Lest we forget, the following few point will remind us that planet earth is a place of pain and suffering for a significant number of people:

1. In our world today approximately 870 million people suffer from poverty and starvation
2. 21,000 people, 14,000 of whom are children, die every day from hunger or hunger-related causes
3. In the last century approximately 100 million people have been killed in wars. When you add to this figure the numbers wounded, the societies destroyed and left destitute, the millions of people left homeless, and the millions of children left without parents, the awful savagery of these conflicts becomes even more apparent.
4. Even in affluent western democracies there are significant levels of pain and suffering at present, for example:
   • Approx 16 million people in developed countries suffer from poverty and starvation
   • There are significant levels of crime, violence, drug abuse, and other forms of decadent behaviour in all societies
   • A very large working class struggle to feed and educate their children, pay the mortgage, and pay their taxes – a large proportion of which goes to pay for the greed and corruption that dominates in all political, public service and financial institutions.

But what does science and theology have to do with all this suffering?

Science

The scientific view of reality is based on the concept that the universe and life are purely physical in nature. As explained in my blog, dated 18 Nov 2014, this view supports the belief that selfishness is a fait accompli which in turn underpins the culture of selfishness, corruption, abuse of power, and greed (SCAG for short) that dominates in all our political, public service, financial, and religious institutions worldwide – and it is this SCAG culture that creates our world of pain and suffering. In short, the scientific view of reality underpins the paradigm which is the cause of the pain and suffering in our world today.

Applies equally to science and theology

At a macro level scientists acknowledge the existence of dark energy and dark matter, even though they do not understand their nature. However, at a micro level, scientists (geneticists, biologists, etc) deny that dark matter or dark energy have any influence on life. In my view, life must be influenced by something other than the physical – other than matter. I believe that it is pushing the concept of emergent evolution too far to suggest that mind, intelligence, creativity, love, and compassion emerge from matter – which only constitutes 4% of the whole.

However, even though it is logical that there must be a non-physical source influencing life, scientists still sit on their  ‘4 percent pedestal’ and proclaim that life is purely physical in nature – and this is the view that underpins the present paradigm which is responsible for creating our world of pain and suffering.

Theology

Theology accepts that there is a spiritual aspect to life which is the source of our love and compassion. However, the religious institutions that were entrusted with the responsibility of delivering that message to the general public, themselves became victims to the SCAG culture. When, in the sixteenth century, the religious institutions were suffering the worst influences of SCAG, the scientific revolution started which enabled science to acquire a better understanding of the universe and life. Then, as the general public became more educated, people lost confidence in the religious message and opted to place their trust in the scientific view of reality which has taken us to where we are today.

As all this was happening, theologians sat in their ‘ivory towers’ discussing complex theological and philosophical concepts in a language that the general public did not understand. Instead they should have followed the example of the great original theologian, Jesus Christ¹, who walked among his people talking in parables and words that the people of the time understood. Also he had the courage to enter the temple and kick out the wayward dealers and traders what were bringing that great building into disrepute.

If theology is to recover in any meaningful way, the theologians must follow the example of Christ. Firstly, they must have the courage to enter the religious institutions (the temple) and kick out the wayward members, at all levels, who are bringing these institutions into disrepute.

Secondly, they must walk among the people and talk in a language the people understands. Take the example of a medical doctor who is assisting a mother with a problematic pregnancy, and in the delivery ward he must make an urgent decision on whether to save the mother or the child – he knows he can’t save both. How can a theologian, who has no experience of that real life situation, advise or set principles for that doctor – he has no concept of the woman’s situation; her pain, vulnerability, fears or dreams.

Theology and religion have a lot of work to do in order to regain the confidence and respect of the people.

The General Public

Stranded between the ‘4 percent pedestal’ of the scientists and the ‘ivory tower’ of the theologians, the general public are left wandering aimlessly trying to find a paradigm that will bring joy and happiness to their lives. When people wander aimlessly they are exposed to many hazards, some of which are:

1. In many instances, especially in relation to fundamentalists, impressionable young people are brainwashed by their leaders, which can result in much division, conflict, and – all too frequently – bloodshed
2. Hardened by a life of poverty and hard knocks, many people opt for a life of crime, violence, drug abuse and other decadent behaviour.
3. However, the majority of the general public opt (or may be forced) to put their shoulder to the wheel and support their local political establishments whether democratic or otherwise. This silent majority struggle tirelessly to feed and support their family, pay the mortgage and pay their taxes – much of which are squandered by a political establishment that, in almost every country, is overtaken by the SCAG culture.

If humanity are to move forward to a more enlightened paradigm three things must happen:

1. Scientists must get off their ‘4 percent pedestal’ and proclaim that there is a non-physical aspect to life. They do not necessarily have to understand it, but they must acknowledge that all the evidence dictates that it must exist.
2. Theologians must follow the example of Christ.
3. Scientists and theologians must get together to reach a common view of reality that will empower humanity to move to a more enlightened paradigm, for example see my blog dated 18^th Nov 2014.

Footnotes

1. The references made to Jesus Christ are made for purposes of brevity only and could equally be applied to the other prophets and their respective religious institutions.