Many people believe that science and religion are contrary to each other. But his notation is wrong. As a matter of fact, both are correlated to each other. There is no doubt that the methods of science and religion are different.

The method of science is observation, experimentation and experience. Science takes its recourse to a progressive march towards perfection. The rules of religion are faith, intuition and the spoken word of the enlightened. In general, while science is inclined towards reason and rationality, spiritualism is the essence of religion.

In earlier times when a man appeared on Earth, he was overawed at the sight of violent and powerful aspects of nature. In certain cases, the usefulness of different natural objects of nature overwhelmed man. Thus began the worship of forces of nature — fire, the sun, the rivers, the rocks, the trees, the snakes etc. The holy scriptures were written by those who had developed harmony between external nature and their inner self. Their objective was to ennoble, elevate and liberate the human spirit and mind. But the priestly class took upon itself the monopoly of scriptural knowledge and interpretation to its own advantage.

Thus, the entire human race was in chains. The truth was flouted and progressive, liberal and truthful ideas or ideas expressing doubt and scepticism were suppressed and their holders punished. It was in these trying circumstances that science emerged as a saviour of mankind. But its path was not smooth and safe. The scientists and free thinkers were tortured. This was the fate of Copernicus, Galileo, Bruno and others. But side by side science gained ground.

Q:

Find the antonym of the word ‘retrogression’ used in paragraph 4.

• 1
  Flout
• 2
  Progress
• 3
  Truth
• 4
  Liberal