(Paper Published in Together Towards Tomorrow, edited by Kuruvilla Pandikattu, 2006.)
1. Religion and Science: Two Goldmines
Much against the popular belief, there is no necessary conflict between science and religion if the nature of religion is properly understood. “Scientific revelations may be the goldmine for revitalizing religion in the 21st century,” once predicted Sir John Templeton. “The future of civilization depends on the way the two most powerful forces of history, science and religion, settle into relationship with each other” said, Alfred North Whitehead.
Sir John Templeton has seen enthusiasm about how new concepts contribute to greater discoveries and progress than anyone, could have predicted. For several decades, Templeton has said that religion needs to be more forward-looking. “I’ve never found a religion that was enthusiastic about research and discoveries. For some odd reason, for thousands of years, every religion has wanted to discourage new concepts. That’s a pity, and that’s why religion has become less important over the years, until now it is irrelevant to many people. In medicine, suppose the doctors a century ago said that they didn’t want to make new discoveries how little we would know about the body! Suppose in electronics two centuries ago people said that they didn’t believe that there are atoms, we would not have had television, radio, telephones or the internet. Nobody could have foreseen what the great originators in electronics or medicine have discovered,” he said.
He believed that there is an exciting opportunity throughout the world to encourage enthusiasm for applying scientific methods to the discovery of over a hundredfold more about spiritual realities. In the coming years, Templeton says, rapid progress “is going to be in the realities that are not tangible or physical.” He knows that no one can know that total truth, everything about God, or the intricacies of our beautiful universe, “but a rigorous method can start movement in the right direction.” Scientific research, he says, is part of God revealing himself, and God reveals himself to those who seek, and Sir John seeks, believing that is the way to learn more about the purposes, the reality, or the infinity of God than we ever could have imagined.
Take the case of Paul Davies, a leading British physicist who published The Mind of God in 1992, one of the classic explorations in the field of science and religion. The book explored the degree to which scientific evidence pointed to a rational foundation for the universe and the sense in which this foundation could be referred to as “God.” For these and other explorations, Davies won the Templeton Prize in 1995.
“Sit down before fact as a little child,” said Thomas Huxley, “be prepared to give up every preconceived notion, follow humbly wherever nature leads, or you will learn nothing.” Huxley’s insight about the role of humility in the search for knowledge is shared by all great thinkers who know firsthand that the immediate prerequisite to learning is humble admission of ignorance. “It is impossible,” said Epictetus, the philosopher/slave from the second century, “for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.” More recently Sir John Templeton has called humility “a gateway to greater understanding that opens the doors to progress.” Humility and progress are two words often on the lips of Sir John.
2. Science: Pathway to progress and development
From the first time man discovered fire, he never stopped from designing, fabricating, and improving tools and implements to overcome the fury of Nature and to secure his own existence. Because of this, early man is described as Homo Faber, i.e., Man the Maker. Wonderment and curiosity about the surrounding and eagerness to diminish sweat and work are inherent to the human spirit. The past few decades have witnessed scientific developments that have exceeded anything imagination could conceive. Progress in particle physics, cosmology, brain physiology and molecular biology have combined to give us a view of a universe of staggering diversity and intricacy. With the coming of the Genome Project scientists soon hope to fashion humans by themselves. Indeed, transformation has been all permeating. These welcome changes have painted a triumphalistic picture of science for the average man, as science seems to become the almighty, the solution for all.
Scientific and technological developments also have ushered in unprecedented destruction and misery. Nuclear arms, biological and chemical weapons capable of destroying a large part of humanity will always loom large in the horizon creating uncertainty of life. Ever increasing pollution through automobile and industrial effluents, perilous nuclear wastes etc. have a grave effect on the environment, causing ecological imbalances. The contamination of the chain of food production caused by the use of insecticides and other means of protecting crops raises disquieting questions regarding human health. Use of scientific knowledge and technical powers for state purposes is another debatable area. Other areas of conflicting views include the morality of test-tube babies and cloning, artificial insemination and sexual surrogacy for gay couples, cloned human being used for spare parts, animal - human hybrid, genetic tests to ascertain the unborn child’s sex and so on. Evangelium Vitae 13 says, “The wonderful new prospects opened up by the scientific and technological progress are turned into new forms of attacks on the dignity of human beings.”
Scientists say that just six million millionths of a gram of DNA carries as much information as a ten volume of the complete Oxford English Dictionary. Today, we have reached the stage of genetic fingerprinting and genetic mapping. Our amazing scientific progress in the field of genetics today has tremendous impact on life. We are stepping into a great new world where anything is possible for science. Our achievements surely have great significance today. However, it behooves us to understand and deepen our insight and awareness into the Ultimate Reality who is the cause of everything. Our inventions should humble us to accept our limitations and our littleness. Our openness to God will help us further to find answers to the perennial questions that human beings raised from the beginning of history. When we climb the steps of scientific progress it should be in consonance with the human and divine aspirations and thus to bring about a new socio-religious world order. Let our marvelous works be in accordance with God’s design and for the authentic interests of the human race, to enable human beings as members of the society to fulfill their longings in this universe.
A scientist who does not respect and pay attention to existential concerns like spiritual values and ethical norms, does not perform well in his or her work as a scientist, and the religious person who does not respect and pay attention to the concerns about knowledge and use of science and technology, overlooks the social consequences of such knowledge and does not perform well as a religious person. The first person has, in Einstein’s words, become blind, whereas the latter has become lame.
3. Religion and Science: common concerns
An unprecedented progress, isolation and specialization in scientific fields have led science and religion to forget its original goal. It seems to have lost its heart. Today, science is becoming like a monster, ready to devour its own maker. And religion is becoming fundamentalist in its approach. This situation can be averted if scientists and those who put science into use take certain religious and moral principles seriously. Religion can provide science a heart, as only religions can be of help in providing ultimate answers to important questions about human destiny and morality. If the persons responsible for the creation and employment of nuclear power are governed by sound religious principles of the common good and accountability to a supreme being, they will not use it for destructive purposes. This is also the case with environmental pollution and dehumanization in all fields of science. Thus, a rationally healthy marriage between science and religion can go a long way towards resolving the paradoxical situation science has reached today.
Scientists should rewrite their agenda to include social considerations in their scientific quest. If scientists, as part of their training, were to get some ground in philosophy and sociology of science they might also get a better understanding of what in fact they are doing and how it fits into a society characterized by injustice, poverty and alienation. We need to put a direct and sustained effort on the alleviation of poverty, enhancing livelihood security, removal of hunger and malnutrition, and generation of employment, by using scientific and technological capabilities along with our traditional knowledge pool. Religions should focus their attention on transforming the lives of others rather than promoting meaningless superstitions and rituals. Going beyond the barriers of cast, creed and nationality they should try to alleviate human misery and suffering and find God in the suffering humanity.
4. The meeting ground: Science finds in God in Nature
There are as many scientists who believe in God today as there were a century ago, and more scientists are now studying the marvels of nature to copy them in order to improve our lives. Louis Agassiz, perhaps the greatest natural scientist of the nineteenth century, declared, "It is the job of prophets and scientists alike to proclaim the glories of God."
Throughout history, most scientists have been believers in God, but during the last few centuries the scientific trend has been toward atheism. God's laws are so effective that the universe seems to just run itself. Scientists have been very successful explaining many phenomena without the need for any intervening hand from deity. But now the trend toward atheism may be reversing.
By 1914 only 40% of scientists stated that they believed in God, according to a poll quoted in Scientific American. It had been assumed at that time that as scientists discovered more and more of the laws of nature that the trend would increase until virtually all scientists were atheists. The authors of the 1999 article note that recently there has been a trend reported in the news that reconciliation between science and religion is underway:
"Now, at the turn of the millennium, comes a movement bent on reconciling science and religion. New books hail the divine in physics, biology, even computer information theory. Last year 'SCIENCE FINDS GOD' emblazoned the cover of Newsweek, and other leading news magazines picked up on the theme. More conferences than ever feature dialogues between 'the two ways of knowing.' By one report, US higher education now boasts 1,000 courses for credit on science and faith, whereas a student in the sixties would have long dug in hardscrabble to find even one. Scientists, who are older and tenured, it is said, feel it is time to give witness to their once closeted or newly found faith."[1]
The authors of that article set out to determine whether the atheistic trend in science had increased or not. They repeated the questions of the 1914 poll to the same level of scientists and discovered that today there are still 40% of scientists who believe in God. They go on to report that among scientists in the top positions the atheistic trend does appear to be increasing, but they also note that it has been pointed out that, "There's a reward system to being irreligious in the upper echelons." Thus, it has been suggested that the extreme atheism at the very top is probably more of a result of "200 years of marketing that if you want to be a scientific person you've got to keep your mind free of the fetters of religion."
