Religion or Science?

I do not know about you but I was raised religious at a very young age. Since 7, I was brought to a lot of temples to hear monks preach about Buddhism, the prospect of heaven and hell, and the time when Buddhism will end equating to the end of the world. My parents will wake my sister and me up very early in the morning on Sunday to prepare us for Sunday school to learn in depth about Buddha’s life and his words of wisdom. At the end of the year, our knowledge will be tested through a final examination. That lasted throughout my primary education life, from 7 to 12. When I was 12, I knew so much about Buddhism even for my age. My classmates would consult me if they had any questions or quandaries on religion. I had an aptitude for sharing my thoughts on what I thought was right and wrong too! However, now at the age of 22, I suddenly become very skeptical of my thoughts on religion and science. I feel so torn in between my spiritual and rational side just because I know that science is slowly but steadily beginning to answer questions religion once answered.

Without question, religion has shaped who I am and what I have become. Religion is the pedestal to my principles and morale. My parents have taught me “the way of life” incorporating Buddhist teachings into my everyday life. They said that we are bounded to a wheel of suffering, experiencing birth, old age, sickness and ultimately death. After death, we will be reborn again and the cycle continues on forever. The only way out is through sheer determination in giving and doing good deeds, practicing the 8 noble paths and meditating.  Every single night, my mom would ask me whether I have chanted the five percepts vow before I go to sleep. No killing, no stealing, no adultery, no lying and no drinking alcohol.  Easy as it seems, to be honest, it is by far the most difficult thing to observe and crazily intense! Recently however, I watched National Geographic’s The Story of Earth and that changed my perception on the creation of the world. It became quite clear to me that a supernatural force did not create the earth, rather it was by chance. The dinosaurs dominated the food chain for 185 millions years and then it all ended when a huge asteroid fell on earth. Do I think that god or some supernatural being decided that it was time for the dinosaurs to perish? No. I fear that after 185 million years of human existence, humans will be wiped out just like the dinosaurs. I have come to believe that science is a powerful rational reliance that explains so much about reality like how our body dies slowly, which explains why people believed souls existed, the part of our brain that is responsible for emotions and not the existence of a soul and the evolutionary algorithm which explains how humans evolved from the simplest of mammalians.

I want to accept religion but at the same time, I want to be rational. I do not want to be fooled just because it is easier doing so.  I believe that religion is crucial while the human race is young. But, I have a gut feeling that religion will become obsolete as science progresses. We believe we need religion because it is human nature to look to a supernatural power whenever we are in doubt or when we cannot explain some phenomenon. However, living in an age of science and technology changes that. We now understand more of the human brain and our behaviors. A scientist does not need god to be secure. The scientist just needs evidence and rational convictions. In the same way, we need to learn how to manipulate our thoughts and fears. The Charisma Myth by Olivia Fox Cabane is such a spectacular book that explains the workings of the brain and ways to improve oneself. One example in The Charisma Myth is the responsibility transfer breathing exercise to increase confidence and faith in your own capability. Books like Cabane’s increase my understanding of human psychology without having to worry about being irrelevant. I know some people may argue that we still need religion to inculcate moral values in children and adults alike, but I feel like the human race has evolved up to a level that religion may not be as necessary anymore. The justice system will punish those who have committed a crime, moral education in school will teach children between right and wrong and parents can guide children with their knowledge on human behavior. Religion has definitely helped shaped who I am but I am not sure whether religion is still needed when I am raising my children.