Faith and science

THE SPEAKING TREE

The goal of both science and religion is to find

sustainable ways to make human beings genuinely
enraptured by the fact of our appearance in the cosmos
Albert Einstein in his essay 'What I Believe' writes, 'To know
that what is impenetrable to us really exists, manifesting itself
as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty which our
dull faculties can comprehend only in their most primitive
forms - this knowledge, this feeling, is at the centre of true
religiousness. In this sense, and in this sense only, I belong in
the ranks of devoutly religious men.'
In a life devoted to unravelling the mysteries of the universe,
one of the greatest thinkers of all time had the humility to
accept what he did not know. He felt that an insight into the
mystery of life is where evidence-based science segues
seamlessly into religion based on faith.
Does that suggest that science and religion share a certain
epistemological standing? Indeed, many humanists and
theologians insist that there are multiple ways of knowing,
and that religious narratives exist alongside scientific ones.
This equivalence might lead to a relativist conclusion - you
have your faith; I have mine.
The goal of both science and religion is (or should be) to find
reliable and sustainable ways to make human beings happier,
more loving, more humble, less fearful, and genuinely
enraptured by the fact of our appearance in the cosmos.