The Languages of Spirituality and Science: Two Fraternal Twins

Abstract

One prevailing characteristic of the modern and postmodern eras is the steadily growing disconnectedness between spirituality and science. For centuries, these dimensions were naturally considered independent or even antagonistic, in times where spirituality – and their congenital religions – reigned absolute with an unquestionable predominance over science. More recently, as scientific knowledge soared, these two worlds reinforced and deepened their strangeness, creating two very powerful and well-structured knowledge expressed in their respective and distinctive languages. In a similar way, religion and spirituality were torn aside, the former absorbing and taking out the essence of the latter, through a merciless rational process in which religion is being gradually transmuted in an inert body of inflicted rituals and dogmas over increasingly extremist believers. Realistically, a rupture with this pervasive model is paramount, bringing religions back to their divine nature and embracing true science, that which complements and integrates with spirituality, the true nature of human beings. In fact, spirituality should assume its natural leadership in this process of commingling with the scientific world, leaving behind the tempting secular move, astray from wise traditions, relentlessly and unselfishly taught by the prophets of humankind. And so, like two fraternal twins, spirituality and science must grow and live in harmony, not endangering the weakest twin and, thus, not endangering Nature. The present article explores the positive consequences that a new balance between these two dimensions may bring for the well-being of individuals in the workplace and in society at large.