Should Hinduism Be Regarded As A Science As Well As A Religion???

Question

It (along with the other dharmic religions of India - sikhism, Buddhism and jainism) seems to be the only religion wherein science and religion co-exist in peaceful harmony. It is the only religion that condones the Big bang and, although it is regarded as being suprstition, has strong scientific underpinnings.

http://www.hinduism.co.za/amazing.htm

http://www.hinduism.co.za/hinduism.htm

http://www.hinduwisdom.info/Hindu_Cosmology.htm

http://www.hinduwisdom.info/Advanced_Concepts.htm

http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Hinduismand_Science/id/54133

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_and_technology_in_ancient_India

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_medicine

http://www.hindunet.org/vedicsciences/index.htm

http://www.geocities.com/capecanaveral/7348/

Answer 1

I appreciate you and your belief till you propagate Hinduism but the moment you say " It is the only religion........" you appear to challenge other's beliefs.

Therefore you seem to have left no choice for me but to invite you to look at other beliefs also.


Islam's Holy Book the Noble Quran has so many scientific miracles which God Almighty created. The Noble Quran is uncomparable to any book, good or bad. Many Muslim Scientists 1000 years ago until now use the Holy Quran as an answer to all of the theories and understandment of how God Almighty created everything from the Atom. The Atom is mentioned in the Noble Quran revealed by God 1400 years back and know is discovered recently about 100 years or so.

[010:061] In whatever business thou mayest be, and whatever portion thou mayest be reciting from the Quran,- and whatever deed ye (mankind) may be doing,- We are witnesses thereof when ye are deeply engrossed therein. Nor is hidden from thy Lord (so much as) the weight of an atom on the earth or in heaven. And not the least and not the greatest of these things but are recorded in a clear record.

[034:003] The Unbelievers say, "Never to us will come the Hour": Say, "Nay! but most surely, by my Lord, it will come upon you;- by Him Who knows the unseen,- from Whom is not hidden the least little atom in the heavens or on earth: Nor is there anything less than that, or greater, but is in the Record Perspicuous:

[034:022] Say: "Call upon other (gods) whom ye fancy, besides God: They have no power,- not the weight of an atom,- in the heavens or on earth: No (sort of) share have they therein, nor is any of them a helper to God.

[056:005] And the mountains shall be crumbled to atoms,

[099:007] Then shall anyone who has done an atom's weight of good, see it!

[099:008] And anyone who has done an atom's weight of evil, shall see it.

Allah Almighty Said:

"We will soon show them Our signs in the Universe and INSIDE THEIR SELVES, until it will become quite clear to them that it is the truth. Is it not sufficient as regards your Lord that He is a witness over all things? (The Noble Quran, 41:53)"


Very Important Discovery:

A new star forming out of a cloud of gas and dust (nebula), which is one of the remnants of the "smoke" that was the origin of the whole universe. (The Space Atlas, Heather and Henbest, page 50)
Allah Almighty said: "Then He turned to the heaven when it was smoke...(The Noble Quran, 41:11)"
The Noble Quran on the Origin of the Universe
Only Islam claims that the universe was originated from Dust and Hot Gas, or Smoke.





Another Very Important Discovery:


Allah Almighty Said: "And when the heaven splitteth asunder and becometh ROSY LIKE RED HIDE - (The Noble Quran, 55:37)"
What Allah Almighty is Saying here is that when Galaxies explode, they form a red-rose-shaped explosion. He is also telling us that the Universe will all turn into red exploded galaxies looking like red or reddish roses when the Day of Judgement happens.

Source(s):
http://www.answering-christianity.com/sc...



Dr. Moore is not the only scientist to have discussed the Qur'anic verses we will look at in this article. But the fact that he is not a Muslim puts what he has to say in a different light. No one can accuse him of inventing things to defend Islam. His findings will have to be taken seriously by any seeker of truth. In what follows we shall draw from his article entitled "Highlights of Human Embryology in the Koran and the Hadith" which was presented at the Seventh Saudi Medical Meeting at King Faisal University on May 3-6, 1982. At the time, Dr. Moore was Professor of Anatomy and Chairman of the Department, Faculty of Medicine, at the University of Toronto


Dr. Keith Moore of the University of Toronto was amazed to find that many modern discoveries in the field of embryology must have been known to the author of the Qur'an, for these facts are either hinted at or stated explicitly in the Qur'an. This is particularly significant because the Qur'an claims to be the verbatim word of God. How could these facts have been known to any human being living in the 7th century? The presence of these in the Qur'an is proof enough that the Qur'an did not come from the mind of any human but must have been revealed from God whose knowledge is perfect and who therefore, knew what scientists will discover in the 20th century

He created you (all) from a single person: then created, of like nature, his mate; and he sent down for you eight head of cattle in pairs: He makes you, in the wombs of your mothers, in stages, one after another, in three veils of darkness. Holy Qur'an (39:6)

Referring to above verse in the Quran, Dr. Moore says: "This verse from the Koran states that God makes you in the wombs of your mothers in stages, one after another, within three veils of darkness." Then he explains his amazement: "The realization that the embryo develops in stages in the uterus was not discussed or illustrated until the 15th century A.D.

"The staging of human embryos was not proposed until the 1940's, and the stages used nowadays were not adopted worldwide until a few years ago."

It is reasonable to interpret the three veils of darkness mentioned in the Koran as:

the mother's abdominal wall;
the wall of the uterus; and
the amniochorionic membrane composed of the fused amnion and chorion.
These three anatomical layers protect the embryo from external injury."


And certainly We created man of an extract of clay, Then We made him a small seed in a firm resting-place, Then We made the seed a clot, then We made the clot a lump of flesh, then We made (in) the lump of flesh bones, then We clothed the bones with flesh, then We caused it to grow into another creation, so blessed be Allah, the best of the creators. Then after that you will most surely die. Then surely on the day of resurrection you shall be raised. Holy Qur'an (23:12-16)


Finally, Dr. Moore concludes: "The agreement I have found between statements in the Koran and sayings in the Hadith may help to close the gap between science and religion which has existed for so many years."





Quran speaks about science not just dogmas
Science discovered Big Bang Theory. The whole universe was one ‘Primary Nebula’ and which further split to form things such as our solar system.
Allah says in Holy Qur'an Surah Al-Anbiya, Ch. No. 21, Verse No. 30 . ‘Do not the unbelievers see. the heavens and the earth were joined together, and We clove them asunder?

science discovered that the universe was in the state of ‘gas’.
Allah says in Holy Qur’an, Surah Fussilat, Ch. No. 41, verse 11, ‘Moreover, in His design He comprehended the sky, and it had been smoke. And He said to it and the earth, come ye together willingly or unwillingly, and they said we come together in willing obedience’.

Science discovered that the shape of the earth is Geo-Spherical.
Allah says in Holy Qur’an, Surah Naziat, Ch. No. 79, Verse No. 30. ‘And thereafter, We have made the earth egg-shaped’.
Allah says in Holy Qur’an, Surah Al Zumar, Ch. No. 39, Verse No. 5, ‘It is Allah who has created the heavens and the earth in true proportion and he overlaps and coils the night unto the day and overlaps or coils the day unto the night’.

Allah says in Holy Qur’an, Surah Luqman, Ch. No. 31, Verse 29 ‘It is Allah that merges the night unto the day and merges the day unto the night’.

Science discovered that the moon has reflected light of sun.
Allah says in Holy Qur'an, Surah Yunus, Ch. No. 10, Verse No. 5 ‘It is Allah who has created the Sun as a shining glory and the Moon having a reflection of light’.

Allah says in Holy Qur’an, Surah Furqan, Ch. No. 25, Verse No. 61 ‘Blessed is He who has created the constellations in the sky, and placed therein a lamp, and Moon having borrowed light’.

Science discovered that every planet, in solar system, is revolving around the sun and also rotating about its own axis.
Allah says in Holy Qur'an, Surah Al-Anbiya, Ch. No. 21, Verse No. 33. ‘It is Allah who has created the night and the day, the Sun and the Moon, each one travelling in a orbit, with its own motion’.

Allah says in The Holy Qur'an, Surah Yasin, Ch. No. 36, Verse No. 40 ‘It is not permitted for the Sun to catch up with the Moon, nor the night to outstrip the day. Each one travelling in an orbit with its own motion’.

Science discovered that the Sun is moving at a speed of 12 miles per second, and it is going to a point called Solar Apex.
Allah says in Holy Qur'an, Surah Yasin, Ch. No. 36, Verse No. 38 ‘That the Sun is running its course to a place determined, for a period determined’.
Allah says in Holy Qur’an
in Surah Rad, Ch. No. 13, Verse No. 2;
in Surah Fatir, Ch. No. 35, Verse No. 13;
in Surah Luqman, Ch. No. 31, Verse No. 29;
in Surah Al-Zumar, Ch. No. 39, Verse No. 5.
‘The Sun and the Moon runs its course for a period determined’.


The Science discovered that the universe is expanding.
Allah says in Holy Qur'an in Surah Dhariat, Ch. No. 51, Verse No. 47 ‘It is We who have constructed with power and skill, the firmaments - and It is We who make the vastness, and the expanding universe’.

The science discovered atom can be divided.
Allah says in Holy Qur'an, Surah Sabah, Ch. No. 34, Verse No. 3. ‘When the unbelievers say that the hour will never come - tell them… it will surely come with the permission of the Lord who has the knowledge of the unseen, who has in His record, the minutest detail of an atom in the heaven and in the earth - and in His record is perspicuous things, smaller and greater than the ‘atom’.

The science discovered Water Cycle.
Allah says Holy Quran, Surah Al-Zumur, Ch. No. 39, Verse No 21 ‘Sees't thou not that it is Allah who sends down rain from the sky, and seeps it in the sources in the ground - in the springs in the earth, and causes sown seed of various colours to grow’.

Allah says in Holy Qur’an, Surah Muminun, Ch. No. 23, Verse No 18, ‘It is Allah who sends down rain in due measure, we are able to store it, and We are also able to easily drain it’.

Allah says in Qur’an, Surah Al-Hijr, Ch. No. 15, Verse No 22, ‘We send fecundating winds, winds impregnating, and cause rain to descend from the sky, and give you water in due measure’.

Allah says in Qur’an, Surah Nur, Ch. No. 24, Verse No. 43,
in Surah Naba, Ch. No. 78, Verse No 12 to 14,
Surah Rum, Ch. No. 30, Verse No 48.
‘We send mountain masses of clouds’.

Science say mountains act as ‘pegs’ and ‘stakes’ for earth and prevent it from shaking.
Allah says in Quran, Surah Naba, Ch. No. 78, Verse No. 6 and 7. ‘We have made the earth as an expanse, and the mountains as stakes’.
Allah says in Qur'an says, Surah Jashiya, Ch. No. 88, Verse No. 19,
In Surah Naziat, Ch. No. 79, Verse No 32.
'We have made the mountain standing firm'.

Science discovered ‘the function of the mountain is to stabilize the Earth's Crust’.
Allah says in Holy Qur’an, Surah Anbiya, Ch. No. 21, Verse No 31,
in Surah Luqman, Ch. No. 31, Verse No 10,
in Surah Nahl, Ch. No. 16, Verse No 15,
‘We have set on the earth mountains standing firm lest it would shake.

Science (Oceanology) discovered the fact that there is barrier between the sweet and bitter water and which does not allow them to mix.
Allah says in Qur’an, Surah Furqan, Ch. No. 25, Verse No 53, ‘It is Allah who has let free two bodies of flowing water one sweet and palpable and the other salt and bitter, and between them there is a ‘Barzakh’, a barrier, which is forbidden to be trespassed’.

Allah says in Holy Qur'an, in Surah Rahman, Ch. No. 55, Verse No. 19 and 20, ‘It is Allah who has let free two bodies of flowing water which meet and between them there is a barrier which is forbidden to be trespassed’.

Science discovered. Cytoplasm is the basic substance of the living cell contains 80% water.
Allah says in Holy Qur'an, Surah Al Anbiya, Ch. No. 21, Verse No. 30…. (Arabic)… ‘We have created every living thing from water - Will you not then believe?’
in Holy Quran, Surah Nur, Ch. No. 24,‘We have created every living animal from water’.
in Holy Qur'an says, Surah Furqan, Ch. No. 25, Verse No 54 ‘We have created the man from water’.

Science (Botany) discovered the two sexes of plants.
Qur'an says in Surah Ta Ha, Ch. No. 20, Verse No 53 ‘It is Allah who sends down water from the sky and causes diverse pairs of plants to grow, each separate from the other’.
in Surah Rad, Ch. No. 13, Verse No 3 ‘We have created every kind of fruit, in pairs two and two’.

Science has discovered that even the animals and birds live in communities like human beings and migrate.
Allah says in Holy Qur'an says in Surah Anam, Ch. No. 6, Verse No 38, ‘We have created every living animal that lives on the earth and every bird that flies on the wings in the air, to live in communities like you’.

Science discovered there is very striking resemblance with migratory programming in the nervous system of birds.
Allah says in Qur'an says in Surah Nahl, Ch. No. 16, Verse No. 68 and 69… ‘It is the Lord who has taught the bees to build cells, in hills, in trees and human habitations and to eat of what the earth produces, and to find the spacious path of the Lord, with great skill’.
In Surah Mulk, Ch. No. 67, Verse No 19… ‘Do you not observe the birds above you? They spread their wings and they fold it. None can hold them up except with the power of Allah (SWT). And He watches over all things’.
In Surah Nahl, Ch. No. 16. Verse No 79 ‘Do you not look at the bird subjected in the midst in the air?’

Science discovered that there is closest resemblance of between the life of human beings and ANTS.
Allah says in Qur'an says in Surah Naml, Ch. No. 27, Verse No 17 and 18, ‘before Solomon marched, the hosts of jinns, men and birds, and when they reached a lowly valley of ants, one of the ants said ‘get ye into your habitation, lest Solomon and his horses unknowingly will trample you beneath the feet’.

Science discovered the honey is rich in vitamin K, and Fructose and has mild antiseptic properties.
Allah says in Holy Qur'an says in Surah Nahl, Ch. No. 16, Verse No. 68 and 69, ‘From the belly of the bee you get a drink of varying colours, in which there is healing for mankind’.

Science discovered at Embryo stage, the genital organs develop between the backbone, the spinal column and the 11th and 12th rib.
Allah syas in Holy Qur'an in Surah Tariq, Ch. No. 86, Verse No. 5 to 7 ‘Let now man think from what he is created - he is created from a drop, emitted from a space between the backbone and the ribs’.

Science discovered the beginning of creation of human being starts from sperm.
Allah says in Holy Qur’an, Surah Muminun, Ch. No. 23, Verse No. 13,
and Surah Al Hajj, Ch. No. 22, Verse No. 5 ‘We have created the human beings from a minute quantity of liquid(‘Nutfah’)
Surah Sajdah, Ch. No. 32, Verse No. 8, ‘We have created the human beings from a quintessence of liquid’.

Allah says in Qur'an in Surah Insaan, Ch. No. 76, Verse No. 2 ‘We have created the human being from a minute quantity of mingled fluids’ (zygote).

Allah says in Qur’an in Surah Najm, Ch. No. 53, Verse No. 45 and 46, ‘We have created the human beings and made them into male and female through minute quantity of liquid which is ejaculated’.

Science discovered the male is responsible for the sex of child.
Allah says in Surah Qiyamah, Ch. No. 75, Verse No. 37, and 39, ‘We have created the human beings from a minute quantity of sperm and then made it into an ‘Alaqa’ - a leech-like substance - then gave it due proportion, then made it into sex male - and female’.

Science (Embryology) discovered that the Embryo is protected posteriorily by the back bone and the posterior muscles of the mother - anteriorily by, the anterior abdominal wall, by the uterine wall as well as the Amnochodianic membrane.
Allah says in Holy Qur’an, Surah Muminun, Ch. No. 23, Verse No 12 to 14, ‘We have created the human beings from a quintessence of clay, then made it into a drop, placed it into ‘Qarare Makeen’ place of security, then made it into an ‘Alaqa’, something which clings, a leech like substance, made that ‘Alaqa’ into ‘Mudga’, a chewed like lump, made that ‘Mudga’, into ‘Izama’ bones, then clothed the ‘Izama’, bones with ‘Lahem’ that is flesh and then made it into a creature – Blessed is He, the best to create’.
(the miracle of child birth came twice
in Surah Muminun, Ch. No. 23, Verse No. 12 to 14;
Surah Hajj, Ch. No. 22, Verse No 5;
Surah Ghafir, Ch. No. 40, Verse 67;
Surah Qiyamah, Ch. No. 75, Verse 38;
Surah Iqra, Ch. No. 96, Verse No 2)

Science discovered Relaxin is being secreted by the ovaries and the placenta which loosens the ligament of the pelvic joints and softens the cervix. The uterine contraction that take place, it pushes the baby downwards in the birth canal. The bag of water which ruptures, it provides a slippery surface for the baby to come out, to slide and the various movements of the baby, while birth facilitates the movement through the irregular pelvic joints.
Allah says in Holy Qur’an, Surah Abasa, Ch. No. 80, Verse 19 and 20 ‘We have created the human beings from minute quantity and We have made the passage of birth easy’.

Science discovered after fifth month of pregnancy the ears are formed and in the seventh month the eye split open.
Allah says in Holy qur’an, Surah Sajda, Ch. No. 32, Verse No 9 ‘We have given the human beings the faculty of hearing and sight’. (first hearing then sight)



It is He Who created night and day and the sun and moon, each one swimming in a sphere. (Qur'an, 21:33)


And We have decreed set phases for the moon, until it ends up looking like an old date branch. It is not for the sun to overtake the moon nor for the night to outstrip the day; each one is swimming in a sphere. (Qur'an, 36:39-40)



The Moon does not follow a regular orbit like the satellites of other planets. As it orbits the Earth, it sometimes moves behind it and sometimes in front. As it also moves with the Earth around the Sun, it actually follows a constant pattern resembling the letter "S" in space. This route, traced by the Moon in space, is described in the Qur'an as resembling an old date branch and does indeed resemble the twisted form of the date tree branch. Indeed, the word "urjoon" employed in the Qur'an refers to a thin and twisted date branch and is used to describe that part left after the fruit has been picked. The way that this branch is described as "old" is also most appropriate since old date branches are thinner and more twisted.



They stayed in their Cave for three hundred years and added nine. (Qur'an, 18:25)

We can clarify the time referred to in the verse thus: 300 years x 11 days (the difference which forms every year) = 3,300 days. Bearing in mind that one solar year lasts 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 45.5 seconds, 3,300 days/365.24 days = 9 years. To put it another way, 300 years according to the Gregorian calendar is equal to 300+9 years according to the Hijri calendar. As we can see, the verse refers to this finely calculated difference of 9 years. (Allah knows best.) There is no doubt that the Qur'an, which contains such pieces of information, which transcended the everyday knowledge of the time, is a miraculous revelation.



Dr. T. V. N. Persaud is Professor of Anatomy, Professor of Pediatrics and Child Health, and Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. There, he was the Chairman of the Department of Anatomy for 16 years. He is well-known in his field. He is the author or editor of 22 textbooks and has published over 181 scientific papers. In 1991, he received the most distinguished award presented in the field of anatomy in Canada, the J.C.B. Grant Award from the Canadian Association of Anatomists. When he was asked about the scientific miracles in the Quran which he has researched, he stated the following:

“The way it was explained to me is that Muhammad was a very ordinary man. He could not read, didn’t know [how] to write. In fact, he was an illiterate. And we’re talking about twelve [actually about fourteen] hundred years ago. You have someone illiterate making profound pronouncements and statements and that are amazingly accurate about scientific nature. And I personally can’t see how this could be a mere chance. There are too many accuracies and, like Dr. Moore, I have no difficulty in my mind that this is a divine inspiration or revelation which led him to these statements.”


Hope you read it before 'thumbs down' my answer.









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Answer 2

Science uses the scientific method.

Wikipedia indicates: "Scientific method is a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. It is based on gathering observable, empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning."

So, in addition to theory and reasoning, there are experiments to test, measure results and verify the reasoning.

Religion, is by it's nature, of a "spiritual" nature. Hinduism deals with the "soul" and it migration from one life form to another (reincarnation based on karma from its previous life) until it reaches its final state in union with an ethereal "god".

While these concepts are interesting, they cannot be measured and validated with precision. The scientific method cannot be applied to Hinduism. Therefore, it is not a science.

I'm not sure why you say Hinduism is the only religion that condones the big bang. As a Christian, I am quite happy with the big bang theory. In describing the creation to Job, God indicated that the angles shouted for joy (Job 38:7). What a spectacular fireworks display that must have been!

Nor do I see any other discrepancy between Christianity and science. But, perhaps that can be raised as a new question.

Answer 3

It seems that many scientists are publishing pro-Hindu theories. Having recently studied Hinduism I can safely say that it should not be considered science. It is too ambiguous, vague, dynamic, and complicated to be considered as anything more than a religion/philosophy. As far as science goes, Christianity is far more tenable. The creation account, for example, is rather simple and straightforward in the Bible. Not so with Hinduism. There are at least six contradictory creation accounts alone.

Answer 4

Interesting, but most of the information here is not credited to Indian texts. There are also many other cultures that had advanced mathematical and scientific knowledge such as the Mayans and Egyptians. I don't think this has much to do with religion per sé. In that case, the Christian bible presents many scientific ideas, uses current scientific theories and methods. Ex: photosynthesis in genesis, radiation effects, selective breeding of the lambs... So on! Oh, and there is also an air craft description in the OT!

Answer 5

Yes, Hinduism be regarded as a science as well as a religion I agreed too...

Answer 6

Friend ,

In my opinion the answer is YES.

The Sanatana Dharma other wise called by some as Hinduism is based on Vedas.
Vedam means '' that which is knowable or wisdom''

we in Sanatana Dharma have Rug Vedam,Yajurvedam, Saama Vedam and Adharvana Vedam mainly.

The Music has born from saama vedam and in Adharvana Vedam it is all Scientific things and Shasta vidya and other similar vidyas are found.

Ayurveda and Yoga too are part and parcel of the Sanatana Dharma, and it is now an open secret that most complicated diseases that are not curable by Allopathy are cured by Ayurveda and Yoga Vidya.
Yoga tells us how to regain the lost energy without any medication ,but by simple techniques in Praanaayaama.

Asthma,Leukoderma, Diabetes,Hepatitis-b are cured by Yoga .The Patanjali Yoga Peetham has recorded documents and still they are doing further research how to use Yoga to cure other complicated ailments.

It does not mean in any way to tell that modern medicine is not scientific.It is a foolish talk if one says so.It has great records and achieved so many successes in solving and finding cures to so many viral diseases and other brain related or kidney related diseases to name some.It is a great science without any doubt and all owe their gratitude to the contributors of modern science.

It is to say that Sanaatana Dharma or Hinduism is a science and religion both.

That is my personal opinion.

Answer 7

Yes...the basic philosophy of Hinduism hinges on accepting all beliefs different to its own...like the river Ganges accepting tributaries ;)..Hinduism can be objective and analytical and could act as bridge for most religious problems on Earth...of late Hinduism is being corrupted by a poisonous element called Hindutva in India...especially Indian Politics...it's certainly not helpful as an ideology and can destroy Hinduism's delicate soul and nurturing character

Answer 8

Yes,fully agree.It talks about ultimate reality,the nature and purpose of creation and as such closer to scientific quest.Modern science has also come to say that there is a single source for all creation,cf. Code Name God a book by a physicist Mani Bhoumick.

Answer 9

If you really want to know the answer you should hear the Swami Vivekananda's speech in America. He joined the Hinduism with science and other religions. If you read his speech of Raja yoga which lead us to do super powers, you will realize you.

Answer 10

Hinduism is a way of life. It encompasses any other religion /sect trying to change it in its fold and keeps growing. No one can be converted to be an Hindu. One can be an Hindu only by birth and by no other means.

Answer 11

"Indeed, the Hindus were Spinozists 2,000 years before the birth of Spinoza, Darwinians centuries before the birth of Darwin, and evolutionists many centuries before the doctrine of evolution had been accepted by the Huxleys of our time, and before any word like evolution existed in any language of the world. (M. L. Burke, Swami Vivekananda in the West, Vol. 2, third ed., Mayavati: Advaita Ashrama, 1984), p. 128. Also Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Vol. IX, p. 25)