Balancing science and technology with faith and religion
“Just in terms of allocation of time resources,
religion is not very efficient,”
Bill Gates said.
“There's a lot more I could be doing on a Sunday morning." The remark
may explain, in part, the decline of traditional worship, especially
among Christians. At the same time, it encourages a larger discussion
about one’s
sense of self and place in an ever-changing world.
Science and technology appear to surpass the need for or relevance of
religion. They have little use for superstition and denominational
vanity disguised as fact and absolute truth. In addition, religious
hierarchy no longer receives an unchallenged status as if a divine power
chose these fancy-dressed, elite members presumably knowing God's will.
Technology has consumed, influenced and manipulated humankind like
never before. Smart phones are a constant companion whether in the
bedroom, watching television or a short trip to the corner store.
Individuals have made technology an extension of their person.
It can empower, but also dehumanize and emotionally disconnect people
renewing the purpose and relevance of spirituality often enhanced
through religion. This is why religion is so important today.
Religion when used by the individual for personal enlightenment empowers
self. Religion is an invitation to stillness. It uses metaphors, a
universal language speaking to a deeper part of one’s identity. Bad
religion wrongly interprets metaphors as facts and if further abused,
controls and manipulates others.
Broadly defined, religion has
the potential to balance the mind and body. It can be a tool to call us
to an experience – something mystical. Mysticism can be secular,
humanist or deeply religious.
An atheist can “enjoy” a beautiful
sunrise, or “experience” it just as well as a person of faith. The
believer and non-believer can be lost in a transcendental moment.
Mysticism is a connection to a transformative experience in the moment
or potentially for a lifetime. Religion is a tool and can help as an
entry into mysticism.
Although traditional Sunday worship is in
decline for many, the fundamental wisdom contained in Christianity and
other world religions, flowing from a common source, offers timeless and
universal values and lessons. The challenge for spiritual leaders is to
recreate a modern means to communicate the wisdom to the notebook and
smart phone generation.
In addition, the technology generation
must re-create the ancient lessons making metaphors relevant to them
even though too many spiritual leaders hostile to science have made
religious metaphors into facts and thus superstitions.
Today, religion can be a safeguard to maintain our humanity and sense
of community when ease or complacency seeks to replace human interaction
with social media. Religion, if not abused, still calls to an
intuitive, inherent spirituality in the quest for meaning and relevance.
