religion.There are much deeper things in religion and I shall attempt to introduce it to you.I am a Hindu and so I can talk only about my religion.But I have found similar idea in all other religion.
1.You said that religion is based on belief.
This is a very wrong concept.The idea of belief comes from the idea of personal God.To believe a personal God and follow the book is kindergarten study in Hinduism.The high levels in Hinduism is not about struggles and attempts to believe a certain doctrine or dogma, but in realizing-not in believing but in being and becoming.And this is very much a scientific process, that it constitutes observation, understanding, debates and direct proof by experience.The lab here is the inner world of thoughts,mind and beyond and to name one tool is introspection.
2.[quote]As religion and philosophy also (philosophy is linked with religions) depend on uncorroborated logic and rigidity, there can always be last word. Also, those who do not accept as last word or gospel truth the beliefs of sacred books or prophets, may be declared atheists, blasphemous and satanic. Religion is closed. Science is always open to new thoughts and experiments
[/quote]
Religion is very much open and all the discoveries of spiritual laws proclaimed in Vedas are based on the revelations and understandings, studies and observation just like it is with science.It is very much a scientific process.All these discoveries are made by rishis, whom I will very well call scientist who discovers the laws of spiritual world.Now who told that atheism has no place in Hinduism.Rishi Carvaka is the one of the most ancient person who uphold the ideas of atheism and materialistic world,and he is very well respected as a great saint in the Hinduism.
At this point you may very well ask me.Is there any base for what you are taking.These are ancient people.What did they discovered so big.How can you talk about modern science at that time.
Now I can give you one proof.There was a recent discovery in CERN.the European Organization for nuclear research(the same guys working with Hadron collider).They found that the movements of some subatomic particle are very much similar to the dance of nataraja.(The cosmic dance of shiva).Now this dance is very ancient.So can you get glimpse of depth I am taking.The Indian gov even presented them a nataraja idol for this.Just do a Google search for all the details.or here is one article http://hinduism.about.com/od/lordshiva/p/nataraj.htm
So i believe you are an atheist and I have great respect for you.Because from what I know,you uphold he greatest ideas of religion, namely karma yoga(the central idea in geeta).A karma yogi need not believe in God, but he is much greater person than who chant the name of god thousand times without doing anything real and good.
MC- Thank you very much for giving so much attention to my remarks and giving your valuable thoughts on religion. I do not know much about religion. But, I only wish to stress that the study of Science is not compartmentalized like religion. We do not form groups on basis of scientific theories and beliefs. There are so many groups formed on religion- namely Hindu, Muslim, christian. A Hindu is supposed to believe in Hindu scriptures as a christian is supposed to believe in everything that Bible says. This is blind faith and social division based on religion. Science does not create such division.
In this context I am reminded of these line in 'Madhushala' by Harivansh Rai Bachan- Mandir Masjid vair badhate prem badhati meri madhushala- (Temple and Moscque divide whereas the wine bar unites people."
In this context I am reminded of these line in 'Madhushala' by Harivansh Rai Bachan- Mandir Masjid vair badhate prem badhati meri madhushala- (Temple and Moscque divide whereas the wine bar unites people."
Gulshan-You are absolutely right.Different religions and its subdivisions creates social division.In fact religion is the root cause for majority of fights in this world. But that is a social problem.What I am pointing here is the purpose and essence of religion.It is for individuals.
Again I want to correct you here.A Hindu is never supposed to believe.I have already made it clear.He is free to take any path.That why there is toleration and universal acceptance. A Hindu is free to give away anything he thinks illogical.I like to quote the last lines of holy geeta.In it Krishna says to Arjun.""You have heard me.First understand this, then analyze it and if you are satisfied only accept it.""Thus it is not blind faith.The very unfortunate fact is that only a very few understand this reality.And there is degradation when this knowledge came in the hands of different people.Thats what is disturbing for both you and me.
Gulshan-Can i ask you a question.Why don't you believe in God.?
Again I want to correct you here.A Hindu is never supposed to believe.I have already made it clear.He is free to take any path.That why there is toleration and universal acceptance. A Hindu is free to give away anything he thinks illogical.I like to quote the last lines of holy geeta.In it Krishna says to Arjun.""You have heard me.First understand this, then analyze it and if you are satisfied only accept it.""Thus it is not blind faith.The very unfortunate fact is that only a very few understand this reality.And there is degradation when this knowledge came in the hands of different people.Thats what is disturbing for both you and me.
Gulshan-Can i ask you a question.Why don't you believe in God.?
In continuation of the point I made in my earlier post,let me add that true religion never divides and at the highest state of spiritualism there hardly exists any compartmentalization as Hindu ,Muslim or Christians and so on.Why unnecessarily do we blame religion for the kind of division we witness in our society.Although my personal belief in the organized religions is nil but at the same time I do believe in the existence of the Supreme Being.
This is a very interesting topic. There are a lot of angles to both science and religion that can be debated upon and not one would arrive at a specific answer to either of them. Apart from mere belief or what can be called as religious inclination, there is something called as FAITH. There have been numerous instances quoted in history books and other documentation which defies all known definitions of science. Where science looks upon a subject or topic as a proof or theorem to be solved, by providing logical explanations and chemical analysis and such; religion takes a much broader view.
A few examples: I am sure all of you would have heard of Saint Dnyaneshwar, 14th century Maharashtra, he along with his siblings; was invited by Saint Changdeo to have a debate on the prevalent religious beliefs. Saint Changdeo used to ride a live tiger to get around. St. Dnyaneshwar thinking it inappropriate to go to meet him on foot, drove a wall to see him. Many would not believe this story, but documented proof by people who have seen this incident still exist until today. Can this be explained by science?
There are many more examples that can be quoted. Samarth Ramdas Swami and St. Tukaram, both acknowledged as teachers by Shri Shivaji Maharaj and contemporaries; in both their works, there are references to atomic energy. Plastic surgery originated in India. The different astras which have been described in Ramayan and Mahabharat in actually were great weapons of destructions AND were derived from pure science and were in no way magic or voodoo science. Our ancestors in reality HAD accomplished a very high level of pure sciences in terms of weaponry and lot many other powers; and in order to ensure that these powers were not misused for personal selfishes or to kill unnecessarily linked it with religion. There can be a separate debate on this but those who may choose to study ancient scripts will find the truth that asll the so-called chamatkars was the result of exact science.
Also there are instances of people experiencing ESP(extrasensory perception) which science has so far been unable to explain. Instances of people achieving unbelievable feats merely by extreme willpower, a lot many things as yet remain unexplained. These have been explained by many as as result of chemical reactions in the brain but haven't been able to prove.
It is our choice whether we want to believe in one thing or the other or go by practical logic.
A few examples: I am sure all of you would have heard of Saint Dnyaneshwar, 14th century Maharashtra, he along with his siblings; was invited by Saint Changdeo to have a debate on the prevalent religious beliefs. Saint Changdeo used to ride a live tiger to get around. St. Dnyaneshwar thinking it inappropriate to go to meet him on foot, drove a wall to see him. Many would not believe this story, but documented proof by people who have seen this incident still exist until today. Can this be explained by science?
There are many more examples that can be quoted. Samarth Ramdas Swami and St. Tukaram, both acknowledged as teachers by Shri Shivaji Maharaj and contemporaries; in both their works, there are references to atomic energy. Plastic surgery originated in India. The different astras which have been described in Ramayan and Mahabharat in actually were great weapons of destructions AND were derived from pure science and were in no way magic or voodoo science. Our ancestors in reality HAD accomplished a very high level of pure sciences in terms of weaponry and lot many other powers; and in order to ensure that these powers were not misused for personal selfishes or to kill unnecessarily linked it with religion. There can be a separate debate on this but those who may choose to study ancient scripts will find the truth that asll the so-called chamatkars was the result of exact science.
Also there are instances of people experiencing ESP(extrasensory perception) which science has so far been unable to explain. Instances of people achieving unbelievable feats merely by extreme willpower, a lot many things as yet remain unexplained. These have been explained by many as as result of chemical reactions in the brain but haven't been able to prove.
It is our choice whether we want to believe in one thing or the other or go by practical logic.
Thanks Deepti, I will forward more information on him for you to read. But in short, he was a very young boy who, at the age of 16 wrote translated entire Bhagwad Gita in Marathi known as Dnyaneshwari. 14th century Maharahstra was in immense turmoil, people were on one hand being oppressed by Mughal rulers and on the other hand by so-called religious leaders of upper caste. The knowledge from our hindu scriptures and education was being denied to the common people and people of lower caste. There was a state of total anarchy and lot of different religious cults were on rise. These cults claimed themselves to be worshippers of Shakti and practised immoral things. That was when his Dnyaneshwari and lot of other works proved to be a guiding principle.
You may have heard of the yearly Wari in Maharashtra which takes place every year in the month of Ashadha. where devotees walk for thousands of kilometres to Pandharpur to take darshan of Shri Vitthala. This tradition of wari was established by St. Dnyaneshwar.
You may have heard of the yearly Wari in Maharashtra which takes place every year in the month of Ashadha. where devotees walk for thousands of kilometres to Pandharpur to take darshan of Shri Vitthala. This tradition of wari was established by St. Dnyaneshwar.
@kalyani,
This is exactly what I had in my mind when I made this thread.Thank you so much for providing such highly informative and interesting input for this debate.
You are right.Our ancestors used pure science and advance technology.I like to mention here the words of the scientist who made the atom bomb.His name is J. Robert Oppenheimer. While witnessing the explosion, he thought of a verse from the Hindu holy book, the Bhagavad Gita:
""If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst at once into the sky, that would be like the splendor of the mighty one...""
There are many such quotes from him like this.Also many scientist mention about the ancient knowledge.It clearly tell us the depth of scientific knowledge our ancestor had.
@Deepti,
I was just asking him what is the reason :) .I have no issue if one believes or not.If you read the earlier post I have made clear about my view on belief.
This is exactly what I had in my mind when I made this thread.Thank you so much for providing such highly informative and interesting input for this debate.
You are right.Our ancestors used pure science and advance technology.I like to mention here the words of the scientist who made the atom bomb.His name is J. Robert Oppenheimer. While witnessing the explosion, he thought of a verse from the Hindu holy book, the Bhagavad Gita:
""If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst at once into the sky, that would be like the splendor of the mighty one...""
There are many such quotes from him like this.Also many scientist mention about the ancient knowledge.It clearly tell us the depth of scientific knowledge our ancestor had.
@Deepti,
I was just asking him what is the reason :) .I have no issue if one believes or not.If you read the earlier post I have made clear about my view on belief.
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