Science and faith—complementary or contradictory?
And where does the scientific-religious discussion stand in the 21st century?
This book deals with faith in the psychological sense, examined through scientific goggles.
Readers are given tools for critical observation—to use on concepts such as God and religion, but also on non-religious beliefs.
We live in the twenty-first century, in an age when humanity has accumulated vast amounts of knowledge, more than in any other historical period; access to knowledge is endless and it’s used daily. Science envelops our lives and touches them in almost every field; from improving our health systems while extending our lives; access to fresh, non-polluted food and clean water, it provides us with entertainment, clothing, and contributes to the study of distant worlds. We are closer than ever to understanding the laws of nature. Our ability to transfer information, goods and people from one place to another in the world is faster and more efficient. At any given moment, dozens of studies are published in countless areas of knowledge that advance human thinking quickly toward the future.
Nevertheless, it is clear that faith, religion and the question of divinity still occupy a central place in the lives of most people. The word ‘Nevertheless’ is written here mainly in light of the growing gaps between what we know today and the concept of faith, the long-lasting traditions, embracing cultures, peoples and religions, which increasingly seem detached from the accumulated knowledge, and evidence-based objective reality, and not the subjective emotional reality. Studies such as the one done by the PEW1 Research Institute show that the number of secular/atheists in the world number 1.1 billion people (about 16.5% of the world population). This leaves about 6.5 billion people who believe in the supernatural through about 4,000 different religions and gods of various kinds.
The absolute majority feels that there is a “supernatural” reward for good deeds, and more than half of the respondents believe in the afterlife and the second coming of Jesus or the arrival of the Messiah2. These data sharpen the tension between faith and tradition to the modern world, science and reality, and raise the question of why and how to step toward faith when all the evidence surrounding us points in the opposite direction. This is an old question.