This recent poll may have detected the bottom on the cycle and the percentage of hard scientists who are believers may well now begin to increase. Before looking at evidence supporting this position, let's consider the thoughts of two of the greatest scientists on their belief in God. Sir Isaac Newton is often considered to be the greatest physicist of all time. He really did "write the book" on the laws of physics. While Newton is known principally for his work in physics, he also produced many volumes on the subject of religion. He wrote a commentary on the book of Daniel and the book of Revelations, and he wrote on the chronology of ancient kingdoms.[2] As an example of his seeing no problem whatsoever in using science to discover truth about religion, he used his own newly discovered laws governing the motion of the moon to reconstruct the Judean calendar at the time of Christ in order to calculate the exact date of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. He was about two hundred years ahead of his time with this idea. His work was repeated with the same results in the early 1900's by scientists who thought they were doing it for the first time, and his method is still the best way known to make this determination.[3]
Here are samples of the religious writings of Sir Isaac Newton:
"Repentance and the remission of sins relate to transgressions against the two first commandments. We are to forsake the Devil, that is, all false gods and all manner of idolatry, this being a breach of the first and great commandment. And we are to forsake the flesh and the world, or as the Apostle John expressed it, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eye and the pride of life, that is, unchastity, covetousness, pride and ambition; these things being a breach of the second of the two great commandments. And we are to believe in one God, the father, almighty in dominion, the maker of heaven and earth and of all things therein, and in our Lord Jesus Christ, the son of God, who was born of a Virgin and sacrificed for us on the cross, and the third day rose again from the dead and ascended unto heaven...."[4]
Another excellent example of a great scientist who had a strong belief in the existence of God was Louis Agassiz, who "is acknowledged even by current researchers as the greatest natural scientist of his day."[5] He discovered the Ice Age, founded both the Museum of Comparative Anatomy at Harvard, and with his wife established the great women's college Radcliffe. Here are samples of his outlook on how science should bring us closer to God:
"In our study of natural objects we are approaching the thoughts of the Creator, reading his conceptions, interpreting a system that is His and not ours."[6] "Facts are the words of God, and we may heap them together endlessly, but they will teach us little or nothing till we place them in their true relations, and recognize the thought that binds them together."[7] Agassiz was a champion of divine creation and devoted the last years of his life to defending it. He declared that "It is the job of prophets and scientists alike to proclaim the glories of God," and he spent his life as a scientist doing exactly that..[8]
After Agassiz, the scientific trend shifted as a majority of scientists began to feel they understood the laws of nature well enough to explain their observations without requiring a belief in God. However, as noted above, a core of scientists who do believe in God has persisted, and does not show any signs of decreasing in percentage. These scientists continue to see the hand of God reflected in all of his creations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson stated, "The true doctrine of omnipresence is that God reappears with all his parts in every moss and cobweb."[9]
Today there is another interesting trend. It is that the number of inventions based on copying nature is now beginning to be systematically exploited. In so doing, one need not even bring up the argument over whether "nature" refers to the handiwork of God or millions of years of mindless evolution; all that matters is that nature is incredibly successful at solving problems with which we have struggled for years.
This trend began by noticing that many inventions were discovered from observing how "nature" had solved problems. Inventors spent centuries trying to invent the airplane after watching birds fly. The book Serendipity: Accidental Discoveries in Science chronicles several of these observations which led to inventions. It also includes some discoveries that really appear to have been accidents, but many came from simply noticing the invention already working in nature, and using scientific inquiry to discover just how they work. Examples of such inventions include Velcro, which resulted when George deMestral looked to see why burs stuck so tightly to his clothing. Electric current was discovered in animals when it was noticed by Luigi Galvani that a dissected frog leg twitched as it lay near an electrostatic generator. Many colors appeared only in nature. For example, the color purple is associated with royalty partly because the natural dye Tyrian purple could only be extracted from small mollusks in the Mediterranean Sea. It was very expensive because it took 9,000 of them to produce a gram of dye. The synthesis of this color by William Perkin led to the birth of the synthetic dye industry. Certain peptides which are highly effective in fighting a variety of bacteria were discovered when it was observed that some African frogs would heal perfectly in murky water filled with lethal bacteria. The list goes on and on.[10]
Now a trend is beginning to strengthen to systemically copy nature. The word "biomimicry" has been coined to refer to the idea of purposely copying nature to discover new inventions. The author of a book with that title sees this emerging field as the result of centuries of trying to fight nature as gradually succumbing to a trend to acknowledge nature's ways as best. She points out that not only have nature already invented everything we have; it has many more inventions whose workings still evade us:
"We realize that all our inventions have already appeared in nature in a more elegant form and at a lot less cost to the planet. Our most clever architectural struts and beams are already featured in lily pads and bamboo stems. Our central heating and air conditioning are bested by the termite tower's steady 86 degrees F. Our most stealthy radar is hard of hearing compared to the bat's multifrequency transmission. And our new 'smart materials' can't hold a candle to the dolphin's skin or to the butterfly's proboscis. Even the wheel, which we always took to be a uniquely human creation, has been found in the tiny rotary motor that propels the flagellum of the world's most ancient bacteria.
"Humbling also are the hoarders of organisms casually performing feats we can only dream about. Bioluminescent algae splash chemicals together to light their body lanterns. Arctic fish and frogs freeze solid and then spring to life, having protected their organs from ice damage. Black bears hibernate all winter without poisoning themselves on their urea, while their polar cousins stay active, with a coat of transparent hollow hairs covering their skins like the panes of a greenhouse. Chameleons and cuttlefish hide without moving, changing the pattern of their skin to instantly blend with their surroundings. Bees, turtles, and birds navigate without maps, while whales and penguins dive without scuba gear. How do they do it? How do dragonflies outmaneuver our best helicopters? How do hummingbirds cross the Gulf of Mexico on less than one tenth of an ounce of fuel? How do ants carry the equivalent of hundreds of pounds in a dead heat through the jungle?
"These individual achievements pale, however, when we consider the intricate interliving that characterizes whole systems, communities like tidal marshes or saguaro forests. In ensemble, living things maintain a dynamic stability, like dancers in an arabesque, continually juggling resources without waste.... Studying these poems day in and day out, biomimics develop a high degree of awe, bordering on reverence."[11]
No wonder that these marvelous creations inspire awe and reverence; they are the work of the Almighty. When we look on any or the least of these, we are looking at God moving in his majesty and power.
While the above book assumes, as do most scientists, that these wonders of nature just "happened" by themselves, there is also a growing group of scientists who recognize that no random processes could have resulted in many of these inventions. The natural inventions which must have been "designed" rather than occurring by chance are those in which each of the many parts would have been useless to the creature unless they all just happened to spring into existence at the same time.
An example of such an inventions include the mechanism which clots our blood when we are cut. The system contains a series of inhibitors which prevent blood from clotting when it shouldn't, which would cause a stroke. There are a whole series of complicated chemicals in the system which are only useful as part of the blood clotting mechanism. All of them are necessary for the system to work, and in forty years of attempts, no one has been able to explain how the system could have evolved by chance.[12]The new millennium promises to provide many new and wonderful inventions as scientists recognize the hand of God in nature and begin to understand the principles behind so many inventions which are found everywhere in His creations.
5. Power beyond what brain can comprehend
It was observed from the 'time to think' experiments done in Biology 103 lab, that thinking is material. Thinking was associated with material changes and activities in the brain and the connected nervous system. This promulgates the brain=behavior notion. According to this notion, all aspects of human behavior and experiences are functions of a material structure, the brain. Who one is, is determined by his or her brain. Nevertheless, many people continue to believe in a 'higher power' that guides and controls human action and behavior. In a sense, religion and spirituality was developed to understand and explore questions about 'who we are' and 'what is the purpose of life'.
Whether one is Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist or Hindu, religious thinking and belief attempt to ground human experiences and thoughts in the spiritual and ethereal. Religious experiences are considered 'otherworldly' and not material. Heightened spiritual behavior through prayer, meditation or yoga is considered to lead to a state of 'transcendence', 'inner peace' or a 'nearness to God' depending on which faith you follow. Hence, the notion of spirituality and religion is based on an ethereal component. However could the ethereal and spiritual be embodied by a material structure, the brain? Recent scientific research has provided observations, which suggest spirituality, and religious experience has a biological basis. Scientific observations suggest there are specific physiological aspects to spiritual behavior like meditation, prayer, and yoga.
Many people nowadays follow transcendental meditation, prayer, and yoga to enhance their spiritual and physical well being. These spiritual practices are 'in' activities, which produce physiological health benefits. Among regular practitioners of meditation and prayer, a higher level of psychological health has been observed. Anxiety and depression are lowered. Regular meditation and prayer decreases the stress hormone, 'plasma cortisol'. Transcendental meditation and yoga also increase EEG coherence and blood flow to the brain, induce muscle relaxation and lowers blood pressure. Could all these benefits of increased spiritual behavior be associated with biology and the workings of the brain? Could science enable us to understand and explore religious and spiritual experiences?
For many years, neurobiology has avoided to explore spirituality and religion. Until recently, religion and spirituality were deemed as 'cultural, a product of social conditioning, and not biological'. Religious beliefs and spirituality was the 'playing field' for theologists and philosophers, not biologists and scientists. Many scientists were skeptical and unwilling to consider the spiritual as science. Quite a few scientists have taken the bold step to conduct research and observations to explore the biological basis of spirituality and religion.
Neurobiologists Andrew Newberg and Eugene d'Aquili have conducted research in the specialized field of ‘neurotheology’ which suggest that 'religion is intimately interwoven with human biology'. Their extensive observations of praying Franciscan nuns and meditating Buddhist monks reveal that certain religious experiences like meditation and prayer are linked to heightened activity and changes in the material structure of the brain and nervous system. According to Newberg, the 'human brain is genetically wired to encourage religious beliefs'. Spiritual experiences like transcendence and inner peace, through meditation and prayer are increased by the activities and interactions of the different areas of the brain and neural networks.
Many parts of the brain are involved in the development of spiritual experiences. Different parts of the brain do not work in isolation from one another. The brain and nervous system function as an integrated network. Since spiritual behavior such as prayer and meditation involve 'highly complex emotions, sensations and thoughts', therefore many parts are involved. The limbic system, that part of the brain which is associated with emotions and motivation and the connecting hypothalamus, amygdala and the hippocampus are observed to be involved in spiritual activity. Some of the most basic components of the nervous system like the arousal and quiescent system also foster religious experiences. However, the experiments conducted by Newberg and d'Aquili on Buddhist monks and Franciscan nuns noted that there were some specific areas of the brain, which exhibited more heightened activity during the climax of meditation or prayer.
A brain imaging technology called Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) was used to ascertain what happened in the brain during spiritual experiences this enabled imaging of the brain, to determine which areas are active, by measuring blood flow to the areas of the brain. Higher the blood flow to an area, higher the brain and neural activity observed for that area. Firstly, a baseline scan of the subject's brain during rest was taken. This was compared with the brain scan taken when the subject indicated he/she was at the 'climax' of her spiritual experience.
The frontal lobes of the brain, which are associated with attention, showed increased activity. This was expected since greater concentration and focus was essential to meditation and prayer. However, what was most interesting was the decreased activity observed in the posterior superior parietal lobe. This area of the brain is affiliated with the Orientation Association Area (OAA), which is the part of the brain, which significantly influences our orientation of time and space. This area of the brain helps to judge which way is up/down, forward/behind etc. This brain region must function all the time to assist movement. People who suffer injuries to the OAA are observed to have difficulties of orientation of space. Thereby according to Newberg, the decreased activity observed in the parietal lobe and OAA of praying nuns and meditating monks was responsible for the transcendental states they experienced.
Practitioners of spiritual behavior describe the state of transcendence or 'unitary states'. that they experience as without any sense of space or time. A breakdown of awareness between the self and the outside is experienced. This is observed to be due to the material and structural changes in the brain and neural network during spiritual experience. Especially with decreased activity in the OAA and the parietal lobe, a deprivation of sensory inputs is observed. This neurological phenomena 'where a brain structure is cut off from sensory inputs (afferents) is known as differentiation'. This describes the states of transcendence or nearness to God. Hence, the significant and complex changes in one or more specific parts of the brain and the nervous system make possible enhanced spiritual and religious experiences.
The neurobiological workings of transcendental spiritual experience are believed to have been evolved from the evolutionary function of mating and sexual reproduction. Components of the limbic system, which are associated with the differentiation process, are also linked with sexual experiences. This could explain why similar language like 'bliss', 'rapture' and 'ecstasy' are used to describe both increased spiritual experiences and pleasurable sexual experiences. A study done in 1997 by Japanese researchers indicated that ritual spiritual behavior like praying and meditation can stimulate the hypothalamus of the brain. This can generate feelings ranging from both arousals to calmness and serenity.
These findings on the material nature of spiritual experiences have created a lot of controversy as well as heightened interest in the society. Many argue that by the machinery of neurobiology of faith, spirituality, religion, and 'God' is dismissed as mere chemical reactions occurring in the brain. In addition to the studies conducted on accomplished practitioners of spiritual behavior, observations of patients of temporal lobe epilepsy has revealed specific hyper sensitivity to religious and spiritual behavior. All these findings could make atheists and skeptics argue that religion and spirituality are only a dysfunction of the brain. However, is it possible that it is in reality a 'function' and not a dysfunction of the brain activity?
The activities of the brain and the corresponding nervous system are highly complex and there is still much ambiguity about the actual functioning of the brain. Each brain is supposed to contain approximately hundred billion neurons, which form complex and highly integrated communication networks of hundred trillion neurons. Some can therefore argue that the working of the still much unexplored and misunderstood’ gray matter’ is influenced by an unexplained ethereal power. There are clearly many limitations to the still infant study of biology of spirituality and faith. For instance, the association of certain spiritual behavior with brain activity does not specify why some people are more religious and spiritual than others. Nevertheless, these studies produce an important dialogue between science and religion, which can be useful to explore questions about life, behavior etc. They also advocate an important ground to think about spirituality and religion, irrespective of differences in faith. This is especially necessary in the wake of September 11th and the continuing religious unrest and conflict around the world.
6. Heart and Brain connected to God
Before exploring the brains unique role in connecting a human being to what many call God, it is essential to honor new scientific information about the human heart that identifies it as the very first connection point between the physical body and its Creator source.
Amazing recent evidence indicates that the heart begins to beat in the unborn fetus even before the brain is formed so it appears that the heart truly holds primary status as the initiator of human life. Even so, scientists have yet to discover what causes the human heart to automatically begin this essential auto-rhythmic beating function that grants us physical existence. Although previously unknown, neuroscientists have now discovered that there are over 40,000 nerve cells (neurons) in the heart alone, indicating that the heart has its own independent nervous system sometimes called the brain in the heart. In addition, the heart has an electromagnetic energy field 5,000 times greater than that of the brain and this field can be measured with magnetometers up to 10 feet beyond the physical body. This provides support for the spiritual teachings that indicate we humans have energy fields that constantly intermingle with each other, enabling healing (or negative) thoughts to be extended and exchanged.
