科学·宗教·道德生活

Science, Religion and Moral Life

20世纪以来,人类的物质发展水平借助科学有了极大的提高,但人类的幸福感、道德自律、审美情趣和共同生活的智慧没有同步的提升。这表现为人的生存的虚无化和价值观的低俗化。如果我们正视历史,就能体会到宗教的社会整合和赋予意义的功能。也许我们应当意识到:科学、宗教、艺术是人类面对自然发展出来的三种不同的、彼此无法替代的互补的认知方式。宗教与科学在当代的接触也促进了宗教的改变,使得她有可能与现代理性和谐地组成“经纬”关系,共同编织现代全球的文化生态。断言“人类历史未来的方向取决于现代人如何看待科学与宗教的关系”可能不是危言耸听。

Since the 20th century, the material developmental level enjoyed by human beings has been raised dramatically thanks to advances in science and technology. However, man＇s sense of happiness, moral standards, aesthetic interests and his wisdom in common life have not been developed at the same pace. This shows the emptiness of man＇ s life and the inferiority of man＇ s values. If we look at history, we will realize the function of the social integration and significant meaning in religion. Perhaps we should be well aware that science, religion and art are three different methods of cognition which man has developed in face of nature, and which cannot be replaced by each other and which complement each other. That religion gets in touch with science in contemporary times promotes religious changes so that religion can develop a harmonious relationship with modern rationality, so as to make up a global cultural environment. It may not an exaggerated declaration that the future direction of human history depends upon how the people today treat the relationship between science and religion.