Islam and Modern Life — Page 5
ISLAM AND MODE RN LIFE 5 organization of worship and certain rites and ceremonials and rituals, and it has nothing to do with science. On the other hand, science has nothing to do with the sphere which is occupied by religion. And then it was thought, well all right, then no confl ict need arise. And in the end, as I have said, this bypassing process confined religion within certain strict limits. It is fair only to add that it is a fact that ministers of religion and church dignitaries have made throughout this period constant effo rts to secure for religion its old and true position as the source of moral and spiritual values governing the whole field of life. Nevertheless, in spite of some signs of revival, there is no assurance, yet that religion will be able to regain its lost po sition in the West. In the meantime, the greater part of the West is well content with the position that has been breached. Now, on the other side, traveling further east, during the recent years, in consequence mainly of the two world wars and the emergence of nearly a score of sovereign and quasi - sovereign Muslim states, the West has begun to pay more attention to Islam and t he Muslims, and there is a desire for greater understanding and appreciation of Islamic values. Incidentally, from the point of view of our subject, these two world wars in their turn have also furnished the greatest impetus to this advance of science and technology to which I have drawn attention. Now, the Muslim peoples, on their side, who have recently emerged from a state of dependence upon certain European colonial powers, or are in the process of emerging from such control, are taking stock of their p osition in the modern world, in this world of science and technology, in this atomic age, and they are anxious to re - establish