Pillars of a Mature Worldview E-Book

Michael Merkel

• Herausgeber: tredition
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 1245

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

Our worldview determines our perception of reality and thus shapes our attitude to life and the way we live. If our worldview adequately reflects reality, we can lead an authentic and meaningful life that we will later look back on with satisfaction. A mature worldview is much more than the accumulation of facts and experiences. Whereas in the past there was primarily a lack of scientific insight, today it is above all the immense flood of information and opinions that obscures our view of essential knowledge. It is therefore not surprising that people's views sometimes differ considerably with regard to fundamental questions of life. The thesis of this book is that in this age it is possible for the first time to obtain objectively convincing answers to the great philosophical questions of life. However, for this we have to draw on two equal sources of knowledge, which in the last centuries were rather regarded as adversaries: science and religion. In their respective updated forms, they are the key to separating truth from error and to assembling various worldview fragments into a coherent overall picture. If science and faith pull together in a mature way, great insights and undreamt-of connections open up. This book provides an easy-to-read, albeit quite comprehensive, introduction to the profound principle of the unity of science and religion. After examining what distinguishes modern science and true faith, it explains how both areas of knowledge are interrelated by their very nature and work constructively together. Building on this methodological foundation, essential philosophical concepts are explained in the light of current scientific and religious knowledge, which should not be missing as necessary pillars in any mature worldview.

Leseprobe

— Pillars of a Mature Worldview —

The thesis of this book is that in this age it is possible for the first time to obtain objectively convincing answers to the great philosophical questions of life. However, for this we have to draw on two equal sources of knowledge, which in the last centuries were rather regarded as adversaries: science and religion. In their respective updated forms, they are the key to separating truth from error and to assembling various worldview fragments into a coherent overall picture. If science and faith pull together in a mature way, great insights and undreamt-of connections open up.

This book provides an easy-to-read, albeit quite comprehensive, introduction to the profound principle of the unity of science and religion. After examining what distinguishes modern science and true faith, it explains how both areas of knowledge are interrelated by their very nature and work constructively together. Building on this methodological foundation, essential philosophical concepts are explained in the light of current scientific and religious knowledge, which should not be missing as necessary pillars in any mature worldview.

Michael Merkel was born in Munich in 1969. He has been married since 1991, has two grown-up children, who are now also married, and two grandchildren. He lives south of Munich in Warngau, Upper Bavaria. After studying theoretical physics, he decided against a career in research and instead switched to business. He has been working for a large insurance company for over 25 years, currently as a manager in central risk management.

In addition to family and career, Michael Merkel loves nature, has a great fondness for sports (e.g. ultra running) and is particularly interested in the »big questions of life« in the area of tension between science and faith. He is an active member of the Bahá’í community in Germany.

Michael Merkel

Pillars of a Mature Worldview

An Introduction to the Principle of the Unity of Science and Religion

Bibliographic information published by Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek

Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliografic data is available in the Internet at http://dnb.dnb.de.

Michael Merkel

Pillars of a Mature Worldview. An Introduction to the Principle of the Unity of Science and Religion Translated from the German by Michael Merkel

(Eckpfeiler einer reifen Weltsicht. Eine Einführung in das Prinzip der Einheit von Wissenschaft und Glauben, Verlag tredition GmbH, Hamburg, 1. Auflage, 2021)

© 2023 by Michael Merkel

First English Edition

ISBN Softcover: 978-3-347-96407-5

ISBN Hardcover: 978-3-347-96408-2

ISBN E-Book: 978-3-347-96409-9

Cover design, layout inside, typesetting: Grafikbüro Hinterberger

Printing and distribution on behalf: tredition GmbH, An der Strusbek 10, 22926 Ahrensburg, Germany

The work, including its parts, is protected by copyright. Any exploitation is prohibited withoutthe consent of the author. This applies in particular to reproduction, translation, microfilming and storage and processing in electronic systems.Publication and distribution are carried out on behalf of the Author, to be reached at: tredition GmbH, department »Imprint service«, An der Strusbek 10, 22926 Ahrensburg, Germany

Dedicated to my family and to all who are sincerely interested in exploring the »big questions of life«

