Scientific Religion (Paperback)

INTRODUCTION We are all looking forward to a Glorious India bf the future, and the rosy dawn of our freedom is already glowing on the horizon. Every son of India is busy preparing plans for industrial and economic development of India. I too have my own ideas on these subjects, but I am convinced that without a solid foundation of Theistic attitude or Scientific Religion as I call it, we shall be building on sand. I may be wrong but I may add, many others think so too. My object in publishing them is to try to sug gest to those, who are against it, that Religion is not mere rubbish as they imagine. They may have personally risen above religion, but for an average man, it still serves a very useful purpose and it would be wiser to retain the gold that lies in it. To those who already agree that it is advisable, the ii SCIENTIFIC RELIGION notes will perhaps show that it is feasible also. At any rate, even if a few of our younger generation read it, I shall feel myself amply rewarded. I know it is very difficult to talk of the vari ous religions without treading on someones toes, but I can assure my readers, that I have honestly made an endeavour. If still I have erred, it is due to ignorance, and I shall feel grateful, if I am told about it. Karachi llth June, 1930. I beg of my rationalist friends that they should be a little more 4C rational. They would also do well to reconsider the advisability of banishing emo tion from the world an utterly futile attempt, a Communal outlook is no more the result of Religion, than the poison-gases are the product of Science. The harm done by both is due in unregulated emotion, which people try to hide behind religion and science and in my humbleopinion, the first step towards improvement is to tear off that mask by showing that all Religions are essentially one and one cannot possibly be superior or inferior. My Religion is no doubt best for me, but I have no right whatsoever to thrust it on another. We have materialistic science on one side and dogmatic religion on the other. We must Steer clear of both rocks, which are equally dangerous, INTRODUCTION iii and I am convinced more than ever, that the only remedy is Scientific Religion, or whatever other name you may choose to call it. That is the mess age I would like my Motherland to give the whole world by practising it, on the rosy dawn of Her free dom and if that is also Gods will, it shall be done. Karachi 17th February, 1932. First of all, I have to thank God for allowing me to finish this book. Without His hand, I could not have done it. Since the last was written many years have passed. The dawn of freedom which was, glow ing on the horizon has now dawned and the Land is free to follow its own course. In this book the chapter on Reconciliation between Religion and Science, a number of illustra tions, and a third part of chapters dealing with the practical aspect, has been added, making the book, I believe, more useful. May this little book serve the purpose ir is meant for, is my only prayer. I am thankful to u The Aryabhushan Press for doing this work so well, and in such a manner. Shanti Kunj, t 859 Shiwaji Nagar GANGADHAR NlLKANTH POONA4. I PnirHATF 6ih December 1950 J bOKHAU5 CONTENT Introduction I. Our Attitude towards the Deeper pro blems of Life 110 1 2 Our search for happiness, 34 Divine discontent, 5 7 Science and Re ligion, 8 9 Liberty of Conscience 10Scientific Superstition, 1112 Man Authority for himself not others. II. Materialism and its Logical Consequ ences 11 18 13 14 Matter the most obvious reality, 15 Scientific Materialism after Darwin, 16 Nietzsches Superman, 17 Logical consequences of these Ideas, 18 Not a modern discovery, 19 Not widely accept able. III...