DEPARTMENTS
A
hopeful approach for the future of international relations.
Redirect
teen rebellion towards idealism and self improvement.
Read
excerpts from unpublished book: Science,
Religion and the Search for God Bridging the Gap.
Poems
of society, the human condition, and spiritual discovery.
Our
student activities and curriculum materials instill an environmental,
cultural, and global perspective, and integrate various
academic disciplines.
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archives archives
archives |
Archives
2002:
Vol. 1, Numbers 1-12
Read
past articles including:
Hope
for the Future
Six
Part Series on Science and Religion
First
Three Parts of the Series on Leadership |
Archives
2003:
Vol.
2, Numbers 1-12
Read
past articles including:
Series
on Leadership continued
Avoiding Dictatorship in a Free Society
Art
and Politics
Living
the Good Life
Teaching
Teens
World
Peace in Less Than a Month? |
Archives
2004:
Vol.
3, Numbers 1-12
Read
past articles including:
Seven Part Series on Global Consciousness
Is "Liberal"
a Dirty Word?
Can Idealism Solve Problems?
Peace on Earth, Goodwill to All |
Archives
2005:
Vol.
4, Numbers 1-12
Read
past articles including:
Standing up for Humanity
Unity in Diversity
Thought and Imagination
Imagination and Healing
Lessons of Katrina
Intelligent Design or Evolution |
Archives
2006:
Vol.
5, Numbers 1-12
Read
past articles including:
Human Programming and Conflict
Non-Violent Political Change
Sustainable Development
Legalizing Torture
Living Without an Enemy
"Fast Food" is really "Slow Food" |
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August,
2002
Vol. 1, number
8
Chapter
I
The Search for God
(conclusion) Part
5
from
the unpublished book
Science, Religion, and the Search for God: Bridging the Gap
by
Richard Sidy
When
scientific and religious orientation unite in the honest,
unselfish pursuit of truth, humanity will be aided in opening
the doors to higher awareness. The ability to think and to
feel are divine qualities on a human scale. They help develop
the ability to participate more fully in the wonderful relationships
in the many aspects of life. These faculties of sensitivity
and thinking must be developed systematically and purposefully
if an individual is to realize the fullest measure of wisdom.
They must be developed in a balanced way in order to develop
one's full potential and to be of greater service to society
and to nature.
As humans develop higher faculties, they gradually develop
God-consciousness, which is an experience beyond faith and
reason. God-consciousness unites a person with the God within
and within all things and results in greater knowledge of humanity
and the Universe through real experiences.
The search for God must keep pace with the evolutionary unfoldment
of human potential. We see that current social, economic, and
environmental crises are evoking great and heroic acts from
people. When people act selflessly for a high ideal or principle,
when they maintain their integrity in the midst of corruption,
and when they sacrifice personal comfort in order to serve
humanity, they are great examples of the inner divinity in
action. Fortunately, more and more people are demonstrating
such behavior in spite of increasing problems, pessimism, and
cynicism about the future. Such people lead by their example
and help others overcome hardships and hopelessness.
Scientific awareness is expanding to the point where the most
advanced scientists stand in humble awe before an ever-growing
view of the Universe. In searching for the origin and laws
of matter, energy, and life, scientists are crossing the threshold
from the visible world of matter into the invisible world of
energy. They are beginning to develop instruments sensitive
to even the subtlest of invisible energies. When science applies
its research to the benefit of humanity, there will be greater
enlightenment. Rather than spending millions on research to
serve materialistic purposes, such scientists may eventually
investigate the spiritual causes behind existence. This will
broaden the approach of medical science and change people's
attitudes towards birth, life and death.
New scientific research will make spiritual truths knowable
and remove ignorance, fear, and doubt from people's minds.
Scientists who are in awe of existence will develop more responsibility
in the application of their knowledge. No longer will they
use science for war, for greed, or for activities which poison
the earth. On the contrary, scientists of conscience do work,
and will continue to work to solve the problems of our earth
in order to restore health and well-being to our planet. Such
science will be an essential tool in man's spiritual search
for meaning in life.
If we accept that spiritual truths underlie material reality,
then any search for truth is a search for God. If we accept
an expanded concept of "God" as an all-pervading
energy of intelligence, love, life, law, organization, and
creativity in the Universe, then we will accept that there
are a variety of valid ways to approach God. The more these
approaches work together, the greater spiritual wisdom man
will develop.
Science and religion are central to the development of God-consciousness
because they balance two predominant characteristics in human
nature. People must use the emotions and the mind together
in order to develop as a balanced human beings. When science
belittles religion and religion fights against scientific investigation,
they are giving up their ability to influence each other in
a beneficial way. Such conflict divides human nature and creates
divisions in society.
People cannot work with only one hand nor reject a part of
human nature. Scientific orientation helps human progress by
developing knowledge, objectivity, and reason. Religious orientation
helps human progress by developing the desire to serve others,
to love, and to create unity. Without this balance, one can
not progress. One-sidedness limits success and may lead ultimately
to isolation, loss of a greater purpose and failure. Without
each other, science becomes selfish materialism and religion
becomes selfish fanaticism.
Through science and religion humans can go beyond science and
religion in the search for God. These two orientations are
as two feet upon the path of the eternal search for God-consciousness.
Together they create striving and service. Together they create
devotion to high ideals and the sense of responsibility. Together
they may lead to the realization that life and labor in the
world must serve a spiritual purpose. As human consciousness
expands and as the awareness of the Universe expands, the concept
of God will expand. Thus will the search for God be never-ending.
Eventually we may succeed in breaking the walls between our
self-consciousness and our Divinity, experiencing that God
is within us and within all beings. Then will the search for
God change into living God and working to manifest God. When
science and religion succeed in putting all people on the path
to perfection, then our planet will become a sacred planet
instead of a planet of pain and suffering.
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