Description

UNDERSTANDING RELIGION Philosophy is a perennial methodological, intellectual and spiritual adventure. It has originated from irresistible and inextricable investigatory and interrogatory quest of man oriented to understanding the mystery of the cosmos. This quest has led to great artistic, religious and scientific achievements. In the history of world, great achievements of art, religion, science etc. have highly contributed to the enrichment of human culture. Philosophers have been all along clarifying the basic epistemological and methodological issues with a view to appropriating what is Real, True, Good. However, religion and science have sparked wide and large debates with regard to truth. Religion and science have both claimed to be advancing basic truth-claims about universe and man. Whereas religion and science have been two of the fundamental responses of man, historically speaking, great prophets, avtars, sages and saints, have preceded great scientists, experimentalists, researchers and technologists. All great religions of the world such as Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shintoism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, have originated from Asia whereas all great natural and social sciences have originated from Europe. Eastern religions have advanced spiritual, teleological, supernatural and theological explanations of the universe. They posited a basic spiritual vision or interpretation of the universe and man. While religions advanced theistic explanations and theological interpretations of the universe, modern western explanations of the universe are mechanistic, naturalistic, ateleological and value-free. Scientists have forwarded physical, chemical, biological, psychological and sociological laws or explanations with a view to understanding phenomenal world and human nature.