THE AGE OF SCIENCE AND RELIGION—PART II

THE AGE OF SCIENCE AND RELIGION—PART II Discovering God Through Reason Development of scientific knowledge has made it possible for religious beliefs to be established at exactly the same level of certainty at which other things of this material world are established. Science has now replaced the miracles of ancient times as evidence to prove the veracity of religion. Some Examples S EVERAL examples show how modern science has replaced miracles of ancient times. Religious beliefs and theological facts presented before people (the prophets' contemporaries) through miracles, may now be presented through established human knowledge. Today a dayee (one who calls people towards God) is not required to perform miracles to verify his message. Rather he has to provide proofs for his message in terms of established scientific knowledge. The Existence of God The first question relates to the proof of God’s existence. Earlier, belief in God was a matter of conviction. Modern science provides proof of the existence of God, at least potentially, if not actually. The focus of science is not God or the existence of the Creator. Its focus is the study of nature or creation. In the initial stage, it was held that all things had known causes and that is why there was no reason to study the Creator (the Cause of the causes). But detailed scientific study has shown that innumerable events are taking place in the universe every moment. There are numerous options before nature at every stage. Nature, on each occasion, selects only the most appropriate one. This has compelled scientists to believe that there is an intelligent mathematical mind behind this universe. Such appropriate functioning of nature cannot be explained without believing in the existence of a superior intelligence behind nature. To quote a scientist: “The stuff of the world is mind-stuff.” The existence of design in this world proves the existence of a designer—this is as valid an argument as other scientific arguments of the material world.