VIJAYAWADA: There is a tremendous contradiction between science and religion and there isn't a shred of evidence that can prove that anything in this universe is out of the realm of science, says P.M. Bhargava, vice-chairman of the National Knowledge Commission and founder-director of CCMB, Hyderabad.

Addressing the valedictory meeting of the sixth world atheist conference here on Sunday, Dr. Bhargava maintained that all scientific truths were testable but the same was not possible in the case of religion. "Future is important for those who believe in science. But people who believe in religion like to cling on to the past," he said lamenting that there was no knowledge-based society anywhere across the country. "A knowledge-based society requires people to commit themselves to scientific temper," he said.

Concept of God

Laced with subtle humour, his speech revolved around the factors that led man to believe God. "Fear of the unknown leads to the concept of various kinds of God," he said adding that belief in God had put human beings in a very special category. "Are we really so special? The theory of evolution of man tells us that we are 99 per cent chimpanzees," he said amidst loud laughter, reiterating that the belief that man was unique was absurd.

He said belief in God would actually dull one's motivation. People had this tendency to shift responsibilities on to the shoulders of their respective Gods and sit pretty waiting for a positive result.

Dr. Bhargava attributed most of the `ignorance-driven sins' committed by the gullible to the clergymen of their respective faiths. He listed seven `sins of clergymen', which augmented blind faith in society.

Dr. Bhargava said all through the history, clergymen had kept their followers bound to laws that were far from logical.

It was in their interest to have wars raging.

Immediate past president of the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU), Switzerland, Roy Brown presided over the meeting.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail