Scientific spirituality, is it possible?

Science, to me, is not just about the latest technology, medicine and other gadgets. It is a humanistic and ethical way of living. Science guides me how to deal with my professional, emotional and psychosocial needs, fears and anxieties. I derive all my ethical principles and actions from science.

In recent times, with generally fading practices of the ritualistic aspects of organised religions, a trend is emerging — trying to blend the rationality and objectivity of science with the subjective faith of religion and spirituality. Is it possible, meaningful and necessary to do so?

I wish to share my understanding of what is scientific thinking, and what is the scientific way of life. Science inspires me to live a good life in an ethical, responsible, and joyful manner. Being a lifelong student, researcher and teacher of science, my understanding of the foundational elements of scientific thinking are as follows:

1. Science is not any supernatural and transcendental knowledge revealed to one person or a select group of people in one step or in a short span of time.

2. Scientific knowledge is a collective and continuous derived chain of explanations put forward by human beings to resolve the queries, questions and doubts about the natural universe.

3. Scientific explanations are ad hoc and can be repeatedly modified, revised or changed based on new observations and facts.

4. Science neither claims nor tries to search, discover or reveal any ideal, perfect, absolute and single eternal truth.

5. Scientific explanations are eventually evident and testable, and these are neither dependent upon nor based on the will of any real or imaginary entity.

6. Science thrives and evolves by questioning and challenging its concepts, observations, facts, beliefs, and persons.

7. Scientific concepts, values and technologies apply equally to all.

It is not enough to know theoretically what is science, and then claim that I have a scientific attitude and way of life. It is crucial to be also able to recognise the “unscientific” in our behaviour.

According to me, I will be unscientific:

1. If I have an unquestionable belief, faith and devotion in one or more assumed transcendent powers or entities imagined to be omnipresent, omniscient, eternal and supernatural.

2. If I perform any kinds of prayers, and other acts and rituals out of want, fear or helplessness in handling uncertainties and emotional challenges of life.

3. If I consider others whose ways of living, dressing up, food habits and physical appearances are different from mine, as being bad, inferior and sinful; and

4. If I use supernatural concepts such as fate, destiny and deeds (karma) as tools to legitimise, justify and maintain social inequalities and biological deviations and inadequacies.

Being aware of what is unscientific guides me and gives me a choice of living my life scientifically, morally and ethically without any fear of punishment or craving for a reward.

Living scientifically does not mean that it makes me a robotic, emotionless, inhuman machine. I also face and undergo all kinds of emotions and challenges. I do grieve in sorrow; I do rejoice in the achievements of others; I do become confused and frustrated by the uncertainties and insecurities in life.

Under such emotional situations, I try not to succumb to the pressure of behaving unscientifically for getting any temporary and illusionary solace. I regain stability and peace through literature, philosophy, music, solitude and travels.

What makes us human beings is our moral and ethical matrix. Being honest, trustworthy, helpful, caring, kind, responsible, forgiving and compassionate are the fundamentals of human ethics and decency. These values have emerged and evolved internally with the socio-cultural evolution and needs of human beings. There is nothing supernatural or spiritual about the origin and significance of these values and practices.

For me, scientific thinking and scientific living free me from having to carry the unwanted and unnecessary burden of socially imposed fears and dictates.

— The writer is a biogerontology scientist based in Denmark