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The Jains through Time
spiritual science are both an integral part of life and, therefore, there can be no question of conflict or contradiction between them.
odds with religious beliefs will become obvious. In this context we ought to be clear about two things: Firstly, the definition, purpose, and subject matter of the scriptures. Secondly, should we consider whether the Smritis, Puranas, Jain-Şutras and other reference books that go by that name are true to the letter or not.
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Today, several beliefs based on religious texts clash with the discoveries of modern science. These beliefs are being called into question and believers are caught in a whirlpool of doubt. So how can we suddenly set aside the age-old religious texts and at the same time brace ourselves for the task of decrying the findings of science? It is this war of ideas that has led to chaos in the field of religion. Wherever age-old conservatism and rigid irrational beliefs triumph, science is seen as false, illusionary and cataclysmic. It is because of this misconception, I believe, that science is assumed to be the opponent of religion, and it is due to the prejudices of religious people and their hatred for anything scientific, that radical modern thinkers have called religion the opiate of the masses - an agent of hypocrisy and falsehood.
Books as Scriptures The first and foremost thing to grasp is that the word 'scripture' is a sacred term, and its influence extensive. By comparison, a book, a treatise or a commentary dealing with religious matters, is much less significant. Some dictionaries may call the two words synonymous, but grammatically they are not. No word can ever be an exact synonym for another; there is always a basic difference in meaning. With this in mind I think of "book' and 'scripture' as two entirely different words.
If we try to examine the matter more fairly, the reason why scientific discoveries are at
The scriptures are essentially expressions of the experience of ultimate reality, consisting of satyam (truth), shivam (well-being), and sundaram (beauty). A book may not
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