SCIENCE & RELIGION
The Inclusive Approach

Dear Friends,

Since I tried to reconcile my Spiritual Realization with physics, my work has received an enormous boost.  It is the reason why I currently put much emphasis on it. In particular, scientific research helped me to realize that my Experiences indeed comply to Reality, not only inner but also outer. Science and religion being two Paths to the selfsame Truth. This Truth was hithertoo hidden, though. Both Science and Religion have stuck, failing to reveal the ultimate issues. However, both share the same passion. For me and many others reason for great celebration. What made S&R popular is undoubtedly due to the pressure of (fundamentalist) Christians who try to win over science in favor of their biblical convictions. This pressure should not be underestimated. Various institutes in the USA, the UK and elswhere have organized special curriculi, displaying openness to many different voices. Underlying, however, the effort is directed towards confirming the truth of Christian faith. Maybe, eventually, this is also my driving force. However, I don't try to adjust e.g. manipulate Reality in favor of my insight. What I discovered is that these two spontaneously came together. I am supported in this regard by most outstanding physicists. Albert Einstein is one of those, who, coming to the limits of his research, realized the Divine Roots of the universe. He and many other feel themselves as being "religious", however, their insights differ fundamentally from those Christians who try to claim science for their own cause.

Talking about Science and Religion we thus have to ask ourselves: which Science and which Religion? What binds them is the passion for the Ultimate. An astronomer want to understand the secret behind......once he understood, then he/she will go beyond, asking the same question again (and again).   What makes the universe tick? What is its Origin? These are burning questions all cosmologists have in common. You may call it "scientific interest", you may also call it a religious or spiritual quest. It is a quest for (rational) understanding. The driving force comes from the mind. The mind is always trying to explain things. Indeed, this approach has been quite successful. What makes them "desperate", though, is that it more and more becomes clear that their tools are insufficient with regard to "last issues". The latter remains a mystery. Which makes their transition to "religion" an easy one. Albert Einstein welcomed this. He wanted the Ultimate to remain a Mystery. Isn't that beautiful? Religious e.g. spiritual quests are very similar. E.g. in mysticism the passion is for the Ultimate, too. Mystics and scientists thus share the same passion for the same Reality. While the scientist wants to understand, the mystic (gnostic) wants to experience. He/she is longing for being united with the Divine. The scientific approach is finding it in the "outside" world, the mystic on the other hand, turns within. Since Reality is an Undivided Whole, both arrive at the selfsame Underlying Truth. Provided both go deep e.g. far enough. Which until now is NOT yet the case! In order to find out I have to guide you a little further along the Path.

Since Buddhism came to the West we started to understand that deep within We Are Divine. God-experience - the mystical way of the West - turned into God-Realization. We started to become aware e.g. striving for Enlightenment. Again, the underlying passion for the Ultimate was the same. Only the way to it differs. The "approach" of spiritual Realization is unique. Because of its Oneness with the Whole. The Whole is "more" than the sumtotal of its parts. Cosmology tries to achieve the same. Science and Religion are thus deeply intertwined. Provided there is mutual recognition. The Road within and the Road without are of equal value. Deepest scientific insight often proves to be mystical wisdom and vice versa. People who have attained (Full) Enlightenment can tell you everything about the Underlying Reality of the universe. The next (and very rare) step is to go even beyond that. It is the Realm of Absolute Nothingness. Light proves to be born out of Darkness! The latter cannot be realized because it proves to be a Bottomless Vacuum, something ancient people called the "Cosmic Womb". Hence, our attitude to "Her" changes accordingly. Realization turns into worship. This should not be mixed up with the existing "Great Religions".  While scientists and their spiritual colleagues are sharing the same passion - passion for the Ultimate through open investigation - beliefs are closed systems. Believers are not interested in "adventures", but in security*. Their underlying driving force is fear. Fear for the Unknown. God is the Unknown par excellence. Hence, here a new definition of "religion": as the collective effort to avoid God. They beat about the bush identifying themselves with images of God - instead of God him(it)self - a system based on empty words, narratives (the "good news"), rituals, dogma's and creeds. Belief-systems are parallel worlds that have very little to do with Reality. Hence, doubt about the fruitfulness of "dialogue" (with them) is certainly justified.

* "Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind" (Albert Einstein)

So, yes, it is crucial to ask "Which Science and which Religion?" The big surprise: both scientists and representatives of Cosmic Religion - open-minded people on a spiritual quest - possess the same passion and the same goal. They are all invited to join efforts. An inclusive attitude, sharing the outcome of their various ways freely among each other - research and understanding as the way of the scientist, experience as the traditional way of mystics and gnostics, realization as the way of spiritual people e.g. inspired by Buddhism and worship as the way of those who have a passion for the mystery of life - will enrich everybody involved. Nowadays it includes everybody who accepts the idea of Cosmic Intelligence. Hence, many scientists defining themselves as spiritual, whether agnostic or atheist, feel confortable with the idea of some kind of "Higher Consciousness. To regular religion I would say that the quest for Truth is essential. E.g. the question could be asked "Is the "God of the Bible" really God?" We are all talking about "God", but very few know Who or What "he" really is. To those who have the courage to go into the depth of it, new horizons will be opening up. Together these spiritual/religious/scientific leaders certainly will open doors to further exciting prospects. A beginning is made. Click the links above and a whole New World will reveal itself to you. Scientists who feel particularly attracted to work this all out are cordially invited for an exciting mutual exchange.

"The most beautiful and profound emotion we can experience is the sensation of the mystical. It is the source of all true science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead. To know that what is impenetrable to us really exists, manifesting itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty, which our dull facilities can comprehend only in their primitive forms - this knowledge, this feeling, is at the center of true religion".

Albert Einstein

"Everyone who is seriously involved in the pursuit of science becomes convinced that a spirit is manifest in the laws of the universe - a spirit vastly superior to that of man.... In this way the pursuit of science leads to a religious feeling of a special sort, which is indeed quite different from the religiosity of someone more naive".

Albert Einstein