Edit: Some of my friends felt little offended by the title. Surprisingly, friends of science as well as religion equally. That's how deeply they despise each other it turns out.
I wrote this title not to offend anyone on both sides. The idea is to convey that, Religion or spirituality is a laboratory for exploring the inner workings of the mind and soul, while science is a temple for worshiping, questioning, and unlocking the mysteries of the universe beyond our physical senses.
Science, like all human endeavors, is a reflection of the mind that created it. It is a tool for understanding the world, but it is not the world itself. And yet, all too often, we treat science as if it were the ultimate reality, the be-all and end-all of human knowledge. I am deeply intrigued and aligned with Sir Nikola Tesla on his views about science in a holistic way rather than empirical one. So I am putting forward my observation about why science needs to unfriend dogmas, and rebound with philosophy as it once truly were.
We forget that science, like all human creations, is limited by the limitations of the human mind.
The world is not a machine to be understood, it is a mystery to be lived, and it need not remain a mystery forever, necessarily. That is where philosophy and spirituality comes into play. The world is one but the experiences are as many as the beings that are in it, each unique by every degree of perception, understanding, maturity etc. by the souls that pass through time, contained in it, not by force but by grace.
The scientific community is often guilty of thinking that they have found the answers to all questions, and that any other viewpoint must be false. This is a dangerous attitude, as it dismisses alternative perspectives and possibilities without giving them a fair chance. Scientists, or at least the followers of science, are often so focused on their own areas of expertise that they become disconnected from the world and other people within it, and thus unable to see the bigger picture.
Undoubtedly, Science is a powerful tool for understanding the world, but it is not the world itself.
It is not the ultimate reality, it is a reflection of the mind that created it, in an attempt to fathom the reality.
The way science is taught in schools and universities often reinforces this dogmatic attitude, emphasizing memorization and regurgitation of facts over critical thinking and the questioning of established theories. This can lead to a generation of scientists who are not equipped to think for themselves and are unable to come up with new and innovative ideas.
Science can explain the 'how' of things, but not the 'why' of things. The 'how' is mostly certain, constant too, but the 'why' is very complex, not necessarily uncertain but rather elusive and open to interpretation, relying on subjective perspectives and personal beliefs, emotions and habits.
In order to prevent science from becoming a religion in itself, we must remember that the scientific method is a philosophy of inquiry and not a source of certainty.
Scientists should be encouraged to question established theories and to explore alternative perspectives. Additionally, we must emphasize critical thinking and free thought in science education and engage in an equally philosophical fashion.
Most importantly, we must remember that science is but one way of understanding the world, and that there are other ways, such as through philosophy, art, and other forms of human expression. These other ways can bring a more holistic understanding of the world and help us to break down the boundaries between different fields of study, fostering a more open and inclusive scientific community.
Let us not treat science as the ultimate reality, but rather as a powerful tool for understanding the world. Let us encourage free thought and critical thinking, and engage the public in an accessible and understandable way. And let us remember that there are other ways of understanding the world, such as through philosophy, art, and other forms of human expression.
Only by embracing the mystery of the world, can we truly understand it.
Stay woke, Stay aware.
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