Fortunately, among the many scientific and technical discoveries recently made, there are several which have helped us identify the major purpose of the brain as a spiritual receptor of light, of God energy. Newly developing medical fields such as neurobiology, neurochemistry, and neuropsychology are using technical imaging equipment such as PET (positive emission tomography) and SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) to identify various regions of the brain, their activities, and especially those frontal parts of the brain which must develop God capacity. And must immediately develop that spiritual capacity during the first critical months and years of childhood growth! At last science can join spiritual teachings in proving that humans have the capacity through coherent hearts and proper brain development to attain the mystical expression of feeling love, of knowing God. What is absolutely vital to remember is that the souls energy connection with physical life is not fully formed at birth and is not fully accessible during the first few years thereafter. When a baby is born, its brain has just about 50% of the neurological connections it must have as an adult, and this rapid growth must occur in the next several years. This spiritual capacity must be developed by the constant infusion of light (heart love) from the mother and family if the brains normal physical growth is to be attained. Should this essential growth fuel be missing during its early months and years, the infants brain development will likely be curtailed by lack of this essential light, or love energy, causing a variety of serious repercussions? Scientific reports are announcing that if the frontal lobes of a person’s brain are not properly developed by light and love at a young age then the resulting lack of light will probably cause a dysfunctional brain with a variety of possible physical, emotional and behavioural problems. This apparently occurs because the brain contains both more primitive regions from earlier evolutionary development and more modern additions in the frontal lobes and cortex regions designed to operate on light. Indeed it is this lack of light that causes disruptions and imbalances in one or many regions of brain area activity. In recent years, newly created PET and SPECT brain scan equipment have helped those enlightened doctors dedicated to healing the brain assist individuals with epilepsy, Attention Deficit Disorder, injuries, innumerable emotional conditions and much more. Their work also discourages alcohol and drug abuse in teens and adults by showing images of their negative effects on the brain. It is also believed that an increased amount of stress, from the chaotic nature of modern living, creates a toxic brain hormone called cortisol. It is deduced that if high cortisol levels are maintained in the brain over an extended period, certain critical brain areas can become totally devoid of neural activity. When neural activity falters, the brains light activity darkens in the frontal lobes and there is a decreased ability by the person to control aggression and regulate negative thoughts and feelings.
It is vital to grasp that the purpose of learning this information about the heart and human brains needs for light & love is not to focus on blaming mothers and families whose children are exhibiting negative behaviour and suffering from a lack of connection to their higher consciousness. Rather it is to finally understand that both the heart and the brain require light & love to attain spiritual connection to God. This is critically true during a humans infancy phase of physical growth but also throughout its adult years thereafter. Then, with this knowledge that we human beings were created to live with the constant fuel of light/love during physical life in both our hearts and our brains, we must educate ourselves and do everything in our power to fulfill our hearts and brains ability to function properly.
Now is the time to profoundly understand what causes the human species to maintain heartfelt ethical attitudes and positive emotional behaviour and to discern what vital role both play in humanity’s spiritual development. We need to know the pattern from which we human beings were created, our present evolutionary status, and how we can best express that pattern in physical life. This may be the designated moment when we can be empowered to improve our loving behaviour toward all people, but especially babies and children. We will also be drawn to explore the ways adults who have not had a light enriched heart and brain experience, themselves, can recover from various neural and electrical imbalances and even the stress-induced cortisol damage they may have endured. Surely this is the exciting threshold of a new era in natural healing, at the least, and an enormous spiritual expansion of human consciousness as we birth new generations of heart centered and brain-healthy children with telepathic and other unusual abilities. Yes, this is an incredibly hopeful time! For we already have tools such as meditation and prayer, music and sound, nature and her innumerable health-giving products from the earth, and the current positive scientific and technical equipment to assist us. Our challenge now is not merely to stay informed about these many developments that can aid us, but to use them!
7. Conclusion- The mystery of creation: a Gift and a Task
We are witnessing an extraordinary scientific and technological development. The limits of knowledge seem to be endlessly receding. But, at the same time we shudder with fear when we see the uses to which it is put. The agitated history of our century confronts us with our respective responsibilities. Today we are more aware, than in the past, of the ambivalence of science. Humans can use it for their betterment, but also for their destruction. Science has so many implications that it calls for an increased awareness on the part of conscience. Our scientific power has often outrun our spiritual power. How true, “We have guided missiles and misguided men” (Martin Luther King, Jr., Strength to Love).
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the President of India and a well-known scientist said, “Science is a passion - a never ending voyage into promise and possibilities.” The scope, aim and value of science are the same as that of any other branch of human knowledge. Often Albert Einstein repeated, advising the scientists, “The betterment of the human condition is the very purpose of science.” Einstein says, “The release of atom power has changed everything except our way of thinking. The solution to this problem lies in the heart of mankind.” Swami Ranganathananda says, “like the cement that holds together separate bricks so as to produce the integrated structure of a building, ethical and spiritual values help to hold together separate individuals in a social organism, which then ceases to become a mere collection of separate individuals, like the building which has ceased to be just a pile of separate bricks.”
Enlightened human beings have a major role to play in promoting a new world order. Most people are interested in exploring the mysteries of creation through the on going dialogue between science and religion. Inter-religious and cultural dialogue is necessary in our attempt to promote better understanding and collaboration between religions and cultures. In a continuous process of genuine dialogue, religions and cultures become increasingly composite, incorporating elements from other traditions. Going beyond this, we need to be actively engaged in promoting dialogue between science and religion. Modern science turned its face from religion and it brought forth a technology doing service to our death instincts. Today we are evolving to greater consciousness and yet capable of annihilating itself. A dialogue between science and religion while enriching both could bring forth a technology that can promote love, care and our role as responsible co-creators. Our dream shall be:
To See a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in Wild Flower
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour (William Blake).
Works Cited and References:
1. Larson, Edward J. and Witham, Larry, "Scientists and Religion in America," Scientific American 281 No. 3 (Sep 1999), pp. 88-93.
2. Newton, Isaac. The Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms Amended, [1728], reprinted in Histories & Mysteries of Man , London, 1988. Observations upon the Prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John, London, J. Darby and T. Browne, 1733.
3. Pratt, J.P., "Newton's Date for the Crucifixion,"Quarterly Journal of Royal Astronomical Society 32, (Sept. 1991), 301-304.
4. McLachlan, H., Sir Isaac Newton: Theological Manuscripts, Liverpool, 1950, pp. 29 -35.
5. Gould, Stephen Jay, "Agassiz in the Galapagos," Natural History, 90, no. 12 (12 Dec 1981).
6. Agassiz, Louis, Methods of Study in Natural History, Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1863, p. 14.
7. Agassiz, Louis, "Evolution and Permanence Type" reprinted in The Intelligence of Agassiz by Guy Davenport, Westport, Conn., Greenwood Press, 1983, p. 231.
8. Anderson, Vicki Jo, The Other Eminent Men of Wilford Woodruff, 1994, pp. 9-18. The quotes referenced in notes 5-7 were also quoted herein.
9.
Emerson, Ralph Waldo, "
Compensation," from
Essays: First Series Vol. II.
10. Royston M. Roberts, Serendipity: Accidental Discoveries in Science, Wiley & Sons, New York, 1989.
11. Benyus, Janine M., Biomimicry, William Morrow, New York, 1997, pp. 6-7.
12. Amit Goswami & Maggie Goswami. Science and Spirituality: A Quantum Integration. (PHISPC: New Delhi, 2000).
13. Bijoy Augustine. “Science & Religion Hand in Hand For a New Humanity.” Vidyankur, Journal of Philosophical and Theological Studies. Vol. 6, February 2004.
14. Job Kozhamthadam ed. Religious Phenomena in a World of Science. (ASSR: Pune, 2004).
15. Job Kozhamthadam ed. Science, Technology and Values. (ASSR: Pune, 2003).
16. Job Kozhamthadam. “The Genome Revolution and the Science-Religion Dialogue I.” Vidyajyoti, Journal of Theological Reflection. Volume 65, No.2, February 2001.
17. Job Kozhamthadam. “The Genome Revolution and the Science-Religion Dialogue. II.” Vidyajyoti, Journal of Theological Reflection. Volume 65, No.3, March 2001.
18. Job Kozhamthadam. “The Changing Face of Science-Christianity Dialogue:
19. Encouragement, Estrangement and Engagement.” Science, Technology and Values:Science-Religion Dialogue in a Multi-Religious World. ed. Job Kozhamthadam. (ASSR: Pune, 2003).
