"Religion without science is lame, while science without religion is blind."
He further reiterates, from Page 346...
"...in his approach to truth, the Buddha was as analytical as a present day scientist. He established a practical, scientifically worked-out method for reaching the ultimate truth, and the experience of Enlightenment."
He goes on to say that although Buddhism inquires similarly to science, the two can't fully be equated. Buddhism, of course, goes beyond.
Even this, has its limits. God's thoughts are greater, higher, broader than any human being, even of those of higher IQs than the rest of us. Isaiah 55:8-9 informs us about this aspect of God...
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."
Science has scoped out great distances of universe, and depths of sea. Pause and consider how vast that is! Human capacity for exploring falls so short of all God created.
Sri Dhammananda tells us Buddhism is more vast than even that barely grasped scientific knowledge. Pause again. Think and consider.
Now broaden all of that and multiply and multiply into infinity and still, God goes beyond all of that. He really is The Supreme, Everlasting Being from eternity past, to Time which is now, and to all eternity to come.
Religion and Science have their limitations but a relationship with God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ is all encompassing; fulfilling. I'm overjoyed and overwhelmed to be His daughter. He waits for one and all to become His child. This is The Ultimate Truth.
Sri Dhammananda gives some of his insights as to why science falls short of religion, from the Buddhist viewpoint. He says on Pages 346-348...
"...scientific truth is subject to constant change...gropes in semi-darkness, it has to constantly shift its positions..."
For example, there is no cure for the common cold; medical people used to tell us cholesterol-filled foods are all very bad, now they are saying some of it is ok. Or this or that type of food is cancer producing, then later rescind and say, no it isn't.
Another shortcoming, says Sri Dhammananda, is that...
"As yet science cannot give beings control over their mind and certainly cannot offer more control and guidance..." (Page 347).
Praise God, I've got some good news! For a follower of Jesus Christ, there is the Holy Spirit indwelling Who can convict the individual of wrongs. Despite the Holy Spirit's nudging, the person is still free to choose to do or not to do the wrong. However, the Holy Spirit is the person's warning beacon.
On the other hand, we're told...
"Science tells us a lot of what it can do and so little about what it cannot do...scientific knowledge is limited to the data received through the sense organs. It does not recognize reality which transcends sense-data...Even the science of psychology has not really fathomed the underlying cause of human mental unrest..." Page 347).
For instance, there are anti-depressants, for the mental unrest, to control it; that's management, not cure.
God beseeches us to "Cast all our anxieties on Him" (1 Peter 5:7) and "Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28-30). When we fix our minds on God we will have "perfect peace" (Isaiah 26:3).
Herein is cure.
Another lengthy quotation from Sri Dhammananda from Pages 347-348 reads,
"The social sciences which cater for human environment may bring certain degree of happiness but unlike animals, humans require more than mere physical comfort and need help to cope with their frustrations and miseries arising from their daily experiences."
"Today so many people are plagued with fear, restlessness and insecurity. Yet science fails to help them. Science is unable to teach people to control their minds'.
"Can science make human beings morally better?...science leaves their inner selves unchanged..."
"...In fact, science is thoroughly secular in nature and unconcerned with their spiritual goal..."
So true. The sin nature at The Fall (Genesis 3:1-24) brought the suffering death sentence upon all mankind; 'the curse' encompassing all creation.
That is why I've explained in earlier entries of Burning Quest that our only help and hope is through God who can give us a new heart and transform us human beings by and through His Son Jesus Christ. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6).
Where is this shortfall of science leading us? The author of What Buddhists Believe directs us to Buddhism as the answer. He says on Page 350,
"Buddhism admits knowledge arising from the sense organs as well as personal experiences gained through mental culture. By training and developing a highly concentrated mind, religious experience can be understood and verified. Religion's experience is not something which can be understood by conducting experiments in a test tube or examined under a microscope."
He explains further on Page 351,
"Buddhism is inwardly directed and is concerned with the inner development of humans...teaches the individual how to adjust and cope with events and circumstances of daily life...it represents the human endeavor [emphasis mine] to grow beyond oneself through the mental practice of mental culture or mind development.
"...has a complete system of mental culture concerned with gaining insight into the nature of things which leads to complete self-realization of the ultimate truth..."
which he says is,
"Nirvana".
"This system is both practical and scientific...it involves...observation of emotional and mental states...observes the inner world with mindfulness and objectivity."
It is true we need to search our hearts and minds, see whether they line up with God's standards as we read in His Word, the Holy Bible. He knows how we are made, emotionally and physically and He knows what we need to remedy our fallen state.
In brief, there are two sides to the coin: justification on one side, and progressive sanctification on the flip side. For the follower of Jesus Christ, there is the help of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit available. Salvation through Jesus Christ and the conviction of the Holy Spirit to show us where and when we go astray. The former is justification. The latter is progressive sanctification.
As said a few times before, Buddhism does not believe in God, creation, a spirit or soul; yet it does talk of "inner selves" and "self-realization" (Pages 348, 351). These are definite areas that need God's help. We cannot 'go it alone'. "Human endeavor" (Page 351) is not enough. We need outside-of-ourselves help. Our help comes from God through Jesus Christ Who is the Savior of the world.
Sri Dhammananda has a point when he says that "science without religion is dangerous" (Page 351). He noted, science
"gave mankind the bullet and the bomb" (Page 351).
By contrast, Jesus gives: eternal life; peace; joy; salvation; the Holy Spirit who helps us to live a sanctified life; and much, much more.
Sri Dhammananda reports that...
"Not only is science completely unable to provide moral guidance to mankind, it has also fed fuel to the flame of human craving" (Page 351),
And...
"Science devoid of morality spells only destruction..." (Page 352).
To counter this, he says,
"...without religion's guidance, science threatens the world with destruction..."The missing link, he suggests, is Buddhism. Buddhism can help bring morality in to train the mind, and correct the actions.
"Co-operation between science and religion...so desperately needed" (Page 352).
To reiterate, science and religion can bring us only so far. However, a relationship with Jesus Christ, actively pursued, is the true timeless answer to counter all wickedness and unwholesome acts. Let us live to please Him and
"Be holy, as God is holy" (1 Peter 1:16).
~ERC October 2018~
Some additional reading re: sanctification; Morning Musings' series:
The Trinity's Work;
Two Birthdays
Following That Life of Obedience
Should you wish to explore more of what Jesus has accomplished for us, read some of my Lord's Day Devotions series. Here's one to get you started:
Made Worthy
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