II Wednesday 25th February 2009

by Eymard de Silva Though measurements taken of tions but also because they recoiled at institutional religion’s role in society. evolutionary faith is purely an exhibi- Wijeyeratne the solar eclipse that occurred on 19th what they regarded as the bludgeoning The Gospel tion of verbal prolixity and no more. It May 1919, by a scientific expedition to influence of parsons and their fenced- In talking of the Gospel (Good only serves to confirm that the appar- “The earthworm is useful, the Principe Island in the Gulf of off kingdom. Their biting sarcasm News) of Evolution, Fr. Mervyn says ent conflict between science and reli- Guinea, confirmed the validity of was directed more at ‘parsondom’ than gion was stage managed by the Church but not beautiful; the tiger is that “Dowd’s solution is to take the Einstein’s General Theory of at God’s kingdom. Though the avail- wind out of the sails of the science vs. which took upon itself, as part of its beautiful, but not useful. Relativity, there is always the possibil- able data that supports Darwin’s the- religion debate by taking a meta-view magisterium, to decide and promul- Darwin (who was not a ity that future observations could sis of Natural Selection, and the ‘Big of both science and religion, a view as gate what the faithful should accept as Romantic) praised the earth- invalidate it. The propositions of reli- Bang’ theory of the origin of the comprehensive as to include cosmic the permissible bounds of science. worm; Blake praised the gion on the other hand being meta- world, are based on sound evidence, history, psychology, mythology, sociol- Long before the advent of Crick and tiger”. physical in character are not falsifi- they cannot be extended to debunk the ogy, spirituality and the human others, the Church violated the rights – Bertrand Russell able because no verification is possible origin of man and the creation of the future”. Father Mervyn is to be of Galileo in the process of clinging to in principle. In these circumstances, world as depicted in the Book of admired for his views which are in no the vain anthropomorphic view of the write with special reference To Fr. we can only say that the theories of Genesis. On the other hand the narra- way inhibited by his role as a priest in sun revolving round the earth. A Mervyn Fernando’s article “Thank science are tentatively accepted on tive in this sacred Book cannot be the Church that is ruled by Pope change in the attitude of the Church IGod for Evolution”(The Island, rational grounds, whereas the proposi- taken literally in all its details as they Benedict XVI, who is obsessed with will not be brought about by Rev. 11th February 2009). Before I proceed Dowd’s intervention as a specialist in further I must make it clear that the conflict-resolution, but because it Blake, I refer to, is not Robert, the US realises that absence of a conjugal Ambassador, but William. This clarifi- church-State relation no longer per- cation is necessary in the context of mits the enforcement of its will in the several references made to him in rela- secular sphere. The distinction that Evolved beauty & Rev. Dowd has made between private tion to a negotiated settlement of the war in the North. Russell refers to the revelation and public revelation is both Bengali variety about whom Blake’s specious and mischievous. Scripture namesake William has said, was and will always be a form of pub- lic revelation. It is an offering for “Did he who made the Lamb make man’s acceptance in the context of the primeval beast life he leads in an environment of com- thee? Tyger, Tyger burning bright, munion with nature and his fellow In the forests of the night” the threat of religious . This beings. The notion that sacred Scripture was a form of private revela- The Debate: Science vs. admiration cannot be extended to Rev. Dowd’s claim to have unified spiritual- tion prior to the advent of a newly-dis- Religion ity and rationality. His ideology is in pensed gospel of evolution is a prepos- Craig Mello’s statement, “The sci- the nature of an eclectic brew: one terous claim. Darwin’s contribution to ence vs. religion debate is over. that cheers in an emotional sense, does science does not require Rev. Dowd’s Michael Dowd masterfully unites not inebriate in a physical sense, but re-evaluation and rehabilitation. The rationality and spirituality in a world induces euphoria of trivialised reli- latter’s attribution of flat-earth status view that celebrates the mysteries of gious experience. Religion, as we know to eastern religions such as , existence and inspires each human it, is a meta-view of reality, its origin Hinduism and Confucianism is a clear being