The Role of Mystics, Artists and Scientists in Human Evolution

You contradict yourself when you oppose the religious ideologies on the basis of science and yet supporting phenomenon like mysticism and then lumping it with equally allusive entity, the human spirituality. It is any one’s guess how science, mysticism and art is going to serve humanity or humanism while claiming that religion has become redundant. The religions provide ethical values and guidance to achieve and implement basic human rights and freedoms. Science helps to explain various physical phenomenon that we observe; the two are not interchangeable or mutually exclusive, in fact very much complimentary to each other.

Ever since the industrial revolution took place in the west, science and technology has been at the forefront in the lives of the western societies and the religion has taken a back seat. The science has indeed played an important role in raising the standards of life in many societies. But how has this helped the humanity or humanism for the world at large? In fact, on the basis of science and technology, it has become easier, for the technologically advanced societies to dominate those who could not keep pace with scientific developments. The modern technology has made it easier now for some societies to colonize others and keep them as economic slaves for as long as they wish. The spiritual thinking has been replaced by materialistic values. The religious values that support universal humanism for all, have now been replaced by the law of jungle – ‘survival of the fittest’ and ‘might is right’ Some one should ask the Iraqis how (American) science and technology has helped humanism and humanity in that country.

Science and religion can be partners in so many ways to work together rather than against each other. For a better human survival the two need to exists side by side such that they provide spiritual uplift and enhance life in physical sense at the same time. The modern science has already raised many questions which it has not been able to explain by itself. It is certainly absurd to dismiss theism and yet go on to embrace mysticism and further claiming that our spirituality is part of our humanity rather than part of divinity.

‘Mysticism’ is often said to be a path to look for ultimate truth. There are Muslim mystics, Christian mystics, Jewish mystics, in fact, every society appears to have their own mystics in one form or the other. The term mysticism, does not seem to have rigid and well defined meanings but a variety of understandings have been attached to it. For some, it may be a religious thought whereby, one can feel an intimate union with the divine force. On the other hand, from philosophical point of view it may be considered a link of the human soul to nature through love. No matter how one looks at the concept of mysticism, it involves soul and spirituality in somewhat undefined and in an abstract way.

In some cases, mysticism may be of interest to those who have decided not to subscribe to a religious model centered around God and at the same time do not uphold the scientific and rational model of the universe either. The mystics therefore could emerge as the misfits of both the worlds. I wonder how the misfits of the world can be considered to contribute toward the improvement of humanity and sustain humanism. About mystics, some one has said:

“A mystic is someone who wants to understand the universe, but is too lazy to study physics”.

This may have been said jokingly, but I think it hits the message home.

Javed I. Chaudry

#97 by JIC

Very well thought out and clearly laid out post.

Actually Chaudary Saheb, some people will propound any mish-mash as long as it takes a swipe at religion.

Regards.

Freethinker quoted:

``David Hume wrote about divinity and metaphysics as follows:

``If we take in our hand any volume; of divinity or school metaphysics, for instance; let us ask, Does it contain any abstract reasoning concerning quantity or number? No. Does it contain any experimental reasoning, concerning matter of fact and existence? No. Commit it then to flames: for it can contain nothing but sophistry and illusion.``

Blind faith is risky, to say the least.``

Chowk interacts don`t have the facility of smilies. Anyways, I always use to smile whenever I happen to see this famous quotation by David Hume. This quotation itself doesn`t contain any such rational reasoning which can have anything to do with quantity or number. It also doesn`t contain any experimental reasoning, concerning matter of fact and existence.

Anyhow, there is nothing solid on which to agree with David Hume on this issue.

Shall discuss in details at some other time as these days I am busy with some other matters.

Regards!

Re: # 95, Khalid:
You may have returned from your trip by now. Hope you had a satisfying experience. I missed your article initially and therefore, currently, I am also not aware about the discussion that proceeded.

Nevertheless, I commend your effort to review the various disciplines - religion, mysticism, philosophy, science and psychology - and indicate their potential interrelationships. I agree with your statement: ``I am of the opinion that blind faith and religion were our past and science, psychology and philosophy are our future as human beings.`` I would add further that religion indeed was an attempt to understand the science as the primitive humanity - tentatively growing out of animalistic life into an understanding existence via maintenance of the records of the thoughts of the individuals - could. It is unfortunate that the vested interests captured and exploited the religious movements all over the world for their dominance on the common people. Yet, the rational efforts of the Marxists also failed miserably because unless we grant essential freedom and incentives to the Individual. even the rationalist doctrines merely become the tools of the exploiting coteries.

Greater and more specific understanding of the interrelationships of the disciplines mentioned above can lead to a more comprehensive and substantive understanding of human development. Viewing the totality of human intellectual and spiritual development will lead an individual to a more rational and equilibrated self. Yet, do many people want this independence? Many among us conveniently hold on to the crutches which give them even though pseudo, comfort and sometimes provide them their intellectual/spiritual/financial existence.

Notwithstanding this all, I look forward to reading more of what exist in the posts and interact in future.