“When we examine contemporary science as developed by scientists such as Lamark
and Darwin, we see the antithesis and I would say the complete disagreement
that exists between science and religion, on topics that concern the more basic
problems of existence and knowledge. For this, an enlightened mind cannot
accept at the same time both one and the other and must chose between religion
and science”.
A well known German Zoologist, Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919), who was a good
follower of Darwin, wrote these words some 65 years ago, in his book, “The
Riddle of the Universe” that was very successful and as it seemed, had proved
that faith is absurd. So says Haeckel that every enlightened man must chose
between science and religion and should follow either one or the other. He
considered it necessary that such men should deny religion because a logical
man cannot deny science.
Truly, is this necessary? No, not at all, for we know that many and great
scientists were at the same time great believers. For example, such was the
Polish astronomer Copernicus who laid the foundation of all contemporary
astronomy. Copernicus was not only a believer but was also a cleric. Another
great scientist, Newton, whenever he mentioned the word God, he removed his
hat. He was a great believer. A great bacteriologist of our time and almost a
contemporary, Pasteur, who laid the basis of contemporary bacteriology, he
would start every scientific work with a prayer to God. Some 10 years ago a
great scientist passed away, who was our countryman, physiologist Pavlov, who
was the creator of the new physiology of the brain. He too was a great
believer. Would Haeckel therefore dare say that these men did not have
enlightened mind because they believed in God?
So what happens now? Why even today there are some scientists, professors at
Universities whom I personally know and are great believers. Why don’t
all the scientists deny religion but only those who think the same as Haeckel?
Because these people believe only in materials and deny the spiritual world,
they do not believe in the after death life, they do not accept the immortality
of the soul and of course they do not accept the resurrection of the dead. They
say that science is capable of everything, that there is no secret in nature
that science cannot discover. What can we answer to these?
We shall respond to them this way. You are totally right. We cannot limit the
human mind that searches nature. We know that today, science knows only a part
of the things we have of nature. We also understand that the possibilities of
science are great. In this they are right and we don’t doubt it. What then do
we doubt? Why don’t we deny religion like them and consider it contrary to
scientific knowledge?
Just because we believe wholeheartedly that there is a spiritual world. We are
certain that apart from the material world there is an infinite and
incomparably superior spiritual world. We believe in the existence of spiritual
beings that have higher intellect than us humans. We believe wholeheartedly
that above this spiritual and material world there is the Great and Almighty
God.
What we doubt is the right of science to research with its methods the
spiritual world. Because the spiritual world cannot be researched with the
methods used to research the material world. Such methods are totally
inappropriate to research the spiritual world.
How do we know that there is a spiritual world? Who told us that it exists? If
we are asked by people who do not believe in the Divine revelation, we shall
answer them thus: “Our heart told us”. For there are two ways for one to know
something, the first is that which is spoken by Haeckel, which is used by
science to learn of the material world. There is however another way that is
unknown to science, and does not wish to know it. It is the knowledge through
the heart. Our heart is not only the central organ of the circulation system,
it is an organ with which we know the other world and receive the highest
knowledge. It is the organ that gives us the capability to communicate with God
and the above world. Only in this we disagree with science.
Praising the great successes and achievements of science, we do not doubt at
all its great importance and we do not confine the scientific knowledge. We
only tell the scientists “You do not have the capability with your methods to
research the spiritual world, we however can with our heart
There are many unexplainable phenomena which concern the spiritual world
that are real (as are some type of material phenomena). There are therefore
phenomena that science will never be able to explain because it does not use
the appropriate methods.
Let science explain how the prophecies appeared on the coming of the Messiah,
which were all fulfilled. Could science tell us how the great prophet Isaiah,
some 700 years before the birth of Christ, foretold the most important events
in His life and for which he was named the evangelist of the Old Testament? To
explain the far sighted grace possessed by the saints and to tell us with which
physical methods the saints inherited this grace and how they could understand
the heart and read the thoughts of a person they had just met for the first
time? They would see a person for the first time and they will call him by his
name. Without waiting for the visitor to ask, they would answer on what
troubled him.
If they can, let them explain it to us. Let them explain with what method the
saints foretold the great historical events which were accurately fulfilled as
they were prophesied. Let them explain the visitation from the other world and
the appearance of the dead to the living.
They shall never explain it to us because they are too far from the basis of
religion- from faith. If you read the books of the scientists who try to
reconstruct religion, you will see how superficially they look at things. They
do not understand the essence of religion yet they criticize it. Their
criticism does not touch the essence of faith, since they are unable to
understand the types, the expressions of religious feeling. The essence of
religion they do not understand. Why not? Because the Lord Jesus Christ says
“No one can come to me unless My Father who sent Me draws him to Me.(John 6:44)
So it is necessary that we be drawn by the Heavenly Father, it is necessary
that the grace of the Holy Spirit enlighten our heart and our mind. To dwell in
our heart and mind through this enlightenment, the Holy Spirit and the ones who
were found worthy to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, those in whose heart
lives Christ and His Father, know the essence of faith. The others, outside the
faith cannot understand anything.
Let us hear the criticism against Haeckel from a French philosopher Emile
Boutroux (1845-1921). So says Boutroux, “The criticisms of Haeckel concern much
more the ways, than the essence, which (the ways) he observes with such a
materialistic and narrow view, that they cannot be accepted by religious
people. Thus the criticism of religion by Haeckel is not referred to, not even
in one of the principles that constitutes religion”.
This is therefore our opinion regarding Haeckel’s book “The Riddle of the
Universe” which up to day is considered the “Bible” for all those who criticize
religion, which they deny and find it contrary to science. Do you see how poor
and tasteless arguments they use? Don’t become scandalized when you hear what
they say about religion, since they themselves cannot understand its essence.
You people, who may not have much of a relationship with science and do not know
much about philosophy, remember always the most basic beginning, which was well
known by the early Christians. They considered poor, the person who knew all
the sciences yet he knew not God. On the other hand, they considered blessed
the person who knew God, even if he knew absolutely nothing about the worldly
things.
Guard this truth like the best treasure of the heart, walk straight without
looking right or left. Let us not bother with what we hear against religion,
losing our bearings. Let us hold on to our faith, which is the eternal
indisputable truth. Amen.
St Luke, Archbishop of Crimea,
Topics and Discussions,
“Orthodox Kypseli” Publications- Thessaloniki
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