Table of Content

Cover

Half Title

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Preface

Preface to the First English Edition

Prologue

1 the Game of Life

— The Game of Life

— Candidates Of Reliable Orientation

— Instructions For The Reader

Part I. The need for clear orientation

2 Turmoil of the Present

— Turning Point

— Subdue The Earth

— Megatrend Globalization

— Global Risks And Side Effects

— Tragedy Of The Commons

— Megatrend Individualization

— Multi-Option Society

— The Complex Is Not Simple

— Acting Under Uncertainty

3 Ethics

— A Question Of Morality

— Basic Ethical Concepts

— Acting As Fulfillment of Duty

— The Result Counts

— Other Ethical Approaches

— Ethics And Worldview

4 Sources of Knowledge

— Building Blocks Of A Realistic Worldview

— The Formation Of A Worldview

— A Divided Worldview

— Because It Is Written

— The Denial Of The Spirit

— A Question Of Relationship

Part II. The limits of human knowledge

5 Epistemology

— The Irrefutable Skeptic

— The Knowability Of The World

— Levels Of Reality

— Talking About The World

— Truth

— Every Beginning Is Hard

6 Rationalism

— Formalization Of Thinking

— Mathematical Philosophy

— The Logic Of Logic

— In Search Of Evidence

— The Spectre Of Contradiction

— Gödel’s Stroke Of Genius

— Limits Of Reason

7 Empiricism

— Observational Statements

— Sensory Perception

— Theory-Laden View

— Extensional Conclusions

— The Problem Of Induction

— Ambiguity As A Principle

Part III. How science creates knowledge

8 Knowledge without Guarantee

— Farewell To The Ideal Of Absolute Truth

— From Pre-Scientific Views To Science

— The Hempel-Oppenheim Model

— Thinking In Models

— Scientists As Model Builders

— Truth And Vividness

9 from Problem to Model

— The Scientific Three-Step

— The Secret Of Bats’ Flying Skills

— The Brilliant Idea

— Prophecies Of A Model

— The Acid Test

— The Devil Is In The Details

— Excursus Technology

10 a Question of Trust

— The Model And The Question Of Trust

— Truth And Probability

— Learning From Mistakes

— Falsifiability As A Quality Feature

11 Scientific Paradigms

— From Normal Science To Revolution

— Psychology Of Research

— Science As A Program

— The Logic Of Discovery

— The Current State Of The Philosophy Of Science

— Differentiation Of The Concept Of Paradigm

— The Faith Of Science (1)

— The Faith Of Science (2)

12 Science and Worldview

— The Essence Of Science

— The Success Story Of Science

— Natural Limitation Of Competence

— Room For Interpretation

— Development Of A Holistic Worldview

Part IV. The science of relegion

13 a Look in the Rearview Mirror

— Blossoms Of The Past

— Signs Of Disintegration

— The Primal Function Of Religion

14 Renaissance of Faith

— Persia In 1844

— A Modern Faith

— The Gift Of Knowledge

— Veils Of Prejudice

— Channels Of Knowledge

— The Nature Of Human Knowledge

— Best Possible Knowledge

15 Evolution of Faith

— In The Quandary

— Permanence Of Change

— The Origin Of Faith

— Knowledge Top-Down

— Evolution Of Faith

— Eternal And Temporary Truth

— Oneness Of Religion

— Religion As A Paradigm

— A New Paradigm

Intermezzo

16 Strong Together

— Both/And

— Science And Religion

— Like The Wings Of A Bird

— Scholarship

— Wisdom

— Learning

— Strong Together

Part V. Pillars of a mature worldview

17 Matter is Not Everything

— The End Of Materialism

— Relativistic Phenomena

— Quantum Phenomena

— Sprit And Science

— Object And Shadow Worlds

— The Phenomenon Spirit

18 the Question of God

— The Question Of God

— Refutation Attempts

— »God Exists« As An Analytical Proposition

— God As Unmoved Mover

— God As Planning Architect

— The Emergence Of Complex Structures

— The Origin Of Universal Laws

— First Answers

19 One Creator, Many Images

— The Existence Of God

— The Search For A Modern Image Of God

— The Sun As A Symbol For God

— Light As A Metaphor For The Work Of God

— Divine Unity

— Divine Guidance

20 the Secret of Homo Sapiens

— The Secret Of The Human Being

— The Steadily Growing Human Being

— The Eternally Living Human Being

— The Soul And The Afterlife

21 between the Worlds

— Near-Death Experiences

— Indications To Spiritual Immortality

— Experiences In A Strange World

— Personal Accountability

— The Relevance Of Near-Death Experiences

— The Meaning Of Death

22 Signs of the Times

— Characteristics Of Human Development

— Generation Twilight

— Maturity Certificate

— Unity In Diversity

— Justice In Practice

— The Principle Of Love

— Dynamic Equilibria

23 Life in Balance

— Search For Meaning

— The Process Of Personal Excellence

— The Development Of The Spirit

— World Peace Is Not A Utopia

— Collective Growth

— Turbulent Times

— The Moral System Of The Bahá’í Faith

— Virtue

24 Special Beings

— Reflection Of Divine Perfection

— Revealing The Secrets Of The Universe

— Diagnosis And Cure Of The Time’s Ills

— In Search Of Empirical Evidence

25 Mystery Revelation

— Outstanding Personality Traits

— Direct Knowledge

— Pervasive Influence

— The King of Kings

— Convincing Ontological Models

— Understanding Of Material Reality

— Action-Oriented Teachings

— Selected Prophecies

26 Unity of Religions

— The Unchanging Core Of Religion

— Explanation Of Ancient Mysteries

— Jesus Christ

— Prince Of Peace

— Number Games

Epilogue

27 Paradigm Shift

— Turbulent Times

— Pioneers In Times Of Change

Annex

— Appendix 1

— Appendix 2

— Appendix 3

Bibliography

List of Illustrations

Sources and Notes

Pillars of a Mature Worldview

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Preface

Sources and Notes

Pillars of a Mature Worldview

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PREFACE

The world with its diverse and wonderful phenomena fascinated me from childhood and was one of the reasons why I later studied physics. Beyond my interest in the natural sciences, I have been dealing with metaphysical topics for many years and am a member of the youngest world religion, the Bahá’í Faith. When people learn that my religious faith is a significant source of knowledge for me, they usually react with reserve, irritation or even rejection. Quite a few insist on their conviction that religion has long since become superfluous due to the progress of science.

