With prominent figures in the world of science vigorously attacking religion in popular books like The God Delusion, the idea that religion and science are somehow allied in the search for truth may seem unlikely.
But while the activism of celebrity scientists has created an impression that scientists on the whole have rejected faith, surveys show that belief in God among scientists is actually on the rise.
The first survey that asked scientists about their religious views was conducted in 1914. At that time only 42% of those surveyed said that they believed in God. According to a recent survey of 2500 members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, published by thePew Research Center in 2009, a majority (51%) believed in God or a higher power. And belief in God was significantly higher among younger scientists, with about 66% of those under 35 believing in some form of God.
For Baha’i scientists, religious faith is entirely compatible with a life in science.
“Something that is unique for Baha’is is the status given to science by the founder of our faith,” says Albert Berghuis, professor of biochemistry and Canada Research Chair in Structural Biology at McGill University in Montreal. “Science and religion are seen as two legitimate avenues to investigate truth.”
Bahá’u’lláh, who founded the Baha’i Faith in the 19th Century, affirmed the role of science in the advancement of civilization and even described scientific research as a form of worship.
Victoria Talwar, an associate professor in psychology at McGill, says her religious beliefs led her to a life in science.
“Bahá’u’lláh exhorts Baha’is to pursue science as a career. I chose psychology, where I use the scientific method to look at human behaviour. But I find religion also helps me understand people. Both religion and science look at the same things, but from different ends of a spectrum. They are complementary and this is easy to see in the research I do.
“Our scientific understanding is built slowly, drop by drop. It helps us understand behaviour, but it may or may not help us solve behavioural problems. Religious concepts developed through successive religious revelations have much to tell us about how to refine human behaviour. These teachings help children to mature, eliminate bad habits and become strong, healthy citizens.
“My students don’t realize that I am often presenting Baha’i principles in my lectures. I can do this because the research has borne out what Bahá’u’lláh asserted.”
Albert Berghuis points out that science and religion have become polarized, especially in the area of evolution, which is central to his study of the adaptation of microbes to antibiotics.
“I do not see evolution and faith as incompatible. Certainly most scientists working in this area see no need for a god, but others find the amazing complexity of life provides them with an insight into the greatness of a Creator. It is a matter of interpreting the same facts differently.
“Religion and science investigate truth from different perspectives. The followers of religion have to be open-minded, to inquire into reality and avoid superstition. On the other hand, science that is not tempered by ethical or spiritual values can become overly materialistic.”
Redwan Moqbel, Head of the Department of Immunology at the University of Manitoba, says religion and science are “parallel forces that sustain and maintain the integrity of each other.”
“It may not be generally accepted, but scientists are spiritual in their approach. They have standards and ethics that are based on spiritual principles, without which their work is not accepted.
“Successful scientists, in fact apply spiritual qualities and conditions. For example, to pursue our hypotheses we must be without bias or prejudice one way or the other. I have to be honest in testing my hypothesis. I report negative data even though it is not what I was hoping to show; we report the truth as we find it and measure it.”
“Another thing from the Baha’i teachings I think is important,” says Moqbel, “is the need to establish a ‘noble goal’ for one’s work, and that goal has to be service oriented.
“I study respiratory diseases. The goal I have set for myself is to prevent children dying. My task is to move day by day closer to that goal, but to do that, I have to acquire knowledge, understand the nuances in my field, and apply the knowledge appropriately and with excellence; success towards advances are natural byproducts of this effort.”
Albert Berghuis says that science involves the accumulation of facts, which can be difficult to interpret. Making sense of facts requires creative thinking, which implies using the non-rational brain. This kind of thinking can be inspired by one’s belief system.
Moqbel agrees: “Inspiration is very important. I believe it is a spiritual force that links us to the source of all knowledge. As Einstein had indicated: “what I discovered came through me, not from me”. But without training, the value of inspiration is limited, we wouldn’t be able to articulate our understanding or use it to advance knowledge in our area of endeavour.”
“In my own work, concepts and ideas from the Baha’i writings influenced my studies and discoveries, but this could only happen because I am trained and specialized in my field of study.”
“On the other hand, we also have to ‘apply logic to faith,’” says Talwar. “If something is not logical, we have to question it. If we try to force science to fit into our current understanding of religious ideas, we might miss something important, both for science and our understanding of religion.”
Scientists, such as Galileo, discovered things contrary to the religious doctrines of their time. When new concepts were discovered about the solar system, for example, it threatened established beliefs.
“But these beliefs were mere superstitions,” says Talwar. “Christ never said anything about them,” says Talwar. “Eventually Galileo’s ideas were accepted and it didn’t harm Christianity, it expanded its worldview.”
“As Baha’is, we are encouraged to openly investigate scientific truth. We understand that science will help us understand God better and enhance our interpretation of our religious teachings.”
For further reading on this topic:
The Unity of Religion and Science
What is the Bahá’í attitude towards science and technological progress?
Science and religion explored
Follow-up links on Victoria Talwar, Albert Berghuis and Redwan Moqbel:
Victoria Talwar:http://www.talwarresearch.com/http://www.mcgill.ca/at-a-glance2009/faculty/
Albert Berghuis:http://www.mcgill.ca/biochemistry/department/faculty/berghuis/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=DetailsSearch&Term=berghuis+am%5BAuthor%5D
Redwan Moqbel:http://www.umanitoba.ca/medicine/units/immunology/moqbelbio2008.htmhttp://www.departmentofmedicine.ualberta.ca/prg/moqbel.html