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Ghulam Mustafa
Introduction
Institutions are a central component of social structure.
They are strategic instruments through which human life is
patterned, stabilized and made predictable. Because of institutions,
we feel there is an appreciable element of regularity, efficiency
and certainty in our daily activities. Instead, we organize our
relationships with other people and carry out the essential tasks of
group life within the context of institutions. So there is a vital
link between a society’s institutional arrangements and the private
experiences of its members.
In this paper religion and science have been treated as
institutions of society. Each of these institutions is focused on
the solution to a set of problems encountered in social living and
maintaining order in society to provide for the common good. As we
see in the pages that follow religious and scientific institutions
meet basic social needs and keep society going.
Religion is a set
of systems in which rituals; doctrines, sentiments and other similar
elements are interconnected, whereas science is the study of natural
world and the things that happen in it. Religion conveys the truth
through revelation while science through observation and experiment.
They are main sources of human information. Religion deals with
human life and regulates it in the light of revealed knowledge,
while science deals with only material aspect of our life. Both
affect the members of a given society. Through this influence they
pattern and stabilize their lives. Smooth sailing of these
institutions adds to the comfort of society members.
Relationship between religion and science has not always
been friendly. This affected human behaviour and life. The present
paper is focused on contribution of science and religion to the
welfare of human society. The theoretical framework is to be tested
through discussion on the following questions:
1. How do religion and science contribute to society?
2. Do they affect human life?
3. Do they provide answers to ultimate questions?
4. How their relationship deteriorated and what was its
impact?
5. Does their coordination help in smooth sailing of the
society?
These are important questions. Without answering these
questions one cannot understand fully well the impact of science and
religion on social living. Discussion in the following pages will
provide us answers to these questions.
Religion and Society
Religion (Islam) stands for belief in one God and in all the
prophets of God, the last of whom was Mohammad, and for complete
submission to the Divine Will as revealed through his prophets. This
revelation is preserved in the Quran. Our religion is a complete way
of life. It integrates man with God, awakens in him a moral
consciousness and invites him to deal with all the problems of life
in accord with his commitment to God. Religion performs following
functions for the stability of society.
Promoting
Solidarity
Religion’s social function is promoting solidarity within a
society. Worship, God and society are inseparable. Religion is the
central focus for integrating the social system. It functions to
hold society together. This social solidarity is developed through
rituals and multitude of observances and ceremonies practiced by
people. Followers of one religion develop a collective identity and
a sense of fellowship.
Social Control
Another important function of religion is social control. It
reinforces social norms, providing sanctions for violation of norms
and reinforcing basic values such as truth, mercy, property rights
sincerity and respect for others. Society’s existence depends on its
members’ willingness to abide by the folkways and mores and to
interact with one another in a spirit of cooperation and trust. The
following verses from the Quran are quoted to substantiate the
point. To hinder crime it says,” those who commit murders will be
punished with eternal torment in Hell. (Nisa: 93)
The morals of Islam eradicate theft, bribery, lying and
murder from society. One who adheres to the morals of Islam lives by
observing the limits of God and does not obey the evil whispered to
him by his lower self. The Quran directs believers
Do not swallow one another’s property by false means, nor
offer it to the judges as a bribe. (Baqara.188)
Religion rids humankind of infidelity and disloyalty. God
commands that His servants be faithful to one another, and,
accordingly, this is what believers derive pleasure from. When
religious morals prevail, the best examples of loyalty and
faithfulness are witnessed. Friends, parents and elders are held in
esteem. Prophet Mohammad, about brotherhood and cooperation says:
Muslim is a brother to Muslim, he does not wrong him or
abandon him. If anyone cares for his brother’s need God will care
for his need; if anyone removes his brother’s anxiety, God will
remove from him one of the anxieties on the Day of Resurrection.
(Al-Bukhari).
In a religious society prevails peace and security. The
religion rids society of mercilessness and disaffection. It erases
all sorts of worldly fears and removes selfishness. God draws
attention to this inclination in man in the following verse.
But people are prone to selfish greed. If you do good and
have fear of God, God is aware of what you do. (Nisa: 128)
Religious teachings eradicate jealousy and envy. There
prevails sincerity and respect among people. It creates strong and
resolute character. People have balanced state of mind. This is
because of their belief in Quranic injunctions as it says.
God does not love any vain or boastful man. (Hadid:23)
Above discussion proves that through moral teachings
religion brings stability to the society where negative impulses of
man become inoperative and bond of love and respect is strengthened.
Crimes are controlled and proper responsibility allocated to society
members for smooth sailing of the system. A society dominated by
such people becomes one that does not experience social problems.