Why »modern« science and »true« religion are not opposites but are inseparably linked is a complex question that cannot be answered adequately in a few sentences. In addition, science and religion are usually viewed with very little differentiation with regard to their ability to convey knowledge. Far too often, prejudices, mere opinions and preferences determine the discussion at the expense of objective facts. This is regrettable, as it considerably hinders the individual as well as societal process of knowledge. I am deeply convinced that the serious global challenges currently threatening humanity can only be solved if science and religion work together harmoniously. Only then can we arrive at a coherent and holistic view of the world, which, as we shall see, offers not only very interesting, but above all indispensable insights for a successful and fulfilling life.

The need for the constructive interaction of science and faith, according to the Bahá’í teachings, arises from a principle known as the »unity of science and religion«. Both the comprehension and the practical implementation of this important principle presupposes that we acquire a sound understanding of the true nature of both systems of knowledge. This must also include the significant paradigm shifts that have occurred in both fields over the last 200 years, but unfortunately have not yet fully entered the public discourse.

My intensive study of the principle of the unity of science and religion soon proved to be an extremely exciting undertaking and eventually led to the desire to systematize and write down the most important insights. Roughly speaking, both knowledge domains meet at three levels in the process of knowledge acquisition:

› Methodological knowledge: How do we arrive at relevant knowledge?

› Basic knowledge: What is the world made of and how does it work?

› Practical knowledge: What should we do and which principles of action help us?

Following this systematic approach, the present book is an attempt to explain how science and religion must work together if relevant and reliable knowledge is to emerge. Building on this methodological understanding, the main part of the book is devoted to the big questions of life. A number of central themes are dealt with which, because of their importance, should not be missing from any mature and holistic worldview.

Presenting this complex subject area appropriately sometimes proved to be a major challenge. It was necessary to cover the essential aspects in sufficient breadth without becoming too long-winded or too superficial. The extent to which a sensible balance has been achieved is left to the reader's judgement. I do not want to neglect to point out that despite thorough examination of the contents presented, I am not an expert in all the areas covered. Likewise, in a book of this complexity, it cannot be ruled out that one or the other subjective interpretation might have crept in. In any case, I have endeavored to be as objective as possible both in terms of the selection of the views and doctrines available on the respective topics and in the presentation and assessment of the facts.

All in all, I hope that this book, for all its imperfections, will provide enough material for interesting food for thought and stimulate constructive discussions.

Over the years, various people have contributed directly or indirectly to this book project. The biggest contribution was made by my wife Stefanie Merkel, who actively and tirelessly supported me from the beginning. I would also like to acknowledge the support of Dagmar Königer, Sören Rekel-Bludau, Babak Farrokhzad, Miriam Merkel, David Schubert, Bidjan Sobhani, Peter Hörster, Nikolai Merkel and the Bahá’í Academic Review Board. To these and others I would like to express my heartfelt thanks!

Holzkirchen in February 2021

Michael Merkel

PREFACE TO THE FIRST ENGLISH EDITION

The feedback I have received so far from those who have read the German edition of the book in its entirety or at least in large parts has been very positive. Therefore, the desire arose to make the book accessible to an even larger audience with the help of the English translation that is now available. I hope that the topics covered will also offer English-speaking readers some food for thought that will take them a step further in their examination of the great questions of life.

Since learning lives from mutual exchange, I am very interested in feedback of any kind. You are therefore warmly invited to use [email protected] for this purpose.

Warngau in July 2023

Michael Merkel

PROLOGUE

1 The Game of Life

People Need Orientation

Life is a game, as all games are: He who does not understand loses, and hewho understands wins. JOHANN WILHELM LUDWIG GLEIM

Life is like drawing without an eraser. ECKART VON HIRSCHHAUSEN

A father is playing chess with his little daughter. Both sit opposite each other and gaze spellbound at the board with its white and black squares. Father and daughter seem very concentrated as they take turns moving their pieces. Suddenly, the daughter jumps up excitedly as she moves her knight into a promising position. This move seems to have been unexpected for the father as well. Annoyed, he mumbles something about »beginner’s mistake« and a »lost rook«. For minutes he visibly strains to look at the board, while his daughter can hardly sit still with tension. Finally, he moves his king one square to the right. Impatiently, the daughter captures the rook and thus takes her booty. The game continues. As time goes by, the daughter’s victorious expression disappears again. After a few small mistakes by the daughter, the father has won the game and breathes a sigh of relief. The daughter is also satisfied, having at least brought her supposedly overpowering father to the brink of defeat.

The quality of the individual moves can only be understood by those who are familiar with playing chess. In addition to understanding the aim of the game, this also includes knowing the rules of the game and the possible uses of all the game pieces. However, a solid basic knowledge alone does not make a good player. As we have seen from the above example, experience also plays a decisive role in a demanding game like chess. It is above all practical knowledge that enables the player to develop a promising game strategy and to select the best moves from a multitude of possible moves. Chess probably enjoys such great popularity because it offers numerous possibilities for influencing and shaping the game and is characterized by an open course of play. These characteristics make the game interesting, give it excitement and demand both thinking and creative players.

Human life resembles a game in many ways. Here, too, we have countless possibilities to shape and influence the course. However, unlike a game, which we can start all over again at any time, we only have one life at our disposal. Indeed, something is at stake in the »game of life«. If we want to be successful in this important game, we should thoroughly examine its nature and consider what this means for our way of life.

— The Game of Life

Basic Questions

Compared to a game, our life is not only much more meaningful and magnificent, but also much more multi-layered and complex. Moreover, life lacks an obvious »game manual« that offers orientation regarding the prevailing boundary conditions and design possibilities. If we want to get to the core of the game of life, we have to deal in depth with the great questions of life and in this way work out a mature worldview.

Let us now consider, analogously to the success factors of a game like chess, some fundamental questions about the art of living. As a counterpart to the game instructions these are to be answered as part of a realistic worldview. Figure 1 provides an overview of this, which is explained below.

Fig.1: Central Questions on the »Game of Life«

What is the goal and meaning of life?

Those who want to play successfully have the goal of the game firmly in mind with every move they make and consciously direct their moves towards it. But what is the goal and the meaning of our life? Is there an overriding meaning that is equally valid for all people, or are we called upon to define our life’s purpose and meaning ourselves? It is obvious that the goal and the meaning of life are not given like a game manual, but have to be consciously recognized and chosen. But where can we find valuable clues as to what we can base these choices on?

The exploration of the purpose of our existence is closely linked to the question of whether the »game of life« ends with physical death or whether it continues in some way afterwards. This question is of fundamental importance because depending on the answer, we will view and shape our lives under a completely different premise. Every person who wants to live a self-determined life will sooner or later stumble upon this and similar questions. As long as the goal and meaning of our lives are not sufficiently defined, we lack orientation and direction. Our »life moves« are then in a sense arbitrary.

In a game, the way other players play also has an influence on one’s own game strategy and tactics. It forces one to make adjustments despite one’s own plans and sometimes even to fundamentally rethink. In real life it is no different: Because we are integrated into the reality of a society, our personal room for maneuver depends very much on the nature of our social environment and its influence on us. The high significance of society for its constituent members requires us to reflect on whether and to what extent there may be an overarching, collective meaning and mission inherent in society itself. Consequently, it is not only the purpose of the human being, but also that of humanity that needs to be examined more closely. For this it is helpful to deal more closely with the properties of the world and in particular with the nature of human beings.

What is the world made of?

In the game of life, the world with its manifold phenomena forms the »playing field« on which we operate. The more thoroughly science explores our universe, the more clearly it becomes apparent how extraordinarily aesthetic, but also complex, our world is. Scientists have long since become accustomed to the fact that the explanation of investigated phenomena always raises new questions, the answers to which led to a constantly deepening understanding of the world. While the scientific view of the world was still largely mechanistic and materialistic at the beginning of the 20th century, research into various quantum phenomena in particular has forced a radical rethink. Today, modern science paints a picture of a world that is far more than its material surface would have us believe.

If the essence of the world is indeed not purely material, what about the human being who is part of this world? According to this knowledge, would it not be a must for modern people to consider that human beings could also possess a dimension that goes beyond matter? Should we indeed possess an immaterial identity independent of the body, usually called soul, then it would only be logical that we also deal with the nature of this special dimension. We would have to look at our lives from a much broader perspective and rethink what consequences this would have for our understanding of the human nature. Our conception of the human being would then possibly have to be supplemented by relevant attributes and aspects.

The question of the existence of a human soul immediately brings up the question of the existence of God. Those who strive for a mature and complete worldview cannot avoid examining which arguments speak for and which against such a hypothesis. For similar to the assumption of a soul, the assumption of a God also changes our worldview considerably and inevitably raises further questions, such as: Can God be recognized? Can statements be made about his attributes and characteristics of the relationship between Creator and creature be found? Does God have a purpose for the human being? And, to return to the game analogy: Could this source possibly yield central clues in the sense of a »game manual« for our lives?

What are the laws that govern the universe?

Our universe is characterized by numerous laws that result from the relationships between its various elements. We experience a multitude of these rules every day. As part of the physical creation, human beings are inevitably subject to the laws of nature that prevail there. We have to eat and drink regularly, protect ourselves from wind and weather, and observe other physical conditions if we want to survive. We also do not become younger in the course of time but are subject to a natural and inevitable ageing process that ultimately ends with physical death.

Interesting and at the same time enormously important is the question of whether law-like relationships also exist outside of physical reality. Since modern physics already provides clear indications of immaterial realms of existence, we should consider that these dimensions are also subject to laws. Our success in the »game of life« will depend crucially on understanding those laws that are of particu-lar importance for our human existence on an individual as well as on a social level.

Practical knowledge of the individual and collective art of living

In order to navigate successfully through life, it is not enough to deal with central philosophical questions. As in a game, we must also have relevant practical knowledge. The practical knowledge that is important for our actions arises when we ask ourselves what the understanding of the meaning of life and the nature of the world teaches us with regard to how we shape our lives. Analogous to the game strategy and tactics of a chess player, we need both an overarching life plan and an understanding of a purposeful organization of everyday life.

We can approach a meaningful life by defining essential life tasks that are in harmony with the ontological insights we have gained, especially our conception of man. Our life tasks provide the basis for long-term life planning. Based on this, further action-oriented knowledge results when we pursue the question of how the laws existing in the universe can be effectively used to achieve our major life tasks and to cope with everyday life. The more thoroughly we understand material and, if existent, metaphysical laws, the better we can benefit from them for the shaping of individual and social life.

