Many people devote major parts of their lives
to religious studies of one sort or another, be it in theology
colleges, buddist monasteries or suburban yoga classes. All seek
`higher truths', `spiritual fulfillment ' or other such ideals which
are ultimately little more than matters of opinion, often dictated
by the fashion of the day. Yet
there is one pursuit that is understood and accepted all over the world
as being as close to the truth as we are ever likely to get, and that
is science. Would it not therefore be more sensible to
devote a similarly large part of one's life to learning about that? That is
where the real mysteries are. But even more valuable is the way of
thinking behind science that discourages self-delusion and, for those with charismatic personalities, the
instillment of delusion in others. In the complex technological
world in which we all now live, rich and poor societies alike, such rationality has become vital. Yet
this need not preclude that which we think of as `human values' - which
are also wonderful feeding grounds for opinion and fashionable
thinking. Indeed, learning about science should enrich our
humanity, not diminish it. You can gain some sense of this from the way
ethics committes operate. These are set up to debate moral
implications of scientific research, especially into human biology;
cloning is just one example. But as a part of that they can actually
help to define just what moral
actually is. In effect, they can suggest moral codes in ways quite
unavailable to the more traditional avenues of discussion.
And morality is central to other aspects of our humanity, such as law,
commerce (believe it or not), and ultimately, our societies which
make us us, as people. A widespread knowledge and understanding of science may better enable us to look at `spiritual values' and
perhaps, hopefully, arrive at common views that are beyond the
merely fashionable. But that process can only begin with ourselves, as individuals. If
you are new to science, children's books can be a good place to start
learning about it. Or try typing `basic science'
or similar into an internet search engine. The Links button below may also help. You don't need to
specialise;
for these purposes a broad knowledge of all the sciences is just as
useful. Then let it help you spread
your spiritual wings. |
