‘As science advances, the importance of religion declines.’ To what extent is this an accurate claim?

'AS SCIENCE ADVANCES, THE IMPORTANCE OF RELIGION DECLINES. ' TO WHAT EXTENT IS THIS AN ACCURATE

CLAIM?

Students of history would be aware that during the time known as the dark ages, religion ruled supreme in Europe. In fact it was tyrannical and put to death - after frightful torture - anyone who questioned the teachings of religion. The most number of casualties of the period were from the scientists. Even famed scientists like Galileo were victims of the dreaded Inquisition. It was an uphill task for scientists to continue with their researches. Scientists - in fact intellectuals of any subject - lived in fear of religion. Realising that knowledge was power, the kings and lords of the times supported religion in its suppression of science. Hence scientists had to hide their knowledge and experiments.

Then came the decline of religion, owing to several reasons. Men became more adventurous and daring and slowly began to release them selves from the grip of the vice of religion. Then began the march in the opposite direction. People, now leaned in the direction that religion was all 'nonsense '. Hence we see that the church was questioned when Dar win published his 'Origin of Species '. As it came to be more or less rea soned that man did not come to be born as described in the bible, peo ple began to question the validity of the bible itself. Though Christianity and the bible are used as examples here, the same has happened to other religions as well. As people became more inclined towards science, they went away from religion.

Upon being installed to a respectable status, science progressed in leaps and bounds and within just a couple of centuries established itself as being the last word on what are truths and what not. What has happened since then is that - as could be expected - science has dethroned religion. However, it is regrettable that in many cases, the baby has been thrown out with the bath water. In their effort to be scientific, many people have discarded religion. What is happening now in the world is that practical ly all religions stand in opposition to science and, naturally, science stands in opposition to religion.

Religion has always been in charge of social morals and it is still common to see that many people live exactly as religion prescribes they should. But this is a tendency that is fast losing ground. Followers of religion are getting less and less. As education throughout the world is brought to more and more people, especially education with regard to science, people begin to question age old beliefs. The proof of their senses becomes more important than adages and words of wisdom stated centu ries earlier, by ancestral wise men. Also people begin to realise that reli gion is mostly cther worldly. Since the other world is theory and the world of science here for us to touch and see and live, reality often wins against idealism.

The statement that religion declines in importance in the face of the_ popularity of science is therefore true. However, there is evidence to show that religion is fighting back too. Many religions are now getting more rational. There are breakaway factions from the orthodox ways that used to insist on blind adherence. In many aspects we see that religions are becoming more scientific. Many are now reinterpreting the scriptures to make them compatible with science and still others are researching into religion using scientific methods. Some are even claiming that religion is a science. Hence we see that all is not lost with religion. It may well be discovered that religion is scientific. Laws which were up to now unknown may well be waiting to be discovered and religion may still come into its own.

REFERENCES:

Dawkins, R. (2006). The God delusion. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Dennett, D. (2006). Breaking the spell: Religion as a natural phenomenon. New York: Viking Penguin.

Kass, L. (1985). Toward a more natural science: Biology and human affairs. New York: The Free.

Kass, L. (2007). Science, religion, and the human future. Commentary,123(4), 36-48.

References: Dawkins, R. (2006). The God delusion. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. Dennett, D. (2006). Breaking the spell: Religion as a natural phenomenon. New York: Viking Penguin. Kass, L. (1985). Toward a more natural science: Biology and human affairs. New York: The Free. Kass, L. (2007). Science, religion, and the human future. Commentary,123(4), 36-48.