20. K. Pandikattu. Dialouge as Way of Life. (World Life Web: Mumbai, 2001).
21. Kuruvilla Pandikattu. “Dialogue between Science and Religion for Preserving and Fostering Life.” Science, Technology and Values: Science-Religion Dialogue in a Multi-Religious World. ed. Job Kozhamthadam. (ASSR: Pune, 2003).
WWW Sources:
4)
Searching for the God within,, a past Newsweek article.
Science and Religion reveal the wonder of creation
Dr. Fr. Davis George, Principal, St. Aloysius’ College, Jabalpur
1. Religion and Science: Two gateways to understand the Universe
Much against the popular belief, there is no necessary conflict between science and religion if the nature of religion is properly understood. “Scientific revelations may be the goldmine for revitalizing religion in the 21st century,” once predicted Sir John Templeton. “The future of civilization depends on the way the two most powerful forces of history, science and religion, settle into relationship with each other” said, Alfred North Whitehead.
Sir John Templeton has seen enthusiasm about how new concepts contribute to greater discoveries and progress than anyone, could have predicted. For several decades, Templeton has said that religion needs to be more forward-looking. “I’ve never found a religion that was enthusiastic about research and discoveries. For some odd reason, for thousands of years, every religion has wanted to discourage new concepts. That’s a pity, and that’s why religion has become less important over the years, until now it is irrelevant to many people. In medicine, suppose the doctors a century ago said that they didn’t want to make new discoveries how little we would know about the body! Suppose in electronics two centuries ago people said that they didn’t believe that there are atoms, we would not have had television, radio, telephones or the internet. Nobody could have foreseen what the great originators in electronics or medicine have discovered,” he said.
He believed that there is an exciting opportunity throughout the world to encourage enthusiasm for applying scientific methods to the discovery of over a hundredfold more about spiritual realities. In the coming years, Templeton says, rapid progress “is going to be in the realities that are not tangible or physical.” He knows that no one can know that total truth, everything about God, or the intricacies of our beautiful universe, “but a rigorous method can start movement in the right direction.” Scientific research, he says, is part of God revealing himself, and God reveals himself to those who seek, and Sir John seeks, believing that is the way to learn more about the purposes, the reality, or the infinity of God than we ever could have imagined.
Take the case of Paul Davies, a leading British physicist who published The Mind of God in 1992, one of the classic explorations in the field of science and religion. The book explored the degree to which scientific evidence pointed to a rational foundation for the universe and the sense in which this foundation could be referred to as “God.” For these and other explorations, Davies won the Templeton Prize in 1995.
“Sit down before fact as a little child,” said Thomas Huxley, “be prepared to give up every preconceived notion, follow humbly wherever nature leads, or you will learn nothing.” Huxley’s insight about the role of humility in the search for knowledge is shared by all great thinkers who know firsthand that the immediate prerequisite to learning is humble admission of ignorance. “It is impossible,” said Epictetus, the philosopher/slave from the second century, “for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.” More recently Sir John Templeton has called humility “a gateway to greater understanding that opens the doors to progress.” Humility and progress are two words often on the lips of Sir John.
2. Science: Pathway to progress and development
From the first time man discovered fire, he never stopped from designing, fabricating, and improving tools and implements to overcome the fury of Nature and to secure his own existence. Because of this, early man is described as Homo Faber, i.e., Man the Maker. Wonderment and curiosity about the surrounding and eagerness to diminish sweat and work are inherent to the human spirit. The past few decades have witnessed scientific developments that have exceeded anything imagination could conceive. Progress in particle physics, cosmology, brain physiology and molecular biology have combined to give us a view of a universe of staggering diversity and intricacy. With the coming of the Genome Project scientists soon hope to fashion humans by themselves. Indeed, transformation has been all permeating. These welcome changes have painted a triumphalistic picture of science for the average man, as science seems to become the almighty, the solution for all.
Scientific and technological developments also have ushered in unprecedented destruction and misery. Nuclear arms, biological and chemical weapons capable of destroying a large part of humanity will always loom large in the horizon creating uncertainty of life. Ever increasing pollution through automobile and industrial effluents, perilous nuclear wastes etc. have a grave effect on the environment, causing ecological imbalances. The contamination of the chain of food production caused by the use of insecticides and other means of protecting crops raises disquieting questions regarding human health. Use of scientific knowledge and technical powers for state purposes is another debatable area. Other areas of conflicting views include the morality of test-tube babies and cloning, artificial insemination and sexual surrogacy for gay couples, cloned human being used for spare parts, animal - human hybrid, genetic tests to ascertain the unborn child’s sex and so on. Evangelium Vitae 13 says, “The wonderful new prospects opened up by the scientific and technological progress are turned into new forms of attacks on the dignity of human beings.”
Scientists say that just six million millionths of a gram of DNA carries as much information as a ten volume of the complete Oxford English Dictionary. Today, we have reached the stage of genetic fingerprinting and genetic mapping. Our amazing scientific progress in the field of genetics today has tremendous impact on life. We are stepping into a great new world where anything is possible for science. Our achievements surely have great significance today. However, it behooves us to understand and deepen our insight and awareness into the Ultimate Reality who is the cause of everything. Our inventions should humble us to accept our limitations and our littleness. Our openness to God will help us further to find answers to the perennial questions that human beings raised from the beginning of history. When we climb the steps of scientific progress it should be in consonance with the human and divine aspirations and thus to bring about a new socio-religious world order. Let our marvelous works be in accordance with God’s design and for the authentic interests of the human race, to enable human beings as members of the society to fulfill their longings in this universe.
A scientist who does not respect and pay attention to existential concerns like spiritual values and ethical norms, does not perform well in his or her work as a scientist, and the religious person who does not respect and pay attention to the concerns about knowledge and use of science and technology, overlooks the social consequences of such knowledge and does not perform well as a religious person. The first person has, in Einstein’s words, become blind, whereas the latter has become lame.
3. Religion and Science: common concerns
An unprecedented progress, isolation and specialization in scientific fields have led science and religion to forget its original goal. It seems to have lost its heart. Today, science is becoming like a monster, ready to devour its own maker. And religion is becoming fundamentalist in its approach. This situation can be averted if scientists and those who put science into use take certain religious and moral principles seriously. Religion can provide science a heart, as only religions can be of help in providing ultimate answers to important questions about human destiny and morality. If the persons responsible for the creation and employment of nuclear power are governed by sound religious principles of the common good and accountability to a supreme being, they will not use it for destructive purposes. This is also the case with environmental pollution and dehumanization in all fields of science. Thus, a rationally healthy marriage between science and religion can go a long way towards resolving the paradoxical situation science has reached today.
Scientists should rewrite their agenda to include social considerations in their scientific quest. If scientists, as part of their training, were to get some ground in philosophy and sociology of science they might also get a better understanding of what in fact they are doing and how it fits into a society characterized by injustice, poverty and alienation. We need to put a direct and sustained effort on the alleviation of poverty, enhancing livelihood security, removal of hunger and malnutrition, and generation of employment, by using scientific and technological capabilities along with our traditional knowledge pool. Religions should focus their attention on transforming the lives of others rather than promoting meaningless superstitions and rituals. Going beyond the barriers of cast, creed and nationality they should try to alleviate human misery and suffering and find God in the suffering humanity.
4. The meeting ground: Science finds in God in Nature
There are as many scientists who believe in God today as there were a century ago, and more scientists are now studying the marvels of nature to copy them in order to improve our lives. Louis Agassiz, perhaps the greatest natural scientist of the nineteenth century, declared, "It is the job of prophets and scientists alike to proclaim the glories of God."
Throughout history, most scientists have been believers in God, but during the last few centuries the scientific trend has been toward atheism. God's laws are so effective that the universe seems to just run itself. Scientists have been very successful explaining many phenomena without the need for any intervening hand from deity. But now the trend toward atheism may be reversing.
