Reason and Religion
Reason and religion are not antithetical to each other. The application of reason does not mean ignoring religion nor should the worship of God mean that one turns the rational mind off. In fact, parts of modern religion derive from a science of the soul, mind, and the body.
Too often, religious practice involves dogma that is incapable of accepting challenge or modification without violence and resistance. Religion changes when very special individuals make an effort to spread their new understanding to others. In contrast, reason responds to
change; it leads to new outcomes more quickly and frequently than religion. Each mind makes a contribution even if it is only to accept someone else’s reasoning. Reason produces knowledge, such as science and technology. Where applied appropriately, reason can inspire social progress.
Reason is far from perfect as it can justify an unfair status quo (e.g., where only a few have an opportunity to thrive). Reason can invent means to harm others. Unrestrained by goodness, reason could end society in just a few hours. Religion often provides the moral constraints that function as a defense against unmitigated war.
Reason can be applied to religion or work in combination together with great effect. For example, we are achieving some of Jesus’ miracles through application of our reasoning abilities. The visually challenged can purchase eye transplants, have cataracts surgically removed, or wear glasses or contact lenses to regain their eyesight. Polio (which probably accounts for the lameness healed by Jesus) has been eradicated through medicine. Psychiatry treats psychosis (known as demons in The Holy Bible) caused by guilt, trauma, and stress. Modern agriculture and fishing can produce more than enough to feed the more than 7 billion people on Earth.
Parts of religion originated with a science of soul. For example, serious crime (rape, murder, arson, kidnapping, burglary) is intolerable to everyone because of the chemicals released in the body which impair physical functioning. Murder, whether in war or as a crime, leads to traumatic levels of stress that produce dysfunction and illness. Theft induces guilt. Our parents are powerful figures encoded in the brain as deserving of the child’s attention; dishonoring a parent before adulthood induces a sense of being lost that can last a lifetime. Blessing the food before consumption might activate the immunological properties of saliva. Prayer can emotionally prepare one for life events that would otherwise be intolerable. Enlightenment may be characterized by a high level of immunological resistance to illness or the ability to go without physical nourishment. Deep faith heals. Clearly, the application of reason to religion has positively impacted humanity.
There is a middle ground of reason and religion that open minds can create and tread. Religion should not be just a team one joins and follows but a living body of knowledge and experience that accumulates and inculcates wisdom. In the future, reasoners would do good to shed light on less understood areas of religion like karma or nirvana. Faith leaders should evaluate science on its merits instead of rejecting it outright because it conflicts with established doctrine.
Do you believe that reason and religion can coexist? Share your theory with scott@theorism.org.