Those who lose faith in religion can easily become victims
of social evils like; jealousy, arrogance, vindictiveness,
hopelessness, indifference, greediness, hypocrisy, lying and
pretension. There is no hope for reward on noble deeds and fear of
punishment for moral crimes in faithless
society.
Answers to Ultimate
Questions
Providing answers to ultimate questions is also one of the
religious functions. Those basic questions are:
What is the beginning and end of this world? Is there any
life after death? If it is then what are the directions for this
life? How did this universe come into existence? Who created and
controls it? What is His relation with human beings and vice versa?
Besides physical laws is there some moral code? What are its
details? What is the position of man in this universe? Is he
responsible to someone? Why are we here? What happens after death?
Religion provides system of belief based on the faith that life has
a purpose, that God is in control of the universe, that there is
life after death, that we shall be asked about accounts of all our
actions. Religion makes the world comprehensible. It is religion
that provides us answers of such questions and gives meaning to
life. No other mean can help us understand these ultimate questions.
They are out of the reach of science.
Rites de Passage
Religion also provides us with rites of passage, ceremonies
and rituals designed to give sacred meanings and a social
significance to birth, marriage, death and other momentous events of
life. Such rites, typically associated with transitions in the life
cycle, are more important in traditional societies. In industrial
societies also they persist in marriage and death services
(Dictionary of Sociology, p.20).
Family Ties
Religion strengthens family ties. A strong and successful
social structure is based on families with strong ties. Family
disintegration leads to degeneration of society. It removes the
social ills of adultery, fornication and homosexuality and reduces
divorce. All family members have their rights which are respected to
avoid disintegration of the family. In case of violation of these
rights they are accountable before God (Ahmad, pp.416-17).
Reconciliation to
Hardships
Religion helps reconcile people to hardships. All societies
have inequality, poverty, and oppression, and everyone experiences
pain, crisis, prejudice and sorrow. By belonging to a religion,
people come to feel that they are special in some way that they will
be rewarded in the future. Islam calls for caring, mercy, charity,
kindness and other pro-social behaviours. Its followers provide
moral, ethical, social and even financial support to those in need.
Thus faith becomes a consolation and provides hope, which has
sustained so many lives. Hope of Heaven has brought to men much
happiness (Islam: pp.117-130). It is this hope that it keeps
the poor from murdering the rich.
Social Change
Religion can cultivate social change. Many religious groups
criticize social injustice, existing social morality and community
or government actions. Some take actions to change unfavorable
conditions. The creation of Pakistan and Israel and revolution in
Iran are the few examples where religion contributed for the social
change. Major force behind these changes was religion that motivated
its adherents to rise against heavy odds and rid them of the
problems they suffered to become masters of their destiny.
Public Speaking and
Leadership Skills
Religion also provides opportunities and experience in
public speaking and to practice leadership skills. People get
psychic reward for donating funds or labour to worthy causes. Many
sociologists argue that the functions provided by religion cannot be
adequately met by other means.
If followed in its true spirit religion performs many basic
functions for society and individuals, but due to interpretation
problems and vested interests it is likely to have dysfunction as
well. If it serves to solidify society, to reinforce social norms,
to provide answers to ultimate questions and reconcile people to
hardships, it also can serve to divide a society. There have been
and still are many instances in which differences in beliefs and
rituals are the occasion for competition, argument, political
conflict, family disagreement and even physical violence. At the
very least, people learn that their own sect carries truth and other
sects are tainted with falsehood, a belief which creates in-groups
and out-groups between which mutual understanding is difficult.
Science and society
Few centuries ago science was the private hobby of wealthy
gentlemen of leisure. It was of so little practical importance that
throughout the Napoleonic wars, scientists traveled freely between
France and England to share their harmless conversation.
Today, science is institutionalized. This means that it is
recognized as highly important. It is standardized; scientists
throughout the world follow the same basic methods and procedures,
for there is no theist or atheist way to conduct a scientific
experiment or to programme a computer.
Science is the systemic quest for verifiable knowledge and
dependable orderly sequence, following certain rules and procedures.
Scientific investigation turns up new findings through methods which
have been thoroughly institutionalized. Scientists work in
predictable ways to bring about unpredictable discoveries.
Interaction of other social institutions with science and technology
is the most powerful influence of our time. This influence works
both ways. Other institutions influence science and vice versa.
Science has become major institution in modern times. It can
be safely said that science has greater effect upon our social
relationship than any other institution. It contributes toward
society in following ways:
Social Change
Before the advent of science the pace of social change was
very slow. The emergence of science in the society changed the same.
