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With removal of geographical barriers, at mundane level, peoples of the world are beginning to unite into a world community. Not that politicians have given up their divisive games to keep the races and nations apart, but they can no longer prevent them from benefitting from cross-cultural exchanges. At the same time, science too has imparted a new impetus to religion. Religious sects and tribes that used to cause division amongst people through their narrow parochial outlook, are losing their larger universal relevance in this context. The fundamental core of religion that unites mankind, has been made more topical and relevant with the help of scientific discoveries. The essence of religion or spirituality is
1. life of high moral conduct and ethical values and 2. Selfexperience of the ultimate truth. Objectivity-oriented ideology of science has helped curb dominance of emotionalism and and irrationality in the society and has focussed on the 'realistic' attitude instead. This is a major plus point in favour of science.
The newer disciplines of science e.g. Ecology and psychology are emphasising the importance of religious mottos (non-violence, morality, simplicity and contentment etc.) by underscoring their rationale in maintaining ecological balance. Astronomy, atomic science, space science etc. are bringing the esoteric mysticism to the conference table again. This contribution of science i.e. pure science is likely to go down in the history of mankind as a notable milestone. Science cannot afford not to take spiritualism-religion into its reckoning, because it is the exigency of the times. Sheer technological development has encouraged only mindless consumerism with increased craving for sensual gratification and information only about the external world has pampered human go. Together, these two have put a questionmark on the peace and security of mankind. And, perhaps, it is this stark reality that has compelled the ancient moral and spiritual wisdom to intervene. The extraordinary point in this case is that it is science that
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