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“… religion and science have nothing to say to each other.” according to science historian, Yves Gingras. [1]His introduction leaves little room for another point of view. This historian argues in the quoted text that “Science reveals facts; religion asserts God… Science has nothing to say about God.” And we could add that religion has nothing to say about science.
Indeed, religion [2] is defined as a system of practices and beliefs shared within a group or community. Science [3] is defined as a body of knowledge and studies of universal value, characterized by an object and a method based on verifiable and objective, observations, and rigorous reasoning.
This same historian co-authored research [4] that supports the idea that religion and science have nothing to say to each other. The research points out that “the more a religion asserts its own standards, the less competent its followers are in terms of scientific knowledge.”
Although the separation between religion and science seems fundamental, is it really so?
In 1998, Pope John Paul II, in Fides et Ratio, said of the science-religion relationship: “Faith and reason are two wings that allow the human spirit to rise towards the contemplation of truth.” [5] In 2016, a study [6] presented that most scientists interviewed in eight different countries did not adhere to the science-faith conflict. Some of them did believe in a religion. In 2018, the Catholic Church organized for the fourth time an international conference in the Vatican entitled “Unite to Cure” [7] with the aim of uniting different scientific disciplines in order to reflect on the future of science and humankind.
So how can we get out of this conflict which is maintained even if there is a slight proximity? The best way out is to find a third way, i.e. to make science and religion converge. This implies reframing by shedding new light upon it. “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” – Albert Einstein
The need for this convergence results from the observable consequences of this conflict in the history of humanity. “Science without conscience is dangerous. It leads to Hitlerian-type behavior… But if an individual has only spirituality, he can go so far as to kill…” – Rael – Contact 363 [8].
Hmm! Does the word spirituality bring more confusion? Marc Halévy defines the word “spirituality” as follows: “It must be taken with great care, because it is too often confused with “religion”… ; taken in the philosophical sense, in the very concrete sense, “spirituality” means: to give meaning and value to who one is, to what one does, to who one becomes” [9].
[9] In order to give meaning and value to who we are, what we do, who we become, some people will refer to what they believe, that is, to have faith in beliefs that are often certainties without proof. Others will refer to what they understand, that is, to an intelligible explanation based on verifiable objective observations and rigorous reasoning.
“Belief is a concept from the past… understand and use your brain. Use science.” – Rael – Contact 363 [10]. What is it about science that makes it so compelling? The purpose of science is to explain phenomena. “Science is the contemporary language of mysticism” [11], in other words, it demystifies mysticism. Scientific knowledge results in functional applications that have an undeniable impact on society. “Science unifies communities.” [12]
If science is unifying, it could be a religion in the etymological sense “relegare”: to be connected by a common understanding of the Living and the Universe. “To make science a religion… ” – Rael – Words of the last of the Prophets p.17 [13]
For science to be considered a religion, it needs a religiosity, a religious feeling that has nothing to do with faith or worship, but rather with philosophy in the etymological sense “philein”; to love; and “sophia”; wisdom. “Science is love when it is not used by soldiers” – Rael – Words of the last of the Prophets p.34 [14]
We can then say that science and religion are finally reconciled.
Rachel Bluteau,
Columnist for the Raelian Movement
[1] E Lévy : Dieu et la Science : Irréconciliables! Magasine Québec Science, 15-02-2016. https://www.quebecscience.qc.ca/sciences/dieu-et-la-science-irreconciliables/
[2] Wikipédia : https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion
[3] Wikipédia : https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science
[4] K Talin; Y Gingras : Plus de religion, moins de science; note de recherche 2020-21; https://cirst2.openum.ca/files/sites/179/2020/01/Note_2020-01_Talin-Gingras.pdf, page 32
[5] Wikipédia : https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science ; note 2
[6] Ecklund E. et all; (2016) « Religion among Scientists in International Context: A New Study of Scientists in Eight Regions », Socius, vol. 2, p. 1-9.
[7] Wikipédia : https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science ; note 144 et 145
[8] Paroles du Maitreya, de A à Z, p. 89
[9] Marc Halévy physicien et philosophe français Qu’est-ce qui nous arrive ? Banque Cantonale de Genève; à 33’57” du vidéo.
[10] Paroles du Maitreya, de A à Z, p. 83
[11] Dispensa J.; Neuroscience et placebo; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr-yhoYGi44&t=307s; à 5’06’ de la vidéo
[12] Dispensa J.; Neuroscience et placebo; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr-yhoYGi44&t=307s; 5’28’’ de la vidéo
[13] Paroles du Maitreya, de A à Z, p. 83
[14] Paroles du Maitreya, de A à Z, p. 83