For example, knowledge of the law of gravitation allows the construction of hydroelectric power plants. The electricity thus produced can be used in many ways to facilitate and enrich our lives. Conversely, disregarding essential laws quickly turns into a disadvantage for us. To use the example of gravity again, a jump from a tower usually ends fatally.

All the laws of the universe apply unchanged, whether we acknowledge them or ignore them, whether we like them or not. Therefore, like lighthouses, they should be observed. If the principles and norms of human action are reasonable defined, they form the framework in various life situations in which the existing laws can work in a positive way. As in a game, only appropriate practical knowledge leads to true art of living in real life.

— Candidates Of Reliable Orientation

Science or Religion?

Looking for answers

Unfortunately, neither fundamental philosophical questions nor practical questions about personal and social life can be answered easily. Our subjective reflections and limited experiences simply fall short here. So how do we arrive at realistic and satisfying answers to life’s big questions? The search for promising sources of reliable orientation inevitably leads to science and religion as possible candidates. Thus, in addition to personal experiences, it is primarily insights of a scientific or religious nature that influence people in their philosophical considerations and determine their worldview.

In the past, it was above all religion that provided orientation with regard to the big questions of life. In fact, all the great world religions in their original and pure form were metaphysical explainers of the world as well as creators of morals and meaning. Mostly originating in a time of moral decline, faith was always the driving force for people to reorient their lives and thus contribute to the development of a new advanced civilization. With the Renaissance at the latest, however, the influence and importance of religion noticeably diminished. In contrast, science experienced a real boom in the last few centuries. It brought forth numerous insights and expanded our understanding of the world in unimagined ways. The depth of our scientific insights can be seen today in the many wonders of technology that have dramatically changed the face of the world. Moreover, science inspired many thinkers in their reflections on worldview issues.

Science or religion?

There are very different opinions on the question of what role science and religion play in today’s world and what contribution they can make to answering the big questions of life and to shaping life in a practical way. Discussions on this question are often subjective and emotional. They show that it is often assumed that science and faith are mutually exclusive. As a result, people who believe in science see no reason to seriously investigate the basis of religion. Similarly, many convinced believers consider the study of scientific knowledge to be of secondary importance, if not unnecessary.

Therefore, the overarching thesis of this book, according to which science and religion are still the two essential sources of knowledge today, may at first seem surprising to many. As will be shown, science and religion are not only compatible, but form a powerful and synergistic unit.

Why the principle of the unity of science and religion is not yet widely recognized is mainly due to the fact that many people still associate science and faith with ideas that are now outdated. In fact, serious paradigm shifts have occurred in both science and religion, especially in the last 200 years, some of them completely unnoticed, which have shed a completely new light on our understanding of reality.

In the case of science, the development of quantum physics and the theory of relativity at the beginning of the 20th century in particular shattered the materialistic-mechanistic picture of the universe that was established at the time. Since then, physicists have been teaching us that matter, time and space are fundamentally different in nature from what common sense commonly imagines. As will be explained later in many ways, today’s science paints a picture of the world in which a modern faith also has an important and appropriate place. More unnoticed than in science, a fundamental paradigm shift also occurred in the field of religion. Thus, although the Bahá’í Faith, which emerged in the 19th century, is now counted among the great world religions by religious studies, its modern and in part groundbreaking contents are still largely unknown to the general public.

The developments within both domains of knowledge lead to the need for a thorough rethinking of the current opinions on the nature and meaning of science and religion.

The unity of science and religion

This book aims to show that today, perhaps for the first time, it is possible to obtain objective answers to the major worldview questions. In fact, today we have all the means at our disposal to separate the wheat from the chaff and to assemble valuable worldview fragments into a coherent overall picture appropriate to the present time. As will be shown, however, a holistic orientation according to the principle of the unity of science and religion only results when scientific understanding and religious insight are equally considered. The magnificent connections lying behind the surface will only become apparent if the various partial truths of modern science and true faith are suitably linked. Here the emphasis is deliberately on »modern« in distinction to an unnecessarily narrow pseudo-scientific view as well as »true« in the sense of an approach to metaphysical and religious questions that is as objective as possible and based on reason.

This book offers a comprehensive introduction to the fundamental principle of the unity of science and religion. Modern science and true faith meet on three levels of knowledge: basic knowledge, practical knowledge, and methodological knowledge. Analogous to the deep understanding of a game, the first two dimensions in particular are also decisive with regard to a holistic and mature worldview. In this way, a basic knowledge of the world that is as broad as possible and at the same time sufficiently deep helps us to gain a comprehensive understanding of reality, which also includes the role and nature of humans and humanity. Complementary to this, practical knowledge forms the action-oriented side of our worldview. As will be shown, science and religion contribute significantly to both dimensions of knowledge because their respective core competencies effectively complement and mutually support each other in their areas of overlap.

The pattern of overlapping complementarity is evident not only at the level of content but also at the level of methodology when we ask ourselves, »How do we arrive at knowledge?« As we shall see, science and faith form a unity in this area as well, since they agree in their basic methodology and at the same time effectively complement each other due to their natural differences. The way in which both domains contribute to a holistic view of the world becomes apparent when one analyzes the nature of scientific and religious knowledge more closely.

— Instructions For The Reader

Where can You Find What?

As shown in Figure 2, in addition to the Prologue, the present book contains 26 further chapters divided into Parts I to V, an Intermezzo and a concluding Epilogue.