By 1914 only 40% of scientists stated that they believed in God, according to a poll quoted in Scientific American. It had been assumed at that time that as scientists discovered more and more of the laws of nature that the trend would increase until virtually all scientists were atheists. The authors of the 1999 article note that recently there has been a trend reported in the news that reconciliation between science and religion is underway:
"Now, at the turn of the millennium, comes a movement bent on reconciling science and religion. New books hail the divine in physics, biology, even computer information theory. Last year 'SCIENCE FINDS GOD' emblazoned the cover of Newsweek, and other leading news magazines picked up on the theme. More conferences than ever feature dialogues between 'the two ways of knowing.' By one report, US higher education now boasts 1,000 courses for credit on science and faith, whereas a student in the sixties would have long dug in hardscrabble to find even one. Scientists, who are older and tenured, it is said, feel it is time to give witness to their once closeted or newly found faith."[1]
The authors of that article set out to determine whether the atheistic trend in science had increased or not. They repeated the questions of the 1914 poll to the same level of scientists and discovered that today there are still 40% of scientists who believe in God. They go on to report that among scientists in the top positions the atheistic trend does appear to be increasing, but they also note that it has been pointed out that, "There's a reward system to being irreligious in the upper echelons." Thus, it has been suggested that the extreme atheism at the very top is probably more of a result of "200 years of marketing that if you want to be a scientific person you've got to keep your mind free of the fetters of religion."
This recent poll may have detected the bottom on the cycle and the percentage of hard scientists who are believers may well now begin to increase. Before looking at evidence supporting this position, let's consider the thoughts of two of the greatest scientists on their belief in God. Sir Isaac Newton is often considered to be the greatest physicist of all time. He really did "write the book" on the laws of physics. While Newton is known principally for his work in physics, he also produced many volumes on the subject of religion. He wrote a commentary on the book of Daniel and the book of Revelations, and he wrote on the chronology of ancient kingdoms.[2] As an example of his seeing no problem whatsoever in using science to discover truth about religion, he used his own newly discovered laws governing the motion of the moon to reconstruct the Judean calendar at the time of Christ in order to calculate the exact date of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. He was about two hundred years ahead of his time with this idea. His work was repeated with the same results in the early 1900's by scientists who thought they were doing it for the first time, and his method is still the best way known to make this determination.[3]
Here are samples of the religious writings of Sir Isaac Newton:
"Repentance and the remission of sins relate to transgressions against the two first commandments…And we are to believe in one God, the father, almighty in dominion, the maker of heaven and earth and of all things therein, and in our Lord Jesus Christ, the son of God, who was born of a Virgin and sacrificed for us on the cross, and the third day rose again from the dead and ascended unto heaven...."[4]
Another excellent example of a great scientist who had a strong belief in the existence of God was Louis Agassiz, who "is acknowledged even by current researchers as the greatest natural scientist of his day."[5] He discovered the Ice Age, founded both the Museum of Comparative Anatomy at Harvard, and with his wife established the great women's college Radcliffe. Here are samples of his outlook on how science should bring us closer to God:
"In our study of natural objects we are approaching the thoughts of the Creator, reading his conceptions, interpreting a system that is His and not ours."[6] "Facts are the words of God, and we may heap them together endlessly, but they will teach us little or nothing till we place them in their true relations, and recognize the thought that binds them together."[7] Agassiz was a champion of divine creation and devoted the last years of his life to defending it. He declared that "It is the job of prophets and scientists alike to proclaim the glories of God," and he spent his life as a scientist doing exactly that..[8]
After Agassiz, the scientific trend shifted as a majority of scientists began to feel they understood the laws of nature well enough to explain their observations without requiring a belief in God. However, as noted above, a core of scientists who do believe in God has persisted, and does not show any signs of decreasing in percentage. These scientists continue to see the hand of God reflected in all of his creations. As Ralph Waldo Emerson stated, "The true doctrine of omnipresence is that God reappears with all his parts in every moss and cobweb."[9]
Today there is another interesting trend. It is that the number of inventions based on copying nature is now beginning to be systematically exploited. In so doing, one need not even bring up the argument over whether "nature" refers to the handiwork of God or millions of years of mindless evolution; all that matters is that nature is incredibly successful at solving problems with which we have struggled for years.
This trend began by noticing that many inventions were discovered from observing how "nature" had solved problems. Inventors spent centuries trying to invent the airplane after watching birds fly. The book Serendipity: Accidental Discoveries in Science chronicles several of these observations which led to inventions. It also includes some discoveries that really appear to have been accidents, but many came from simply noticing the invention already working in nature, and using scientific inquiry to discover just how they work. Examples of such inventions include Velcro, which resulted when George deMestral looked to see why burs stuck so tightly to his clothing. Electric current was discovered in animals when it was noticed by Luigi Galvani that a dissected frog leg twitched as it lay near an electrostatic generator. Many colors appeared only in nature. For example, the color purple is associated with royalty partly because the natural dye Tyrian purple could only be extracted from small mollusks in the Mediterranean Sea. It was very expensive because it took 9,000 of them to produce a gram of dye. The synthesis of this color by William Perkin led to the birth of the synthetic dye industry. Certain peptides which are highly effective in fighting a variety of bacteria were discovered when it was observed that some African frogs would heal perfectly in murky water filled with lethal bacteria. The list goes on and on.[10]
Now a trend is beginning to strengthen to systemically copy nature. The word "biomimicry" has been coined to refer to the idea of purposely copying nature to discover new inventions. The author of a book with that title sees this emerging field as the result of centuries of trying to fight nature as gradually succumbing to a trend to acknowledge nature's ways as best. She points out that not only have nature already invented everything we have; it has many more inventions whose workings still evade us:
"We realize that all our inventions have already appeared in nature in a more elegant form and at a lot less cost to the planet. Our most clever architectural struts and beams are already featured in lily pads and bamboo stems. Our central heating and air conditioning are bested by the termite tower's steady 86 degrees F. Our most stealthy radar is hard of hearing compared to the bat's multifrequency transmission. And our new 'smart materials' can't hold a candle to the dolphin's skin or to the butterfly's proboscis. Even the wheel, which we always took to be a uniquely human creation, has been found in the tiny rotary motor that propels the flagellum of the world's most ancient bacteria.
"Humbling also are the hoarders of organisms casually performing feats we can only dream about. Bioluminescent algae splash chemicals together to light their body lanterns. Arctic fish and frogs freeze solid and then spring to life, having protected their organs from ice damage. Black bears hibernate all winter without poisoning themselves on their urea, while their polar cousins stay active, with a coat of transparent hollow hairs covering their skins like the panes of a greenhouse. Chameleons and cuttlefish hide without moving, changing the pattern of their skin to instantly blend with their surroundings. Bees, turtles, and birds navigate without maps, while whales and penguins dive without scuba gear. How do they do it? How do dragonflies outmaneuver our best helicopters? How do hummingbirds cross the Gulf of Mexico on less than one tenth of an ounce of fuel? How do ants carry the equivalent of hundreds of pounds in a dead heat through the jungle?
"These individual achievements pale, however, when we consider the intricate interliving that characterizes whole systems, communities like tidal marshes or saguaro forests. In ensemble, living things maintain a dynamic stability, like dancers in an arabesque, continually juggling resources without waste.... Studying these poems day in and day out, biomimics develop a high degree of awe, bordering on reverence."[11]
No wonder that these marvelous creations inspire awe and reverence; they are the work of the Almighty. When we look on any or the least of these, we are looking at God moving in his majesty and power.
While the above book assumes, as do most scientists, that these wonders of nature just "happened" by themselves, there is also a growing group of scientists who recognize that no random processes could have resulted in many of these inventions. The natural inventions which must have been "designed" rather than occurring by chance are those in which each of the many parts would have been useless to the creature unless they all just happened to spring into existence at the same time.
An example of such an inventions include the mechanism which clots our blood when we are cut. The system contains a series of inhibitors which prevent blood from clotting when it shouldn't, which would cause a stroke. There are a whole series of complicated chemicals in the system which are only useful as part of the blood clotting mechanism. All of them are necessary for the system to work, and in forty years of attempts, no one has been able to explain how the system could have evolved by chance.[12]The new millennium promises to provide many new and wonderful inventions as scientists recognize the hand of God in nature and begin to understand the principles behind so many inventions which are found everywhere in His creations.
