An Advent of Science?

Wednesday, 12 January 2011 06:59

Written by Louie C. Montemar

The December breeze has always had a non-chilling effect on me. The cool breeze has a way of unsettling my mind. It sets it on fire in fact — perhaps to keep me warm — just like today. And the songs of Advent, these carols, only serve to stimulate my neurons. And my neurons are now asking: Is there a way to meld Science and Faith?

In this holy season, some wild question has come to life in my mind. And my mind says: I believe so.

First of all, religion is not necessarily faith. By my observation, I reckon that most people need a God (or something like it). The idea of God, to many, remains an anchor of sanity in a troubled reality in this material plane.

Historically, religions have helped shaped Man—and Woman, and anyone else in between. Religion has, to an extent, better defined him (Man) — or her, or itself — by setting up a God as an ideal — by creating God in his image (probably not the other way around). Christianity is a very humane belief system. And so is Islam (which literally means Peace). And so is Buddhism. And Taoism... And... former Pop-New wave and now comedian Ricky Gervais counts that there are 2,800 plus religions in the world out there. A website says there may be 4,200 .

In an online article entitled “Religion in the Philippines,” Jack Miller writes that over “86 percent of the [Philippine] population is Roman Catholic, 6 percent belong to various nationalized Christian cults, and another 2 percent belong to well over 100 Protestant denominations. In addition to the Christian majority, there is a vigorous 4 percent Muslim minority, concentrated on the southern islands of Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan. Scattered in isolated mountainous regions, the remaining 2 percent follow non-Western, indigenous beliefs and practices. The Chinese minority, although statistically insignificant, has been culturally influential in coloring Filipino Catholicism with many of the beliefs and practices of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism.”

By any measure, religion and religiosity are matters that should include any objective description of Philippine social reality. But, of course, this proliferation of Filipino churches does not mean a proof of faith, or that religion is always going to be with us, like the poor, as it were, as Jesus of the Bible proclaims.

But this only makes one ask even more fervently, why the wars and poverty around us? As that Christmas ditty goes: Do the poor and hungry “know it’s Christmas time at all?” Feed the World! — we are reminded, for it is one hungry world. Hungry for food, peace and love.

Why the wars and poverty around us? The religious among us may have a ready and standard answer. To my mind, however, the answer cannot be provided by religion alone. We also need Science. If anyone here disputes this deceptively simple proposition on science, then perhaps she should perhaps forsake all forms of technology and go back to a ‘beastly’ existence — first by shutting down his social networking or email accounts.

As for this student of society, he has found his peace in his lack of religiosity—not faith, mind you. But the question relevant for all is how do we keep a world with various cultures at peace? And how do we help in developing non-developed areas? The poor will always be with us some say... but that's a defeatist, counter-productive line pursued to the extreme. The poor will always be with us if we allow things to be so.

We have to make decisions that will benefit everyone and not only serve the biases of particular 'Churches' in this country. We have to pursue more people-oriented and ‘green’ programs, and promote a more scientific culture in this country geared towards sustainability.

Plato indeed was on the correct track by arguing that the Wise should rule. Among the wisest and most knowledgeable today in human societies are our scientists and technologists. They are intelligent, the wise; they are the disciples of this cloaked and at times under- or mis-appreciated 'religion' called Science. But I believe that they too, must be of the ethical type. They must premise their thirst for knowledge seeking on some precepts, on some 'faith' lest they become not harbingers and apostles of meaningful development but sterile automatons of wanton destruction.

Come to think of it, we wonder who among those who ran in the last elections at various levels of governance have, beyond having a 'heart' or compassion, a sense for the scientific? For the Presidency, well, there was Nick Perlas. But who had paid attention to his message of change? This nation has elected another economist to the helm, yes, but someone not exactly known for his advocacy of or in science. We have a long way to go.

A leading Filipino Chemist that I interviewed over the phone the other day for a radio program that I have been anchoring pointed out to me that in China, the clear leader in the international development race today, many national leaders are scientists and engineers by their academic training. One can only wonder how our national leadership profile compares. When will we be ruled mostly by the wise? Well, if lawyers are wise then perhaps we would be in the running. Yes, that’s sarcasm (pardon, my many lawyer-friends and lawyer-to-be-friends). But yes, indeed, we need lawyers and some may be helping our Filipino chemists push a new law that could supersede the very dated Chemistry Law passed by the Philippine Congress way back in the early 1952 [http://www.prc.gov.ph/documents/CHEMISTRY%20LAW.PDF].

When will we have more scientists among our leaders? Or at least leaders with a scientific mind set? When will we have more laws on science or laws that are informed by science and not mere faith and prejudice? When will we see such work in government that is undergirded by hard research and professional discipline?

When? There is a glimmer of hope. A 2006 study, “Science-Related Attitudes and Interests of Students” by Talisayon, de Guzman, and Balbin of U.P. , showed that the Philippines ranked first among several countries on viewing “the importance of Science and Technology for society, and new technologies making work more interesting.” The country ranked second in perceiving “greater opportunities for future generation due to Science and Technology, greater benefits of science than harmful effects it could have, having as much science as possible in school, liking to get technology job, and important for future jobs – working people rather than things and working with machines as tools.” In sum, the Philippine results showed more than 90% of students indicating positive science related interests and experiences. Our students are thirsting for more science. Someone’s faith in the youth as the fount of hope for the land may not have been misplaced.

Now, we are in the midst of a cold night in this faith-defined season called Advent. Advent starts on a specific Sunday before December 25. In the temporal reckoning of Roman Catholics, Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, that is, somewhere from November 27 to December 3. From the Latin adventus (which means “coming”), Advent is most commonly used in reference to the Coming of the Christ who would redeem his believers from sin.

This thinker awaits another coming and is excited and passionate about This Coming. The real Advent of Science in the Philippines.

A meaningful Advent and New Year to all!