Fig.2: Pillars of a Mature Worldview—the Structure of the Book

The topics covered

Part I The Need for Clear Orientation shows that not only the immense complexity that characterizes our world today, but also the fundamental question of ethics »What shall we do?« requires reliable orientation. The attempt to clarify the role that the two major systems of knowledge—science and faith—can play in the development of a mature worldview leads to the question of the nature of human knowledge.

Part II The Limits of Human Knowledge illuminates the philosophical branch of epistemology. Using the example of the two major knowledge gaining strategies of rationalism and empiricism, the well-known philosophical fact is demonstrated that, in the final analysis, there can be no absolutely certain knowledge for human beings.

Part III How Science Creates Knowledge summarizes the main findings of the philosophy of science. It explains in some detail the basic elements of scientific research that lead to the development of ever broader scientific paradigms. Scientific methodology explains how, despite all epistemological limitations, the success story of science could become possible.

Part IV The Science of Religion deals with the role of religion as an explainer of metaphysical truth. An analysis of the nature of religious truth and »true« faith based on the teachings of the most recent world religion reveals amazing parallels with the findings of epistemology and philosophy of science. In particular, the evolution of religious truth can be understood as the becoming and passing of great paradigms in the form of successive revelations. This also makes plausible the obvious decadence and powerlessness of today’s traditional religious systems.

The Intermezzo brings together the insights of Parts III and IV. From this emerge some essential features of the principle of the unity of science and faith. If both domains work together according to their nature, great synergies are released. The result is a worldview of unprecedented wholeness and depth.

Part V Pillars of a Mature Worldview is by far the most extensive part and forms the main content of the book. There, in the light of the unity of science and faith, a number of topics are dealt with that are of particular importance for our understanding of the world, our fundamental attitude to life and the meaningful shaping of our lives. Both the answers to the big questions about spirit, God, the image of man and humanity and the knowledge of central principles that must guide people’s individual and collective lives today should not be missing in any mature and holistic worldview.

The Epilogue rounds off the account by relating the significance of the worldview outlined to the turbulent times we are currently experiencing.

The use of the summaries

With around 550 pages (in the printed version without appendix), the book has become quite extensive. As the structure makes clear, Parts I to IV have primarily an introductory task. Particularly with regard to the introductions to ethics, epistemology, and philosophy of science, it would have been possible to summarize the selected content only very briefly or even to refer completely to the relevant literature. The observation that people in the digital age read classical non-fiction books less and less often, let alone very extensive treatises, would also speak in favor of such a slim presentation.

Nevertheless, leaving the book in its current, comprehensive form was a conscious decision. This way, even readers with little philosophical background can comfortably read into the basic concepts without having to consult further literature. On the other hand, in order not to bore readers who are already familiar with these basics, each chapter has been provided with a summary at the end that briefly summarizes the essential content. This also allows the reader to deal with specific topics without having to read the entire book straight away. Thus, it is possible to skip individual chapters or even entire parts without losing the thread, provided that the corresponding summaries are read beforehand.

PART I.

THE NEED FOR

CLEAR ORIENTATION

2 Turmoil Of The Present

The Complexity of the Global Crisis

When the wind of change blows, some build walls and others windmills. CHINESE PROVERB

In the Chinese language, the word »crisis« is composed of two characters, one representing danger and the other, opportunity.JOHNF.KENNEDY

Migration is one of the topics that is moving the minds of many people due to its increasing explosiveness. In Germany, for example, the migration issue has been the subject of extremely heated and controversial debate since 2015 at the latest. The public discourse is conspicuously emotional and is characterized by simplified opinions, moralistic attributions, prejudiced viewpoints, and manipulative opinion-making. The debate shows how much those who argue for a compartmentalization strategy are outraged by being confronted with supposedly »foreign« problems for which they feel neither responsible nor in charge. But it also reveals the powerlessness of those who, affected by the suffering and fate of the people, have to realize that there are no viable solutions in sight to which they could contribute. In view of the enormous challenges, the current measures seem to be an insufficient patchwork, only a drop in the ocean.

Refugees do not leave their homes without good reason. They usually flee from conditions that make a dignified and safe life impossible. The causes of the current refugee flows lie in unbearable and hopeless realities of life such as war, oppression, exploitation, terror, poverty, persecution, discrimination, or environmental destruction. These destructive living conditions are due to multi-layered and multi-causal unhealthy developments, which the countries concerned usually cannot avert on their own. The topic of migration relentlessly holds up a mirror to humanity. It reveals a threatening imbalance in the realities of life that is extremely complex in nature. In the face of these fundamental inequalities, it does not help to look for solutions at the municipal, state or nation-state level, however welcome this may be. Even a larger community like the European Union will not be able to provide a sustainable solution. The core of the problem is global in nature and therefore requires united, committed action in a supranational context, far beyond the efforts of individual host countries and countries of origin.

— Turning Point

Where is the Global Crisis Heading?