5. Power beyond what brain can comprehend
It was observed from the 'time to think' experiments done in Biology 103 lab, that thinking is material. Thinking was associated with material changes and activities in the brain and the connected nervous system. This promulgates the brain=behavior notion. According to this notion, all aspects of human behavior and experiences are functions of a material structure, the brain. Who one is, is determined by his or her brain. Nevertheless, many people continue to believe in a 'higher power' that guides and controls human action and behavior. In a sense, religion and spirituality was developed to understand and explore questions about 'who we are' and 'what is the purpose of life'.
Whether one is Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist or Hindu, religious thinking and belief attempt to ground human experiences and thoughts in the spiritual and ethereal. Religious experiences are considered 'otherworldly' and not material. Heightened spiritual behavior through prayer, meditation or yoga is considered to lead to a state of 'transcendence', 'inner peace' or a 'nearness to God' depending on which faith you follow. Hence, the notion of spirituality and religion is based on an ethereal component. However could the ethereal and spiritual be embodied by a material structure, the brain? Recent scientific research has provided observations, which suggest spirituality, and religious experience has a biological basis. Scientific observations suggest there are specific physiological aspects to spiritual behavior like meditation, prayer, and yoga.
Many people nowadays follow transcendental meditation, prayer, and yoga to enhance their spiritual and physical well being. These spiritual practices are 'in' activities, which produce physiological health benefits. Among regular practitioners of meditation and prayer, a higher level of psychological health has been observed. Anxiety and depression are lowered. Regular meditation and prayer decreases the stress hormone, 'plasma cortisol'. Transcendental meditation and yoga also increase EEG coherence and blood flow to the brain, induce muscle relaxation and lowers blood pressure. Could all these benefits of increased spiritual behavior be associated with biology and the workings of the brain? Could science enable us to understand and explore religious and spiritual experiences?
For many years, neurobiology has avoided to explore spirituality and religion. Until recently, religion and spirituality were deemed as 'cultural, a product of social conditioning, and not biological'. Religious beliefs and spirituality was the 'playing field' for theologists and philosophers, not biologists and scientists. Many scientists were skeptical and unwilling to consider the spiritual as science. Quite a few scientists have taken the bold step to conduct research and observations to explore the biological basis of spirituality and religion.
Neurobiologists Andrew Newberg and Eugene d'Aquili have conducted research in the specialized field of ‘neurotheology’ which suggest that 'religion is intimately interwoven with human biology'. Their extensive observations of praying Franciscan nuns and meditating Buddhist monks reveal that certain religious experiences like meditation and prayer are linked to heightened activity and changes in the material structure of the brain and nervous system. According to Newberg, the 'human brain is genetically wired to encourage religious beliefs'. Spiritual experiences like transcendence and inner peace, through meditation and prayer are increased by the activities and interactions of the different areas of the brain and neural networks.
Many parts of the brain are involved in the development of spiritual experiences. Different parts of the brain do not work in isolation from one another. The brain and nervous system function as an integrated network. Since spiritual behavior such as prayer and meditation involve 'highly complex emotions, sensations and thoughts', therefore many parts are involved. The limbic system, that part of the brain which is associated with emotions and motivation and the connecting hypothalamus, amygdala and the hippocampus are observed to be involved in spiritual activity. Some of the most basic components of the nervous system like the arousal and quiescent system also foster religious experiences. However, the experiments conducted by Newberg and d'Aquili on Buddhist monks and Franciscan nuns noted that there were some specific areas of the brain, which exhibited more heightened activity during the climax of meditation or prayer.
A brain imaging technology called Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) was used to ascertain what happened in the brain during spiritual experiences this enabled imaging of the brain, to determine which areas are active, by measuring blood flow to the areas of the brain. Higher the blood flow to an area, higher the brain and neural activity observed for that area. Firstly, a baseline scan of the subject's brain during rest was taken. This was compared with the brain scan taken when the subject indicated he/she was at the 'climax' of her spiritual experience.
The frontal lobes of the brain, which are associated with attention, showed increased activity. This was expected since greater concentration and focus was essential to meditation and prayer. However, what was most interesting was the decreased activity observed in the posterior superior parietal lobe. This area of the brain is affiliated with the Orientation Association Area (OAA), which is the part of the brain, which significantly influences our orientation of time and space. This area of the brain helps to judge which way is up/down, forward/behind etc. This brain region must function all the time to assist movement. People who suffer injuries to the OAA are observed to have difficulties of orientation of space. Thereby according to Newberg, the decreased activity observed in the parietal lobe and OAA of praying nuns and meditating monks was responsible for the transcendental states they experienced.
Practitioners of spiritual behavior describe the state of transcendence or 'unitary states'. that they experience as without any sense of space or time. A breakdown of awareness between the self and the outside is experienced. This is observed to be due to the material and structural changes in the brain and neural network during spiritual experience. Especially with decreased activity in the OAA and the parietal lobe, a deprivation of sensory inputs is observed. This neurological phenomena 'where a brain structure is cut off from sensory inputs (afferents) is known as differentiation'. This describes the states of transcendence or nearness to God. Hence, the significant and complex changes in one or more specific parts of the brain and the nervous system make possible enhanced spiritual and religious experiences.
The neurobiological workings of transcendental spiritual experience are believed to have been evolved from the evolutionary function of mating and sexual reproduction. Components of the limbic system, which are associated with the differentiation process, are also linked with sexual experiences. This could explain why similar language like 'bliss', 'rapture' and 'ecstasy' are used to describe both increased spiritual experiences and pleasurable sexual experiences. A study done in 1997 by Japanese researchers indicated that ritual spiritual behavior like praying and meditation can stimulate the hypothalamus of the brain. This can generate feelings ranging from both arousals to calmness and serenity.
These findings on the material nature of spiritual experiences have created a lot of controversy as well as heightened interest in the society. Many argue that by the machinery of neurobiology of faith, spirituality, religion, and 'God' is dismissed as mere chemical reactions occurring in the brain. In addition to the studies conducted on accomplished practitioners of spiritual behavior, observations of patients of temporal lobe epilepsy has revealed specific hyper sensitivity to religious and spiritual behavior. All these findings could make atheists and skeptics argue that religion and spirituality are only a dysfunction of the brain. However, is it possible that it is in reality a 'function' and not a dysfunction of the brain activity?
The activities of the brain and the corresponding nervous system are highly complex and there is still much ambiguity about the actual functioning of the brain. Each brain is supposed to contain approximately hundred billion neurons, which form complex and highly integrated communication networks of hundred trillion neurons. Some can therefore argue that the working of the still much unexplored and misunderstood’ gray matter’ is influenced by an unexplained ethereal power. There are clearly many limitations to the still infant study of biology of spirituality and faith. For instance, the association of certain spiritual behavior with brain activity does not specify why some people are more religious and spiritual than others. Nevertheless, these studies produce an important dialogue between science and religion, which can be useful to explore questions about life, behavior etc. They also advocate an important ground to think about spirituality and religion, irrespective of differences in faith. This is especially necessary in the wake of September 11th and the continuing religious unrest and conflict around the world.
6. Head and Heart connected to God
Before exploring the brains unique role in connecting a human being to what many call God, it is essential to honor new scientific information about the human heart that identifies it as the very first connection point between the physical body and its Creator source.
Amazing recent evidence indicates that the heart begins to beat in the unborn fetus even before the brain is formed so it appears that the heart truly holds primary status as the initiator of human life. Even so, scientists have yet to discover what causes the human heart to automatically begin this essential auto-rhythmic beating function that grants us physical existence. Although previously unknown, neuroscientists have now discovered that there are over 40,000 nerve cells (neurons) in the heart alone, indicating that the heart has its own independent nervous system sometimes called the brain in the heart. In addition, the heart has an electromagnetic energy field 5,000 times greater than that of the brain and this field can be measured with magnetometers up to 10 feet beyond the physical body. This provides support for the spiritual teachings that indicate we humans have energy fields that constantly intermingle with each other, enabling healing (or negative) thoughts to be extended and exchanged.
