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SPIRITUALITY AND SCIENCE IN THE 21ST CENTURY79was different from what is stated in the Bible. (In 1986, the then Poperegretted the punishment given to Galileo and he accepted that thescientist was correct and the Pope was wrong.) On the basis <strong>of</strong> hisfindings in the 19th century, Darwin theorized that the life on earth,including humans, was not created on a specific date(s), but evolvedover millions <strong>of</strong> years. Whereas the scientists now accept it as a factand teach it in the schools, those who take the Bible literally still donot believe in the theory <strong>of</strong> Darwin. This is a major issue today beingargued between scientists and the people <strong>of</strong> the Book.The same is true for the religious beliefs in the East. The peopleworshipped the sun, the moon, and some creatures as gods, some evendo it today. They also believe that only some specific days/dates aresacred for certain religious or social activities. With all this, sciencedoes not agree.FAITHS AS FOUNTAINS FOR FIGHTSBased on the religious beliefs, the major faith groups we havetoday are theists, agnostics, atheists, and those who believe only inthe soul, but not in God. Basic morality preached by different faiths ingeneral is, however, similar. It is strange, rather unfortunate, that thosewho believe in the Creator, God, do not have the same definition <strong>of</strong>Him. Therefore, each religion claims that only the believers <strong>of</strong> thatfaith are qualified to be admitted to the Heaven. People <strong>of</strong> other faiths,even though they are theists, will not be permitted entry into Heavenbecause they believe in a “false God” and not the “true God.”These beliefs split society into opposing and mutually hatinggroups, which behaved as enemies <strong>of</strong> one another. They are behavingas such even today in the age <strong>of</strong> science. Different religious beliefshave been the cause <strong>of</strong> most <strong>of</strong> the world’s wars. This has done greatharm to people all over the world. This is history well documented inthe history books. Ironically, even within the same faith, bloody intrareligiousfights are going on among their sects. For example: Protestantand Catholic clashes in North Ireland, Shiite and Sunni Muslim battlesin the middle east, high caste and low caste Hindu killings in India,violent tribal clashes in Africa and other places.Maybe because <strong>of</strong> this, (challenges from the science and interandintra-religious fightings) and the believers fighting, Toynbee, the
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