Topic: The Harmony of Science and Religion
Page 1 This newsletter is dedicated to all seekers after the Eternal Truth.
Every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God is endowed
with such potency as can instill new life into every human frame, if ye be of
them that comprehend this truth. All the wondrous works ye behold in this
world have been manifested through the operation of His supreme and most
exalted Will, His wondrous and inflexible Purpose. Through the mere revelation
of the word "Fashioner," issuing forth from His lips and proclaiming His
attribute to mankind, such power is released as can generate, through successive ages, all the manifold arts which the hands of
man can produce. This, verily, is a certain truth. No sooner is this
resplendent word uttered, than its animating energies, stirring within all
created things, give birth to the means and instruments whereby such arts can
be produced and perfected. All the wondrous achievements ye now witness are
the direct consequences of the Revelation of this Name. In the days to come,
ye will, verily, behold things of which ye have never heard before. Thus hath
it been decreed in the Tablets of God, and none can comprehend it except them
whose sight is sharp. In like manner, the moment the word expressing My
attribute "The Omniscient" issueth forth from My mouth, every created thing
will, according to its capacity and limitations, be invested with the power to
unfold the knowledge of the most marvelous sciences, and will be empowered to
manifest them in the course of time at the bidding of Him Who is the Almighty,
the All-Knowing. Know thou of a certainty that the Revelation of every other
Name is accompanied by a similar manifestation of Divine
power.1
The above passage clearly shows how all the wonders and
knowledge of science proceeds directly from God. In the next passage,
Bahá'u'lláh states how it is God's chosen Ones (His Prophets and
Messengers) Who are the cause of the advancement of knowledge and arts,
demonstrating again the Divine connection with arts and sciences, and
therefore, its connection with true religion, which of course also has its
origin and development solely from God.
The light which these souls [the Manifestations of God]
radiate is responsible for the progress of the world and the advancement of its
peoples. They are like unto leaven which leaveneth the world of being, and
constitute the animating force through which the arts and wonders of the world
are made manifest.2
But why have both science and religion--why not one or the
other so that there will be less confusion? Because both are important
an necessary to man's development, as the next few passages demonstrate. Of
religion, Bahá'u'lláh writes:
The religion of God and His divine law are the most potent
instruments and the surest of all means for the dawning of the light of unity
amongst men. The progress of the world, the development of nations, the
tranquillity of peoples, and the peace of all who dwell on earth are among the
principles and ordinances of God. Religion bestoweth upon man the most
precious of all gifts, offereth the cup of prosperity, imparteth eternal life,
and showereth imperishable benefits upon mankind.3
And of the importance of arts and sciences,
Bahá'u'lláh instructs His followers:
O people of Bahá! The source of crafts, sciences and
arts is the power of reflection. Make ye every effort that out of this ideal
mine there may gleam forth such pearls of wisdom and utterance as will promote
the well-being and harmony of all the kindreds of the earth.4
And again:
Knowledge is as wings to man's life, and a ladder for his
ascent. Its acquisition is incumbent upon everyone. The knowledge of such
sciences, however, should be acquired as can profit the peoples of the earth,
and not those which begin with words and end with words. Great indeed is the
claim of scientists and craftsmen on the peoples of the world. Unto this
beareth witness the Mother Book on the day of His return. Happy are those
possessed of a hearing ear. In truth, knowledge is a veritable treasure for
man, and a source of glory, of bounty, of joy, of exaltation, of cheer and
gladness unto him. Thus hath the Tongue of Grandeur spoken in this Most Great
Prison.5
The power of both true religion and science come from God and
are, therefore, both Truth. It then follows that science and religion must be
harmonious and support rather than contradict each other. The following
passage by 'Abdu'l-Bahá demonstrates and explains this principle of the
unity of Religion and Science. He states:
We may think of science as one wing and religion as the other; a
bird needs two wings for flight, one alone would be useless. Any religion that
contradicts science or that is opposed to it, is only ignorance--for ignorance
is the opposite of knowledge. Religion which consists only of rites and ceremonies of
prejudice is not the truth. Let us earnestly endeavour to be the means of
uniting religion and science. 'Alí, the son-in-law of Muhammad, said:
'That which is in conformity with science is also in conformity with
religion'. Whatever the intelligence of man cannot understand, religion ought
not to accept. Religion and science walk hand in hand, and any religion
contrary to science is not the truth.6
To emphasize once again the Divine connection between science
and religion, is this final quote from the infallible Interpreter of
Bahá'u'lláh's holy Word, 'Abdu'l-Bahá::
By the power of the Holy Spirit, working through his soul, man
is able to perceive the Divine reality of things. All great works of art and
science are witnesses to this power of the Spirit. The same Spirit gives
Eternal Life.7
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1 Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the
Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 141-142. 2 Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of
Bahá'u'lláh, p. 157. 3 Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of
Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 129-130. 4 Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of
Bahá'u'lláh, p. 72. 5 Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of
Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 51-52. 6 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, pp. 130-131. 7 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 85.