to achieve a higher purpose in and man’s place in it. Adding meta- indication that he is far off the mark in life”, is no more than a manifestation layer upon meta-layer is the equiva- grasping the essence of these religions. of evangelical exuberance. We need to lent of building the Tower of Babel Buddhism in particular has never been bear in mind that there is no essential that trivialises both religion and sci- a flat-earth faith because it has not conflict between science and religion. ence. What Fr. Mervyn calls the Gospel imposed any blind-alley impediments They have, and will run together on of evolution is a travesty of the unique in the path of those who accept it as a two parallel planes that will not con- Gospel of Jesus Christ, which con- way of life. verge. This position is clarified by Max firms the richness and variety, inher- Belief in God Planck in the following words, “There tions of religion are believed on relate to historical time and the ent in the throb of life. The throb of I agree with Fr. Mervyn when he can never be any real opposition grounds that are not unreasonable. In sequence of events that led to the life is the human predicament that says, “Ultimate reality or God is the between religion and science, for the these circumstances the imputed con- world as it stands now. The allegorical man shares with Jesus Christ. Just as One and only whole that is not part of one is the complement of the other… flict between science and religion and character of the Biblical story is what much as he did not promise to rescue some larger or more comprehensive Science enhances the moral values of the passions generated in debate are matters. admits that sepa- man from the tragic consequences of reality. Because we humans are a sub- life because it furthers a love of truth fuelled by the strong confessional posi- rate elements in the theory of Natural this predicament, he did not assure set of the Whole we cannot step outside and reverence - love of truth display- tions taken up by religious institu- Selection are scientific to the extent man that he would lay bare the finely it to grasp the full nature of the ing itself in a constant endeavour to tions and the views of some scientists that they are empirically testable. Yet, defined boundaries of knowledge Ultimate Reality, which will always arrive at a more exact knowledge of who believe the theories of science he argues that the overarching theory acquired from sense experience, remain known and unknown”. As far the world of mind and matter around reveal a strict one-to-one correspon- of Darwinian evolution “is not a knowledge derived from the discipline the Christian is concerned the us, and reverence, because every dence with the ultimate reality.Wiener testable scientific theory but a meta- of the scientific method and knowl- Ultimate reality is known because the advance in knowledge brings us face to Heisenberg who developed the physical research programme” (Karl edge of the nether world, which ‘elan vital’(life force) of Jesus Christ face with the mystery of our own Principle of Uncertainty in the Popper: Unended Quest, Glasgow: includes both religious beliefs and runs through him as a matter of exis- being” (Max Planck: Where is Science observed relationship between the Fontana Collins, p.151). He explains atheistic metaphysics – blessed are tence and duration in time. Yet, it is Going?). Albert Einstein explains the position and momentum of elemen- this further by saying: “The earlier, those who have not seen but yet unknown because God is mysteriously status of science in the following tary particles explains the imputed naturalistic revolution against God believe. In this context it is apposite beyond expression like the vowel-less words, “The belief in an external hostility of science to religion in the replaced the name God by the name that I quote an extract from the article YWH. I appreciate the direction in world independent of the perceiving following manner, “The nineteenth Nature. Almost everything else was “How life has preserved its mystery”by which Fr. Mervyn has moved in order subject is the basis of all natural sci- century developed an extremely rigid left unchanged. Theology, the science James Le Fanu that appeared on the to disabuse the minds of Christians of ence. Since, however, sense-perception frame for natural science, which of God, was replaced by the science of same page as Fr. Mervyn’s tract in The looking at creation and evolution as gives information of this external formed not only science but also the nature and God’s laws by the laws of Island: “Certainly for the foreseeable static concepts. Yet, I think that the world indirectly,we can only grasp the general outlook of great masses of nature. God’s will and power by the future there will be no need to defer to evangelical exuberance displayed by latter by speculative means. It follows people” (Weiner Heisenberg, Physics will and power of nature (the natural those, who would appropriate our men like Rev. Dowd makes no mean- from this that our notions of physical and Philosophy). forces) and later God’s design and sense of wonder at the glorious ingful contribution to the debate. reality can never be final. We must Charles Darwin and Evolution God’s judgment by natural selection. panoply of nature and ourselves by When scientists like Einstein and his always be ready to change these We need to admit that Darwin has Theological determinism was their claims to understand it. Rather, peers have failed in their attempts to notions in order to do justice to per- made a positive contribution to the replaced by naturalistic determinism. the very aspect of the living world now arrive at a unified field theory that ceived facts in the most logically per- study of biology. He was by nature a God’s omnipotence and omniscience seems once again infused with that would accommodate the force of gravi- fect way” (Albert Einstein: Philosopher modest man (perhaps more modest were replaced by the omnipotence of deep sense of mystery of “How can ty within , it Scientist, ed. P.A Schlipp). The proposi- than Rev. Dowd), who in his youth had nature and the omniscience of sci- these things be”? What Rev. Dowd has would be an unpardonable exaggera- tions and theories of science, as Karl engaged in the study of theology. In ence”. (Karl Popper: Conjectures and attempted to do is to appropriate our tion to say that Rev. Dowd has unified Popper has pointed out, are falsifiable the course of his research in biology Refutations). The quest for knowledge sense of wonder and in doing so he has spirituality and rationality.To say that in principle. “Since we should call he realised that what he had observed, and the resulting debates will contin- dispensed with humility, which is an “Creation is a self-organising, nested empirical or scientific, only such theo- studied and offered for public scrutiny ue despite Rev. Dowd’s claim to have essential quality of a genuine scientist emergent process of divine creativi- ries as can be empirically tested, we would bring him into conflict with the closed the debate by uniting rationali- or a teacher of religion. ty–creative wholes that are part larger may conclude that it is the possibility Christian Church. Men like T.H. ty and spirituality. Ultimately, conflict creative wholes, within still larger of an empirical refutation which dis- Flat Earth Faith vs. Huxley and Herbert Spencer support- and impassioned debate are fuelled by Evolutionary Faith wholes” is verbal sleight of hand that tinguishes empirical and scientific rigid confessional positions. The pas- ed his quest not only because they val- The highly acclaimed transition should be subjected to chastening dis- theories.” (Karl Popper: Conjectures sions associated with this particular ued the scientific value of his observa- from what is termed flat-earth faith to cipline of linguistic analysis. and Refutations, p.197) issue were ignited in the tinder box of

called Sinhala government. There are Tamils in Sri Lanka who are by Nalin de Silva Why cannot the Indian government known to me who know how the explain to the Tamils in Tamil Nadu that Christian evangelists manipulate Tamil hy should India all of a sudden it is the LTTE that keeps these innocent Nadu politics. The Brahmins may have get interested in so called peace people in Mulativu without allowing an axe to grind against the Sinhala Wtalks between the government them to move out of the area? Is India Buddhists but the ultimate losers will be and the LTTE? Is it to appease Tamil No working according to some hidden agen- themselves. Nadu where lawyers, actors, politicians da? India knows very well that this gov- It is up to the Sri Lankan government and other middle class elements get ernment would not take any step that to stand up to all the pressure exerted by together to agitate on behalf of the would be a threat to her security.It is dif- the Brahmins as well as the westerners trapped personnel in Mulativu? If Tamil ferent from the government of JR and continue with the humanitarian Nadu intellectuals are genuine and if peace Jayawardhane that joined hands with the operations with a big no to any sugges- they believe what they have said, then west against India. Even in that situation tion of peace talks. The LTTE and their next time some terrorists hijack an it was wrong for India to take action allies would not stop and fight to the last Indian plane, let these humanitarians get against Sri Lanka by training the Tamil as they know that they would never get together in Chennai to organise a terrorists in some parts of the country. another opportunity. The government demonstration demanding that the However, India had to pay the supreme may be under the impression that the last Indian government talks with the terror- talks price for training the LTTE when air crafts of the LTTE were destroyed on ists. Prabhakaran decided to kill Rajiv Friday night. However, if Prabhakaran Instead of demanding that the Sri talks in order to pacify the Tamil Nadu Gandhi. has already escaped there is a possibility Lankan government commences peace supporters of the LTTE. As many have said what the LTTE of more air attacks from aircrafts that talks with the LTTE, any humanitarian The fact that it is only in Tamil Nadu wants is a breathing space. If India is to take off from air craft carriers in sea. We should help the government to liberate that this type of demonstrations goes provide that she will have to face the con- do not know how many LTTE air crafts the innocent Tamil people forcefully held onto strengthen the argument that the sequences not in the distant future as took off from Vanni and how many from in Mulativu by the LTTE. If one argues Tamils in Jaffna and other parts of Sri Prabhakaran is not a person who would air craft carriers. Nothing can be ruled that the people are there on their own Lanka are of recent origin. The Tamils in be grateful to anybody who does any out as the LTTE is sponsored by the west having decided to stay back then they Tamil Nadu still get agitated when they favour to him. He wants an Eelam and and the Brahmins even if the Indian gov- have to be considered at least as support- think the Tamils in Sri Lanka are grieved perhaps a greater Eelam including the ernment is playing a neutral role. ers of the LTTE, and there is nothing by the so called Sinhala government. Tamil Nadu. If the present Brahmins in There is no time to relax and even that the government can do for them. When Sinhala people are affected nobody, RAW and the foreign service want to use after the defeat of the LTTE in Mulativu Even if the armed forces take all the pre- not even those from Orissa (Kalinga) or the LTTE to teach a lesson to the Sinhala the government and the armed forces cautions and liberate them they may not West Bengal (Vanga) are concerned people who protected Buddhism after the will have to be vigilant against the peace come with the forces. The trapped people though it is said by some people that the Indian lawmaker Rahul Gandhi, left, and his sister Priyanka Vadra, right, walk away from ancient Brahmins were successful in brigade as well as other brigades. It is the appear to be more loyal to the LTTE, if Sinhalas came to Sri Lanka from these wiping out Buddhism, then they are mis- last struggle not only for the LTTE but we go by the words of the latter and the parts of Dambadiva. the memorial of their father and former taken. for many others who support them as various statements by the pundits in the The kinship between the Tamils in Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi after Neither the politics of Prabhakaran well. The people should be told the truth NGO industry and by other pundits. Tamil Nadu and those in Sri Lanka is paying homage to mark the 17th anniver- nor Tamil Nadu politics are governed by and should be prepared to face any even- There should be no talks with the still remembered and it is not difficult to sary of his death, in New Delhi, Wednesday, Hindu chinthanaya as the Christian tuality. Peace can be achieved only after LTTE for the simple reason that it is the organize Tamils in Tamil Nadu when May 21, 2008. Rajiv Gandhi was killed by a evangelists are a powerful force behind defeating all these forces, and the people terrorist organisation that keep the there are so called injustices to the Tamil Tiger suicide bomber while campaign- Tamil politics in both countries. The in the Vayamba and Central Provinces trapped people in misery, assuming of Tamils in Sri Lanka. The Tamils in Tamil Brahmins will only lose in the final have given a mandate to the government, ing for his Congress party in southern India course that they are not LTTE supporters Nadu unfortunately are not aware that struggle against the evangelists by trying which the other Provinces also endorse, who have decided to stay on their own. the Tamils in Mulativu suffer under the in 1991. (AP Photo) to give a breathing space for the LTTE. to finish off the menace once and for all. India is clearly backing so called peace LTTE and not due to some acts of the so