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In the matter of gravity, the choice for us is not
between matter with gravity and matter without
gravity, but between matter with gravity and
non-existent matter. Since the concept of
non-existent matter is untenable, because
unworkable, we have opted for matter with gravity.
From the purely academic angle, the same is true of
the concept of God.
The universe itself does not have the ability to
create. It can neither increase nor decrease itself
by so much as a particle. As with all other
scientific concepts, we must choose not between the
universe with God and the universe without God, but
between God and a non-existent universe. Since a
non-existent universe is inconceivable, we must
perforce opt for the concept of the universe with
God. |
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Answer:
The
nineteenth century was the century of atheism. But
with the arrival of the twentieth century, the whole
course of history changed, with religion again
becoming a major force in human life. Although more
in potential than in reality. The obvious causes are
discontent with science and the continuing existence
of religion as an inherent part of human nature.
A hundred years ago even thinking against science
was considered a sign of ignorance. At the end of
the 19th century a well-known scientist said that he
was not able to understand anything unless he could
make a scientific model of it. But now, at least at
the academic level, man’s conviction of the
usefulness of science has been shaken. The whole
spate of books on this subject which came out after
the second world war was an indication of the extent
of the human dilemma. The article on the history of
science in the Encyclopaedia Britannica (1984)
begins with these words: ‘Until recently, the
history of science was a story of success. The
triumphs of science represented a cumulative process
of increasing knowledge and a sequence of victories
over ignorance and superstition; and from science
flowed a stream of inventions for the improvement of
human life. The recent realization of deep moral
problems within science of external forces and
constraints on its development, and of dangers in
uncontrolled technological change has challenged
historians to a critical reassessment of this
earlier simple faith.” (16:366)
Modern science has offered man innumerable
facilities, but along with this it has brought in
its wake such great dangers as have rendered all its
gifts meaningless. The greatest menace is that of a
third world war. In the event of this happening, it
will be a nuclear war which will reduce most of the
big cities to ruins in a matter of hours. Moreover,
the whole atmosphere will be engulfed in thick smoke
which will prevent sunlight from reaching the earth.
This will in turn produce a terrible nuclear winter,
which will bring all human, animal and vegetable
existence to the verge of the most tragic
annihilation. The progress of science has not only
produced material problems, but has also created
intellectual and spiritual problems of a very grave
nature.
1. Science and scientific resources had vastly
expanded human knowledge. It not only gave man
microscopes and telescopes to observe things which
had till then remained unseen, but it also opened up
innumerable new ways and means of making it possible
to add greatly to information in every field.
All this gave man the self-confidence to feel
certain that he could arrive at the final reality
through science alone. But the only thing that the
increase in knowledge has told man is that he has
how entered into a new phase of ignorance. In the
words of a scientist: “We know more and more about
less and less.
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