Fortunately, among the many scientific and technical discoveries recently made, there are several which have helped us identify the major purpose of the brain as a spiritual receptor of light, of God energy. Newly developing medical fields such as neurobiology, neurochemistry, and neuropsychology are using technical imaging equipment such as PET (positive emission tomography) and SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) to identify various regions of the brain, their activities, and especially those frontal parts of the brain which must develop God capacity. And must immediately develop that spiritual capacity during the first critical months and years of childhood growth! At last science can join spiritual teachings in proving that humans have the capacity through coherent hearts and proper brain development to attain the mystical expression of feeling love, of knowing God. What is absolutely vital to remember is that the souls energy connection with physical life is not fully formed at birth and is not fully accessible during the first few years thereafter. When a baby is born, its brain has just about 50% of the neurological connections it must have as an adult, and this rapid growth must occur in the next several years. This spiritual capacity must be developed by the constant infusion of light (heart love) from the mother and family if the brains normal physical growth is to be attained. Should this essential growth fuel be missing during its early months and years, the infants brain development will likely be curtailed by lack of this essential light, or love energy, causing a variety of serious repercussions? Scientific reports are announcing that if the frontal lobes of a person’s brain are not properly developed by light and love at a young age then the resulting lack of light will probably cause a dysfunctional brain with a variety of possible physical, emotional and behavioural problems. This apparently occurs because the brain contains both more primitive regions from earlier evolutionary development and more modern additions in the frontal lobes and cortex regions designed to operate on light. Indeed it is this lack of light that causes disruptions and imbalances in one or many regions of brain area activity. In recent years, newly created PET and SPECT brain scan equipment have helped those enlightened doctors dedicated to healing the brain assist individuals with epilepsy, Attention Deficit Disorder, injuries, innumerable emotional conditions and much more. Their work also discourages alcohol and drug abuse in teens and adults by showing images of their negative effects on the brain. It is also believed that an increased amount of stress, from the chaotic nature of modern living, creates a toxic brain hormone called cortisol. It is deduced that if high cortisol levels are maintained in the brain over an extended period, certain critical brain areas can become totally devoid of neural activity. When neural activity falters, the brains light activity darkens in the frontal lobes and there is a decreased ability by the person to control aggression and regulate negative thoughts and feelings.
It is vital to grasp that the purpose of learning this information about the heart and human brains needs for light & love is not to focus on blaming mothers and families whose children are exhibiting negative behaviour and suffering from a lack of connection to their higher consciousness. Rather it is to finally understand that both the heart and the brain require light & love to attain spiritual connection to God. This is critically true during a humans infancy phase of physical growth but also throughout its adult years thereafter. Then, with this knowledge that we human beings were created to live with the constant fuel of light/love during physical life in both our hearts and our brains, we must educate ourselves and do everything in our power to fulfill our hearts and brains ability to function properly.
Now is the time to profoundly understand what causes the human species to maintain heartfelt ethical attitudes and positive emotional behaviour and to discern what vital role both play in humanity’s spiritual development. We need to know the pattern from which we human beings were created, our present evolutionary status, and how we can best express that pattern in physical life. This may be the designated moment when we can be empowered to improve our loving behaviour toward all people, but especially babies and children. We will also be drawn to explore the ways adults who have not had a light enriched heart and brain experience, themselves, can recover from various neural and electrical imbalances and even the stress-induced cortisol damage they may have endured. Surely this is the exciting threshold of a new era in natural healing, at the least, and an enormous spiritual expansion of human consciousness as we birth new generations of heart centered and brain-healthy children with telepathic and other unusual abilities. Yes, this is an incredibly hopeful time! For we already have tools such as meditation and prayer, music and sound, nature and her innumerable health-giving products from the earth, and the current positive scientific and technical equipment to assist us. Our challenge now is not merely to stay informed about these many developments that can aid us, but to use them!
7. Conclusion- The mystery of creation: a Gift and a Task
We are witnessing an extraordinary scientific and technological development. The limits of knowledge seem to be endlessly receding. But, at the same time we shudder with fear when we see the uses to which it is put. The agitated history of our century confronts us with our respective responsibilities. Today we are more aware, than in the past, of the ambivalence of science. Humans can use it for their betterment, but also for their destruction. Science has so many implications that it calls for an increased awareness on the part of conscience. Our scientific power has often outrun our spiritual power. How true, “We have guided missiles and misguided men” (Martin Luther King, Jr., Strength to Love).
Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the President of India and a well-known scientist said, “Science is a passion - a never ending voyage into promise and possibilities.” The scope, aim and value of science are the same as that of any other branch of human knowledge. Often Albert Einstein repeated, advising the scientists, “The betterment of the human condition is the very purpose of science.” Einstein says, “The release of atom power has changed everything except our way of thinking. The solution to this problem lies in the heart of mankind.” Swami Ranganathananda says, “like the cement that holds together separate bricks so as to produce the integrated structure of a building, ethical and spiritual values help to hold together separate individuals in a social organism, which then ceases to become a mere collection of separate individuals, like the building which has ceased to be just a pile of separate bricks.”
Enlightened human beings have a major role to play in promoting a new world order. Most people are interested in exploring the mysteries of creation through the on going dialogue between science and religion. Inter-religious and cultural dialogue is necessary in our attempt to promote better understanding and collaboration between religions and cultures. In a continuous process of genuine dialogue, religions and cultures become increasingly composite, incorporating elements from other traditions. Going beyond this, we need to be actively engaged in promoting dialogue between science and religion. Modern science turned its face from religion and it brought forth a technology doing service to our death instincts. Today we are evolving to greater consciousness and yet capable of annihilating itself. A dialogue between science and religion while enriching both could bring forth a technology that can promote love, care and our role as responsible co-creators. Our dream shall be:
To See a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in Wild Flower
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour (William Blake).
Works Cited and References:
22. Larson, Edward J. and Witham, Larry, "Scientists and Religion in America," Scientific American 281 No. 3 (Sep 1999), pp. 88-93.
23. Newton, Isaac. The Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms Amended, [1728], reprinted in Histories & Mysteries of Man , London, 1988. Observations upon the Prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John, London, J. Darby and T. Browne, 1733.
24. Pratt, J.P., "Newton's Date for the Crucifixion,"Quarterly Journal of Royal Astronomical Society 32, (Sept. 1991), 301-304.
25. McLachlan, H., Sir Isaac Newton: Theological Manuscripts, Liverpool, 1950, pp. 29 -35.
26. Gould, Stephen Jay, "Agassiz in the Galapagos," Natural History, 90, no. 12 (12 Dec 1981).
27. Agassiz, Louis, Methods of Study in Natural History, Boston: Ticknor and Fields, 1863, p. 14.
28. Agassiz, Louis, "Evolution and Permanence Type" reprinted in The Intelligence of Agassiz by Guy Davenport, Westport, Conn., Greenwood Press, 1983, p. 231.
29. Anderson, Vicki Jo, The Other Eminent Men of Wilford Woodruff, 1994, pp. 9-18. The quotes referenced in notes 5-7 were also quoted herein.
30.
Emerson, Ralph Waldo, "
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32. Benyus, Janine M., Biomimicry, William Morrow, New York, 1997, pp. 6-7.
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34. Bijoy Augustine. “Science & Religion Hand in Hand For a New Humanity.” Vidyankur, Journal of Philosophical and Theological Studies. Vol. 6, February 2004.
35. Job Kozhamthadam ed. Religious Phenomena in a World of Science. (ASSR: Pune, 2004).
36. Job Kozhamthadam ed. Science, Technology and Values. (ASSR: Pune, 2003).
37. Job Kozhamthadam. “The Genome Revolution and the Science-Religion Dialogue I.” Vidyajyoti, Journal of Theological Reflection. Volume 65, No.2, February 2001.
38. Job Kozhamthadam. “The Genome Revolution and the Science-Religion Dialogue. II.” Vidyajyoti, Journal of Theological Reflection. Volume 65, No.3, March 2001.
39. Job Kozhamthadam. “The Changing Face of Science-Christianity Dialogue:
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4)
Searching for the God within,, a past Newsweek article.