The refugee problem, though serious, is unfortunately only one of many ills plaguing humanity today. In sum, the confluence of multiple problems and the concatenation of many destructive circumstances lead to a complex crisis of global proportions. This realization is not new. »What we perceive most inescapably about the modern era today… is its crisis«,1 noted the German physicist and philosopher Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker (1912-2007). And the Austrian physicist and systems theorist Fritjof Capra (*1939) pointed out the depth and diversity of this global crisis in his bestseller Wendezeit as early as 1982: »We find ourselves in a state of profound, world-wide crisis. It is a complex, multi-dimensional crisis whose facets touch every aspect of our lives—our health and livelihood, the quality of our environment and our social relationships, our economy, technology, and politics. It is a crisis of intellectual, moral, and spiritual dimensions; a crisis of a scale and urgency unprecedented in recorded human history. For the first time we have to face the very real threat of extinction of the human race and of all life on this planet.«2

Since these lines were written almost 40 years ago, the crisis has worsened and the process of upheaval associated with it is becoming clearer day by day. According to the Austrian economist Fredmund Malik (*1944), a profound social transformation is underway that is unparalleled in history: »The economy and society of virtually all countries are going through one of the most fundamental transformations in history… We are witnesses to a revolutionary transformation of the old world as we knew it into a new world of the as yet unknown. It is the emergence of a fundamentally new order and social functioning—and a social REvolution of a new kind. In a few years, almost everything will be new and different: what we do, how we do it and why we do it—how we produce, transport, finance and consume, how we care and heal, educate, learn, research, and innovate, how we inform, communicate, and cooperate, how we work and live.«3

We can rightly ask ourselves: Will this »new world of the as yet unknown« be humane and desirable? Will the current crisis change for the better or end in disaster? At present, it seems open where the journey will lead. However, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: If humanity wants to avert the countless grievances and dangers, it must recognize the causes behind the symptoms, develop viable solutions based on a realistic vision and finally, like a Herculean task, implement them step by step in a courageous and systematic manner. The following sections outline the main features of the current crisis in order to gain a better understanding of its causes. It all started with a phenomenon that is in itself very positive: scientific progress.

— Subdue The Earth

The Explosion of Knowledge and Technology

Much has happened since God’s command to the people to subdue the earth was formulated in the Old Testament. In the meantime, we have not only explored the infinite expanses of the universe, but have also looked into the innermost parts of the atoms. Unstoppably, we elicit secrets from creation and skillfully use them to steadily expand the boundaries once set by nature. Almost daily we witness new discoveries and possibilities.

The knowledge explosion

Our knowledge did not develop evenly over time. Rather, the cycles in which human knowledge doubled became shorter and shorter. While it took about 100 years for the knowledge of 1850 to double, today, depending on the definition of knowledge, we have already reached doubling cycles of a few years, if not months.4

Even more important than the quantitative increase in knowledge is the quality and relevance of our findings. The increasing depth of our understanding of the world enables us to develop powerful tools. Used correctly, these technological innovations can make our lives easier and give us previously unimaginable freedoms and opportunities. Much of what is commonplace for us today would have been considered an unthinkable miracle 150 years ago. Assuming we could travel back in time to the year 1850, how could we explain our digitalized world to the people there? How could we describe a PC, a smartphone, or a PlayStation, for example? We would probably not be able to find a suitable description that would give a 19th century person a realistic idea of our technical devices, let alone even begin to understand how they work.

Challenges in dealing with powerful technology

Of course, not everything that is feasible can be used without risk. As a rule, every new possibility also has a downside that must be dealt with appropriately. For example, our knowledge of the properties of atoms can be used in very different ways: either to produce terrible weapons of mass destruction or to generate electricity—what a fundamental difference! But even the peaceful use of nuclear power to generate energy is not without problems, as we all know. For example, in the case of today’s nuclear power plants, in addition to the safety issue, there is above all the question of the safe storage of the unavoidable nuclear waste.

Another example is the constantly advancing digitalization. This comparatively young phenomenon is revolutionizing our working and living environments and allows us completely new and great opportunities for information exchange and collaboration. What would our society today be without it? However, the process of digitalization is equally rapid and subliminal. In fact, many people are not yet aware of the scope of the digitalization tsunami already on the horizon. For example, society is not prepared for the fact that in the foreseeable future a huge number of its citizens may no longer have a place in the prevailing economic system. There is an urgent need to clarify how the process of digitalization is to be adequately shaped in view of its manifold consequences. Who would be in a position to specify the necessary framework conditions and to define them in a binding manner?

The new possibilities created by scientific and technical progress are not only inextricably linked to a decision-making and design task. Depending on where the decision-making authority lies, there is also the question of power that requires a solution. Who is legitimized to decide which technology may be used in which form? Can it work in the long run, for example, that the West determines which countries are allowed to have nuclear technologies?

But that is not all: The tremendous progress in science and technology is also accompanied by the two megatrends of globalization and individualization, which further complicate the challenge of dealing wisely with the available opportunities for the benefit of all people. These two trends are briefly discussed in the following sections.

— Megatrend Globalization

Global Village Life

Globalization is the process of increasingly cross-border and worldwide interdependence of society, science, economy, environment, politics and culture. These areas are interconnected by a large number of interwoven processes for the extraction and distribution of goods, energy, raw materials, capital, technologies, information, and services. The resulting multitude of mutual dependencies and interrelationships is evident at the level of individuals, institutions, societies and states.

