James Mock wrote: > >There is but one power which heals -- that is God. The state or condition >through which the healing takes place is the confidence of the heart. By >some this state is reached through pills, powders, and physicians. By others >through hygiene, fasting, and prayer. By others through direct perception." > > (Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 95) > >Would "modern science" agree with this assertion? > >James
If I put on my scientist hat, I would say that science has nothing to say about the quote above, because the quote is talking about spiritual matters, not scientific ones. As a scientist, one can certainly not state that the mind has no influence on the body, there is plenty of scientific evidence showing the powerful influence the mind has on the body. As to "God", though, I do not think science can comment one way or the other. Of course, there are doctrinaire 'scientists' who would reject any mention of 'God' out of hand. But they do not speak for science, only for themselves. I would call such people "fundamentalists in the religion of science". But we should avoid being like them, and accept that science is a very important path to truth, and religious writings are not science. There simply is no proof when it comes to ultimate questions like "God" and religion and the ultimate purpose of life and the universe. We each must investigate for ourselves. But how do we decide whether to accept a certain Prophet's vision? I think that Baha'u'llah addresses this question in the Book of Certitude and He shows that we must use logic and reason. If a Prophet says the universe was creating by constipated ducks, I personally would not buy into that Prophet's religion. If a Prophet says that science is a bunch of nonsense and that we should abandon the scientific method, I wouldn't buy into that Prophet's vision either. The dilemmna I face is this. I have bought into the vision of a glorious Prophet Who asks that we accept His Revelation *because* it is in accord with reason, logic and science, as well as the eternal spiritual principles espoused by all the previous true Prophets; only to later discover that many if not most of His adherents don't buy into His fundamental acknowledgement of science, reason and logic at all, and may even consider such a belief in reason and science to be bordering on heresy. __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:archive@mail-archive.com To unsubscribe, send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, use subscribe bahai-st in the message body to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Web - http://list.jccc.edu/read/?forum=bahai-st News - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Public - http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.net New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu
