BATTLE OF FUTUTRE IN PRESENT
Why have we not been taught in schools that religion and morality are different , religion and ethics are different? In our school curriculum we are not taught about the significance of moral values and ethics independently. Our Indian families like our educational institutions impart the knowledge of moral values and ethics in context of religion and religious practices. Each and every moral story has its own religious bearing. Before the advent of Industrial revolution religiosity and morality were more or less synonyms. But as the mode of dominant production system continued to change from agriculture to industry and as the dominant determinant of life continued to shift from religion to science and technology morality and ethics continued to be separated from religion. Modern world is divided into two parts, one is dominated by science and technology and the other by religion. Those countries which have opted for the first one are progressing more, becoming more powerful and affluent. Those who continue to be dominated by religion are still struggling badly for progress, growth and affluence. First category of countries have more or less stable political system whereas the second category has very unstable and violent political systems. Though these are not water tight compartments we see a category of countries which include European countries, US, Canada, China, Japan , Singapore etc have science as dominant determinant. On the other hand we have a second category of countries like Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan, some of the African countries etc which have religion as major determinant. Middle East is a unique region which is affluent but politically vulnerable , and religion dominated. But it's to be underlined that this region is not scientifically advanced and it's prosperity is not self reliant , and prosperity is based on geographical availability of fossil fuel which is approaching to its end and the region has not any industrial backing for future.
Now if we try to see our own country's position we observe that the nation has a lot of confusion. For some years we are drifting away from science and leaning more towards religion. In theory we talk tall about our commitment to science but in reality our practices are being guided by religious dogmatism. This double speak has diminished our international reputation . Our political system has come under global scanner. Our education system is not valued much. Our democracy has become debatable . And the most significant fall is being observed in the area of growth.
Our education system which has not trained us to treat morality and ethics independent of region . It has narrowed our vision making us unable to understand the importance of modern science and knowledge for growth and progress. West has successfully completed this project in last centuries itself and so taking advantage of fruits of knowledge whereas we are still looking backward to our ancient knowledge for present day progress. We don't understand that the human history is history of exploration and pursuit of scientific knowledge . In every stage of history those regions could move ahead of others and could dominate the world which could have mastery of scientific knowledge technology in the concerned era. Religion had molded itself to suit the demands of science. When and where religion continued to confront scientific knowledge beyond a certain limit it was radically modified by science and was made less important for human beings' progress. Even wars had been fought to change religion to fall in line with science. Similarly moral values and ethics were revised to accommodate scientific knowledge and more pragmatic philosophies were devised and developed and traditional values, morality and ethics had to give way to them. Where traditional values and morality tried to impede the march of scientific progress that had been modified or abandoned. Where opposite had or has happened that region was compelled to suffer underdevelopment, poverty and political upheavals. We must remember any system of religion, morality, ethics, and science exist for betterment of human beings and if any of them causes any hindrance that must be changed or abandoned. If we test this truth in context of our country's present day situation history tells us that if we continue to discard modern science and to eulogise only ancient knowledge and to insist that our ancient knowledge has everything that modern science had revealed or will reveal in future we will lose the battle of future in present. Getting more and more scientific knowledge at the earliest is the only way to win the battle of future in present.