"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
choose 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 choose 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
ten 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 minds 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 the material and deny
the spiritual world, they do not believe in life after death, 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?
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 intellects 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 Divine
Revelation, we shall answer them thus: “Our heart tells us." For there are
two ways for one to know something, the first being 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 world above. 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 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? Could it explain the prophetic grace possessed by the saints
and 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 in regards to 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 and 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,
and 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, those 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 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."

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 the Surgeon, Archbishop of Simferopol (1877-1961)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.