Reconciling Science and Religion Through Evolution

The chasm between science and religion has split some people's psyches, forcing them to compartmentalize their lives, or worse, forcing them to choose between faith in science (evolution) or in God. The worst manifestations of this psychological split are scientists without hope and theists without reason.

Considering that God evolves may help to bridge the gap between science and religion, thereby unifying the psyche. This integrated way of knowing helps us better understand our role in the cosmos, thus enhancing our enjoyment of life and increasing our likelihood of survival.

Many people believe that the ideas of evolution are incompatible with their religion and religion is incompatible with evolution. They can either fully embrace science or religion, but not both. For me it was either believe the Bible literally, or believe evolution and exclude the whole Bible since one part that is wrong must mean the rest is "wrong" as well. Like many others, I have learned otherwise.

Evolution is Compatible with World Religions
Despite some vocal opinions to the contrary, evolution is not only compatible with world religions, it is essential in understanding these world religions. Evolution is embraced by many in all branches of the Abrahamic religions including Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Evolution is central to understanding Hinduism and Buddhism, which state that events in the universe cycle. It is also key to understanding the Chinese philosophy of Taoism, which is based on knowing the truth of nature.

The Evolution of God in no way detracts from the importance, spiritual truth and authority of the Bible.

"Though frightened for a moment by evolution, the Christian now perceives that what it offers him is nothing but a magnificent means of feeling more at one with God and of giving himself more to Him." ~ Teilhard de Chardin, Priest and paleontologist.

Official Catholic doctrine accepts that evolution by natural selection is the best explanation for our existence.

The death and resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate symbol of evolution and transformation. Jesus' body died so that the Christ spirit could be born. According to the Gospels, Jesus preached that everyone could be spiritually transformed. In modern words, Jesus said everyone could undergo their own personal spiritual evolution.

Judaism
"The theory of evolution accords with the secrets of Kabbalah better than any other theory" wrote Daniel C. Matt, from "The Essential Kabbalah: the Heart of Jewish Mysticism." "God is not static being, but dynamic becoming." ~ Daniel C. Matt in The Essential Kabbalah

The first story in Genesis is a story that supports evolution. Because this story was written thousands of years before people had techniques to observe the past, some of the details differ from what we know to be true (ie plants created before the Sun). But all in all, Genesis is a beautiful, poetic and brief description of our evolution.

Islam
Moderate Muslims and members of the mystical branch of Islam, called Sufism, fully accept evolution.

Taoism
In Taoism, change is so central to their philosophy that it is in the title of their most famous book, the Tao Te Ching, translated as the Way of Integrity and Change. To understand Taoism is to understand the true nature of existence, both the nature of our universe, and the nature of humanity. The Tao is the underlying essence of things, like a simple mathematical expression that gives rise to a complex fractal design. The Tal is like gravity or like elementary particles.

Hinduism
Evolution, or change over time, is central to Hindu religion. Hindus believe the universe is in a constant flux of being created and being destroyed. Shiva, the God of Change, is often portrayed as the multi-armed dancing figure of Nataraja, Lord of the Dance. Shiva is the God of destruction, creation and preservation - the God of evolution. Shiva is often known in Western Culture as the destroyer. Without the release of the old, there can be no creation of the new.

Buddhism
Understanding evolution is essential in attaining enlightenment in Buddhism. Most Buddhists consider the four nobles truths to be: 1) Life is suffering 2) The cause of suffering is delusion 3) The way to end suffering is to realize one's delusions, and 4) the eightfold path guides one to overcoming delusions. Another interpretation of the Four noble truths is as follows: The first of Buddha's Four Noble Truths states that everything is impermanent, or in modern terms, that everything evolves. The Second Noble Truth is that those who are ignorant of this truth suffer because they cling to desires based on illusions of permanence. The Third Noble Truth states that the cure to suffering is wisdom about the nature of reality. In other words, the cure to suffering is to realize that things are not always as they seem and that things change or evolve. The realization of one's delusions ends suffering. From this realization, people consequently understand the importance of compassion to others. Finally, the Fourth Noble Truth offers eight guidelines, which, if followed, will help each person attain wisdom and compassion.

Religious Stories as Metaphor

Many people view the Bible and other religious scriptures as true in the spiritual, poetic, metaphorical sense and evolution as true in the scientific, rational, literal sense. When both science and religion are combined, a richer, more satisfying understanding of life, the universe and everything emerges.

Science and religion are a part of the continuum of seeking to understand our place in the universe. Both science and religion are ways to understand our origins, to understand Ultimate Reality, and to make our world a better place.

Religion is a spiritual experience. Science is an intellectual experience. Humans need both.

Since the rise of the scientific method in the Renaissance, a rip has been growing between science and religion. One of my goals is to be a stitch in mending this tear that separates our understanding into two fragmented pieces of science and of religion.

Someone wrote of four ways that science and religion relate to one another. I have added a fifth way of relating, which I believe is the most satisfying relationship, where they mutually support each other.

Five Relationships of Science and Religion:

• Mutual exclusion
• Non-Overlapping Magesteria (Gould)
• Science supports religion
• Religion supports science
• Science and religion support each other
  

Of the above five relationships of science and religion, only the fifth is fully integrated, providing the most satisfying and useful world view. More on this later.

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provided by National Center for Science Education