The Contribution of Islam to the Solution of World Problems — Page 28
28 Islam in the Scientific Age Through the ages religion has been the source of moral and spiritual values and standards. Since the opening of the scientific age, however, that is to say, since the start of the era of investigation and research into the operation and application of the laws of nature, it has been assumed in the West that there is certain amount of conflict between science and religion. This sense of conflict was stressed and sharpened by incidents like that of Galileo’s trial by the Holy Office and, in more recent times, by the attitude adopted towards Darwin. In the West this supposed conflict is deemed to have been resolved by the assumption that gradually gained acceptance, that science and religion operate within their own special but well - defined spheres which do not overlap. In consequence of this erroneou s assumption, religion was, in the end, confined to the regulation and performance of Divine Worship and certain rituals and ceremonials. Ministers of religion and Church authorities have made constant efforts to win back for religion its true position as the source of moral and spiritual values but signs of revival notwithstanding, there is no assurance yet that people are eager to turn to religion as the principal source of guidance in the moral and spiritual spheres. In the meantime, the West’s attitude towards religion is being very largely copied in the East. What is the attitude of Islam towards the problem that we have set out above? We have already mentioned that there is no church hierarchy in Islam. Not on the intellect always been free,