| Among other
principles of Bahá'u'lláh's teachings was the harmony of science and religion. Religion
must stand the analysis of reason. It must agree with scientific fact and proof so that
science will sanction religion and religion fortify science. Both are indissolubly welded
and joined in reality. If statements and teachings of religion are found to be
unreasonable and contrary to science, they are outcomes of superstition and imagination.
Innumerable doctrines and beliefs of this character have arisen in the past ages. Consider
the superstitions and mythology of the Romans, Greeks and Egyptians; all were contrary to
religion and science. It is now evident that the beliefs of these nations were
superstitions, but in those times they held to them most tenaciously. For example, one of
the many Egyptian idols was to those people an authenticated miracle, whereas in reality
it was a piece of stone. As science could not sanction the miraculous origin and nature of
a piece of rock, the belief in it must have been superstition. It is now evident that it
was superstition. Therefore, we must cast aside such beliefs and investigate reality. That
which is found to be real and conformable to reason must be accepted, and whatever science
and reason cannot support must be rejected as imitation and not reality. Then differences
of belief will disappear. All will become as one family, one people, and the same
susceptibility to the divine bounty and education will be witnessed among mankind. |
-- `Abdu'l-Bahá, The
Promulgation of Universal Peace |
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