Expansion of knowledge gave birth to a scientific mind which
overthrew old stagnant institutions to establish new one conducive
to their environment. Society took a leap from agrarian to
industrial world. People from rural areas started migration to
cities in search of jobs created by scientific discoveries and
inventions. At the same time research in agricultural field
increased production. Over agricultural production caused exchange
in local and international markets.
Health Facilities
Superstitions started losing foundations with the emergence
of science. Centuries old methods of patient treatment were replaced
with the new scientific ones. Research in medical field rid the
humanity of many health hazards. This progress in medicine and
diagnostic equipments has eradicated many fatal diseases of the
past. The normal average life has increased all over the world.
Cruel killers like smallpox, cholera, plague and typhoid don’t kill
large number of people today. Numerous women used to die during
child birth but now the situation is different. Science has brought
revolutionary changes in medical field.
Communication and
Information
In old days information about far off places was scanty.
There was no easy communication and exchange of information. Science
has facilitated communication. Travel and exchange of information
have become easy. Computer has brought revolutionary changes in
information exchange. Inventions of electrical engineering caused
many positive changes and added to the facilities of human life.
Comforts of Life
Facilities available at home are the outcome of scientific
discoveries and inventions. At present we can hardly find any aspect
of our lives not affected by science.
Science helps us conquer the forces of nature and make full
use of material resources. As a result standard of living has
improved and our social environment has become more conducive to
living. New discoveries and expansion of knowledge work for this
comfort.
Economic
Development
Because of science social evil of poverty has shrunk its
tentacles. Economic development is a contribution of science for the
uplift of the people. In advanced countries poverty has almost been
eliminated while in backward countries reduced.
Along with advantages there are certain disadvantages of
science which negatively affect social life. Scientific mind
believes in what is verifiable and rejects what is metaphysical.
This confined approach makes human life meaningless. Science does
not look beyond its limitations. This attitude complicates the
situation and leads to conflicts. Society loses harmony and fails to
sail smoothly. In such a society only the fittest can survive while
the weaker lot is left aside to perish. Its discoveries and
inventions have created environmental problems of air, water and
soil. The fear of the effacement of humanity from the face of earth
is also its side effect.
Anyhow, an appropriate use of scientific knowledge in
planning the future of mankind can bring about important social
changes in the society. It does not admit moral or social values
such as friendship, happiness, goodness etc. If young men want to
become good citizens they must be intellectually and imaginatively
aware of the values underlie human beliefs, motives and conduct. In
this period of history, religion is of tremendous importance to be
good members of a good society.
Conclusion
Above discussion safely leads us to the conclusion that
science and religion are important institutions of society. They
help society keep going. For the proper development of human life
man needs two kinds of things i.e.(a) resources to maintain life and
fulfill the material needs of the individual and society, and (b)
knowledge of the principles of individual and social behaviour to
enable man to have self-fulfillment and to maintain justice and
tranquility in human life. To cater for the material needs of man
God has provided nature with all kinds of resources, which lie at
the disposal of man. Through the help of science man can exploit
these resources. To provide for his spiritual, social and cultural
needs God raised His prophets from among men and revealed to them
code of life (religion) which can guide man’s steps to the right
path. Spirit and matter together create balance in society.
This is also a fact that both religion and science suffered
bitter relations. This conflict occurred in western Christian world.
They had made old myths and Greek thought part of their religion.
When early scientists discovered the truth through scientific
observations, the priestly class considered it attack on religion.
The defenders of religion adopted punitive measures and deprived
many scientists of their lives. This attitude made scientists
reactionary. They made up their mind not to consider any philosophy
of life that did not fall within the scope of their observation. To
them only senses based knowledge was the truth. Thus religion
started receding to the background. The Muslims had no direct
conflict with science but changes in the western world made them
feel that science would weaken their religious foundations. In fact,
religion positively supports the scientific adventures of discovery.
Science looks for those ways in which religion paves the way for
some of its ideas and gives a special kind of blessing to the
scientific quest for the truth.
The revolt against religion created many social problems for
the western society. The society was divided and made victim of
materialism, selfishness, crimes, being indifferent, hopelessness,
hypocrisy and pretension. This is not in the interest of world
society. Religion can help here. It produces moral behaviour and
offers people a world view. It encourages one to rise above selfish
interests and involve oneself with the needs of others.
I conclude my paper with what Freud says:
Religion is a tremendous force which exerts its power over
the strongest emotions of human beings. Religion and science might
be compatible if religion, offering men something, incomparably more
beautiful, more comforting and more ennobling than anything they
could ever get from science. (Great Ideas: p. 683)
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___________ Crude Understanding of Disbelief
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