A lot of western scientist after renaissance or especially after industrial revolution believed that science is in contrast with religion. The root of this idea refers to the church activity in the past. (Middle Centuries)
Christian clergymen in that time did a lot of illogical behaviors. They were against every thing that is discovered by science. For Example Gallely who found out that it is earth which turns around sun not vice versa, was threaten to death by church. In our view it is not weird because Christianity is not a proper religion to support people till the end of world. Also we can not say surly Bible is the right book which Jesus brought to the people. So Christianity is not a complete religion which can cover all part of human’s life. Christianity does not have enough concept, rules and argument to answer lots of questions about human, life, world, God, etcetera. So western scientists believed that religion is against science. But we should determine the domain of each one. In addition some of them believe that religion is something that relates with individual affairs.
Nowadays many western scientists and scholars support this view. They say it is not matter what religion you have, because the religion does not have any relationship with science. But the point we should consider deeply is that if science against Christianity or every religion?
Some of philosopher who studies in religion try to prove that there is no conflict or contradict between religion and science, because the domain of each one is completely different from another. Subjects of sciences especially natural sciences are meaningful things and issues, because natural science is based on experience and examine. While the domain of religion is meaningless issues because religion talks about issues that we can not be able to experience them. So there is no contradiction between religion and science.
But how about Islam. Is Islam against science or not?
There is a lot of reasons prove the accordance of Islam and science. First of all Islam claim that it is the most complete religion in the world and the last one. Also it can support and conduct people for ever. Indeed if we consider Islamic beliefs we can find out that Islam has a rule in every part of human’s life in both spiritual and material. Islam does not say that one should care and amplification just his soul or just his body like some religion or school which says body is the principle or soul is the principle. Islam says if man wants to be complete should consider his both sides. For this purpose Islam has considered the needs of both soul and body.
In addition there is a lot of word in Koran and narration which encourage Moslem people to find and learn the science. Not only encourage but also learning and teaching is necessary for every Moslem.
Despite of Islamic beliefs, we can take a look to the history of Islam. Islam has a clearest history and there is no doubt when Islam appeared in Arabia, Moslem people developed in a lot of science. After a little while people who could not be able to write and read made an important civilization and created and offered many scientists and scholars to the world. These events happened when western societies were just full of wars, fighting and killing each other. Actually all of western scholars confess that they beholden to Moslems for their development. In fact they stole Moslem books and library. So if Islam was against science how we can see such a development or indeed blast in science expansion in the Islamic civilization in the few past centuries. So this is the best reason that shows the accordance of Islam and science.
We accept that Moslem societies step by step regressed and became weak but I have to say something about reasons of this regression. The most important reason for this weakness refers to the European countries’ policy especially Britain and French. When they developed, they kept other nations especially Moslems under their control. The colonialism is one of the benefits of their development! Moslem people did not thrifty to give their technology and knowledge to the other nations. While that countries kept others needy.
On one hand when people concentrate on Islam they surly find out that Islam is the most complete religion in the world. Super power countries understand Islam is the best religion and they see the affection of people for this religion, on the other hand they have a strong desire to keep their role in the world. For this purpose they expand some rumors about incompleteness of Islam.
Written by:
Mohammad Hassan Akhlaqi
