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

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from the unpublished book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.