The omnipresence of globalization

The German comedian Urban Priol (*1961) illustrated the omnipresence of globalization in an entertaining way using the tragic accidental death of Lady Di as an example: »Diana came from England, her boyfriend from Egypt. Both died in a tunnel in France in a car from Germany with an engine from the Netherlands and a driver from Belgium. The driver had whiskey from Scotland in his blood. Paparazzi from Italy chased them on Japanese motorbikes. Doctors from America gave first aid with medicines from Brazil. A Luxembourger wrote the investigation report on a Chinese PC with chips from Taiwan, a monitor from Korea and a keyboard from Vietnam. Workers from Bangladesh had assembled the PC in Singapore. In the factory of an Indian. And the wreckage of the crashed car was disposed of by Algerian rubbish collectors to get the car ready for export to Lebanon at Auto-Osman in Turkey.«5

There are different opinions on when exactly the process of globalization began. However, there is unanimous agreement that it has accelerated tremendously, especially in recent decades, in the wake of exploding technical progress. Among other things, modern transport and communication technologies contributed to this. The technical revolution has virtually abolished all spatial and temporal boundaries. The new possibilities made us mobile and our home planet small. The Canadian media scientist Marshall McLuhan (1911-1980) coined the term »global village« for this as early as 1962. What once seemed like an infinite expanse to the pedestrian and carriage driver has shrunk to a global village for the airplane user equipped with smartphone and laptop. This shrinking of scales and the resulting moving together of people can be seen today in all areas of life.

Economy

Let us first look at the economic sector. Global trade is not a new phenomenon and its history goes back a long way. Strictly speaking, economic activity has always been a cross-border affair in which political barriers have always been artificial obstacles. Economic division of labor follows economic, technical, and geographical circumstances far more than arbitrarily drawn, political borders. So, it is only logical that the economic sector, always striving for expansion and the greatest possible growth, very quickly used the new technological achievements to its advantage. This led to hitherto unimagined possibilities in trade and production. As the means of transport became faster, more efficient, and safer, and at the same time transport costs were reduced, international trade increased significantly and conquered new markets. Sophisticated computer and logistics systems easily connected far-flung areas and opened up the possibility for business to organize and set up globally. In the course of these favorable conditions, it was only logical from an economic point of view to successively abolish rules and regulations that slowed down global economic growth by means of liberalization and deregulation. Today, the economy operates globally, always driven to make the best possible use of available resources and regional advantages. Capital, goods, services, and labor markets have long since grown together. In the course of this, the once largely independent national economies have increasingly dissolved and merged into a global economy. What began in primeval times with personal barter transactions led via regional, supraregional, national and continental markets finally to global trade.

Science

Like the economy, science was also predestined for globalization according to its inner logic. For the scientific spirit of discovery, the world as a whole with its countless phenomena is always the target of its interest. With growing technical possibilities, the circle of exploration of scientists also expanded. Step by step, the whole earth, indeed the entire universe, became the goal of scientific research and brought about the discovery of ever new phenomena and connections. Technical progress made it possible to exchange ideas with scientists from other nations, regardless of their origin, religion, or culture, and to come closer together to solving scientific mysteries. The drastic increase in worldwide cooperation between scientists and the development of international research projects and studies prove that scientific knowledge has long since become a global undertaking in many cases.

Politics

Politics also shows an unmistakable trend towards globalization. Compared to the economy and science, however, the transition from national principles of order to globally operating organizations is sluggish. Although the first serious efforts in this direction were made a hundred years ago with the founding of the League of Nations, the political discussion today still largely takes place from a nation-state perspective. Although the globe has long since shrunk into a single large country, even modern people still feel less like cosmopolitans than citizens of their home country. Political thinking and decision-making is still largely shaped by the nation state. The example of the European Union impressively shows how unstable and vulnerable supranational alliances still are. In addition to the economic advantages, there are a number of other extremely plausible arguments in favor of this union. And yet we are experiencing how quickly difficulties in the practical implementation of the »European idea« lead to backward-looking, nationalist forces gaining momentum and seriously endangering the still young unity and its achievements.

In summary, both the establishment of supranational institutions, such as the United Nations, and numerous international alliances and treaties in their current form can only be seen as intermediate steps on the way to a politically globalized humanity.

Religion

The globalization of religion is similarly arduous to that of politics. Since most people’s thinking today is still predominantly nation-state-based and shaped by the prevailing cultural roots, it is little wonder that many people consider those values and beliefs they grew up with to be right and superior to others. This narrow and prejudiced attitude slows down the development of a common understanding that could create a new identity that overcomes old restrictions.

What is needed above all is a global ethic which, as a common basis of values, connects people’s thoughts, feelings and actions and represents their fundamental needs and interests. If global principles of order are to help humankind to achieve justice and peace in the long term, a suitable global ethic must fill this system with life.

— Global Risks And Side Effects

Humanity as a World Community of Destiny

Globalization is an unmistakable reality today. The extent and structure of the worldwide division of labor have become so differentiated and intensive that, at least from an economic point of view, the respective national borders have almost lost their significance. But individuals now also live a globalized lifestyle: Modern people study a few semesters away, work for global players, invest their assets in international markets, consume products from all over the world on the World Wide Web, travel to the most distant parts of the world, enjoy the treasures and beauties of foreign cultures, cultivate international friendships, and follow worldwide events with a single mouse click.

Reversing the process of globalization, as some skeptics suggest, would be neither possible nor desirable. Nevertheless, globalization has many downsides and presents humanity with a number of existential challenges. A prime example is the current ecological crisis.

The ecological crisis