The role of spirituality in the scientific world of today is not far removed from its role in other sectors of our society. In the hearts and minds of those who pursue science, however, it often takes a much different tone than that of the general populace. It seems a common misconception among the fiercely and strictly religious that today’s scientists live without any faith at all. It may be true that for many, the explanation of evolution replaces the role of an intelligent creator, though, absence of a strict religious doctrine does not constitute absence of faith.
Historically, religion has been used to explain what is not understood and connect an individual to their humanity. Science, in its own way, seeks to do the same. Science seeks to understand the processes of the world around us and the very universe which that world exists in.
Carl Sagan once described the study of astrophysics and astronomy as a “humbling and character-building experience.” Religion is recognized, by many, as somewhat of an egocentric world view. Many religions place us as the main focus of an intelligent creator, a god, this would seem to imply that we are critically important and special. For the longest time, human beings have naively believed that we are at the center of the universe. Today, we recognize this to be false. We see that we make our home on a planet that rests itself on a spiral arm of an unimportant galaxy.
In a universal sense, our entire civilization exists on a back road of a galaxy which can be equated to a small town which rests itself on an unimportant stretch of the cosmic highway. For the academic pursuer of science, however, this does not mean that we are unimportant. This is what makes us special. That against all odds on our planet, life emerged and the civilization of humanity arose. This belief that we are small fish in a vast cosmic pond connects the scientist to their humanity and their faith in an extremely profound way. This faith may include the possibility of something greater, that one may define as a god, but for many, this faith is more a deep and awe-inspiring connection to the universe around us.
It is, of course, worth noting that there are scientists and academics who conform to a specific organized or loosely organized religious belief system. These things are not intrinsically at odds with one another. Though many find it difficult to hold these type of beliefs and not have some conflict with their relentless lines of scientific questioning, it is not by any means impossible. It is extremely important to recognize the role of faith to individuals in all walks of life. It is to me, obviously, an intrinsic part of the human condition. If it was not, we would not see the wide range of explanations for our existence connected to feelings which seem to be beyond our explanation; at least to some degree.
Though science seems to be at times directly opposed to religion, it is very much connected in a way that many individuals fail to see. At times, science can even be recognized as a direct refinement of spiritual belief systems. Such as the case with astronomy, which emerged from astrology beliefs and the documentation of events in the heavens. These things were used to record time, to know when to plant, and were, at times, incorrectly correlated with events here on earth. It is of the utmost importance that both the scientist, as well as the laborer, the atheist and the fiercely religious, recognize these facts. This is due to the horrible unescapable fact that for our world the biggest thing missing is understanding and harmony between those with differing systems of belief.
