What is the Relationship between Religion and Science?

Religion and science have the most important place in human life. These two phenomena are a sociological reality that, when appropriate, can either make life difficult or relieve people. By the way, as a footnote, I would like to point out that the thoughts in this article are binding only on the author of these lines and that no attempt should be made to take advantage of the situation. 

Science is the study of nature and the universe. The instinct of curiosity inherent in human nature in life constantly pushes people to research and question. The basic basis of this questioning is curiosity and the instinct to learn! If we want to explain this definition in philosophical language, we can say as follows: Science is a set of intellectual and practical disciplines that systematically investigate the unknowns of life. The most distinctive characteristic of science from all other disciplines is that it provides possible answers to questions that arise in the human mind based on concrete evidence. If there is no evidence, there is no science. Nothing abstract can be explained in science. 

Then what is Religion? It is possible to give a brief answer to this question. We can say that religion is a social institution based on the idea of "God", a set of beliefs. If we write this a little more clearly, we can briefly come to the following conclusion. We call religion the mystical phenomenon in which people participate in the form of believing in and worshipping supernatural powers, various beings they consider sacred, God. Religion is generally associated with supernatural beings and spiritual elements. There are various rituals and practices within the institution of religion. In short, religion is a socio-cultural system consisting of morality, views of the world as part of a meaningful whole, sacred texts and holy places, prophecies, etc. Sometimes the word religion is used instead of the word belief, and sometimes the word belief is used instead of the word religion.

When the history of religions is examined, it is seen that the concept of religion has different forms in different cultures, communities and individuals, and that some of the elements of religion have been redesigned by the members of religions according to geography and cultural values in every age. The word religion, which is Arabic in origin, has meanings such as "way, judgment, reward". Many religious scholars who are experts in different fields have their own definitions of religion. The definitions of religion so far are so many that they would fill the volume of a normal book. However, these religious scholars and sociologists have defined religion in terms of their own fields. 

For example, Emile Durkheim, who approached the subject from the perspective of sociology of religion, said, "Religion is a system of rites and beliefs that enables a community to come into being." Durkheim based this definition on the social function of religion in society. 

Ludwig Andreas Feuerbach, who said, "Religion is a desire that manifests itself in prayer, sacrifice and faith," brought a definition in terms of the psychology of religion. 

It is possible to list many definitions similar to these two definitions. However, these two examples clearly show how different the definitions of religion by religious scientists are from each other. After these definitions of religion and science, we need to think about how we and our geography organize or should organize this relationship. This is partly the main purpose of my writing this article. 

The picture that emerges in terms of the situation we have reached as a country is not at all heartwarming! The focal points and understandings that still portray scientists as infidels and enemies of religion continue as a common understanding both in our country and in our nearby geography. It is worth mentioning that this understanding is against innovations in life and modernity. Western civilization and societies with Christian beliefs went through terrible things in the Middle Ages. They managed to make the transition from conflicts between religion and science, where scientists were brutally murdered by skinning or burning them, to modern society. The hegemonic domination of the church and the clergy was restricted. With secularism, the philosophical integrity of this work has also been achieved to a great extent. The transition to democracy in the modern sense was the result of these bitter experiences. In a previous series of articles, I have informed you about these issues by writing about them openly.

What is seen in the Western world, such as putting religion and science in their proper place, bringing the place of clergy in the life of society to the point where it should be, etc., for some reason does not seem to be valid for our country and the Islamic geography. The understanding that thinks of killing and destroying everything has found and continues to find a place in this geography. A new understanding that interprets Islam in an extremely malicious way and prevents its essence from being understood continues to gain 'power'. However, there is not a single sign contrary to science in any verse of our religion, Islam, in the hadiths of our prophet and in his way of life itself. On the contrary, showing the utmost respect to science and scientists and providing the necessary conditions for them to work were things that were given importance in the early years of Islam. 

If this could be done in the past, why not now?

What I mean to say is that the main deficiency in our understanding of religion today is the problems in some of the interpretations we bring under the name of 'religion' according to ourselves. For some reason, in today's world, we have not developed an understanding of religion that is based on the essence of religion, the way it embraced society in the early years and grew like an avalanche. Therefore, we need to train our religious leaders much better. We need clerics who are more intellectual, who understand and interpret the world and the universe better, who are based on tolerance in religion and respect for different interpretations and beliefs. This is not only our need but also the need of the entire Middle East geography. Today, horrible and barbaric events are taking place in the Islamic geography. From Saudi Arabia to Iran, from Somalia to Myanmar and Yemen, we see different interpretations of religion trying to destroy each other. Even in an ancient geography like Iran, while dozens of people are still being taken to mass executions on the ends of cranes, it is not possible for us as the people of this geography to talk about civilization and civilization.

What needs to be done is not easy. Changing and reforming today's established understandings and thoughts is more difficult than one might think. However, our entire intellectual and spiritual world should think about these issues once again. We need an arrangement between religion and state, religion and science similar to the structure created by Western civilization. Religious beliefs should be allowed to be practiced in all their richness. Science should be free, should not be under the domination of any power center, and should be able to express and perform itself freely. Every blow to science and scientists is the greatest crime against humanity.

"Knowledge increases as it is shared, ideas develop as they are shared"

Stay with respectful love.