Science tells us that every fact is provisional and that what we accept as true today will be replaced by a better explanation tomorrow. Religion, on the other hand, often leads us to believe that truth has already been revealed through holy books and divine teachings, and nothing exists above that truth. Both perspectives are comforting in different ways, but which of the two really helps us grow, question, and correct ourselves? If someone makes a mistake or hurts someone, shouldn't they change? Or should they remain untouched, believing their actions are justified under an unchanged rule of religion? This is a question worth thinking about.

Science and religion: the beginning of everything

Let’s look at the origin of the universe. Science has the Big Bang Theory: a view that the universe expanded from an extremely dense state and over billions of years evolved into stars, planets, life, and then humans. Most spiritual thinkers interpret it differently; they believe that the Big Bang or the creation was at the will of divine power. Surprisingly, both could possibly coexist: science explains the process, while spirituality explains the purpose.

Well, conflict arises when the religious explanation is at variance with observable reality. Science has given us evolution, fossils, genetics, and logical sequences. Some of the religious traditions describe humans as being created from clay or mud and placed on Earth as punishment for disobedience. While these stories provide useful moral lessons, they fail to explain the complexity of nature.

Which brings us to a critical difference: the distinction between spirituality and religion.

Spirituality vs. religion

Although spirituality and religion differ from each other, they are still related in some ways. Religion is an institution that demands a specific set of beliefs, rituals, and practices shared with a community and passed down through tradition. It provides structure, specific teachings, and collective ways of connecting to a higher power. Spirituality, on the contrary, is a personal experience. It is concerned with inner growth, meaning, and connection with something greater, whether it be the universe, nature, or a deeper level of consciousness. While religion offers defined rules and collective practices, spirituality is flexible and self-guided. A person may thus be religious, spiritual, both, or neither, depending upon the way he or she chooses to relate to the world and the divine.

The debate is not about God’s power. It is about how humans interpret creation and construct rules around it.

The role of religion in human life

Spirituality may be beautiful in itself. It brings hope, meaning, healing, and comfort to people. As one scholar suggested, a spiritual person looks at the flower and simply enjoys its beauty, while a scientist studies the structure of this flower. Both experiences are meaningful and fulfilling yet satisfy different human needs.

The problem is when spiritual or religious ideas harden into inflexible laws constructed for ancient societies and then imposed on the present. Many of the old practices are dictated by needs for survival rather than morals. For example, child marriage could have been allowed centuries ago because of the conditions in society, but that is not any reason for it to be acceptable today. Our world changes, our knowledge grows, and so our values change.

So now the question is, should rules written some millennia ago continue to govern us as the world progresses with great rapidity? One is not being disrespectful by asking this; it is a necessity.

Understanding extremism

Believing something by itself is harmless.

Extremism is what turns belief into danger.

I once heard someone proudly say that converting others to their religion was their life's greatest purpose. Their identity was so tightly attached to a single belief that they could not allow space for others to exist. That is where belief turns into extremism—not in the act of believing, but in refusing questions, alternatives, or diversity.

Extremism is found in all fields, not just religion.

  • Scientific extremism arises when people come to feel that science has all the answers and disregard everything not yet proven.

  • Spiritual extremism appears when questioning becomes forbidden and blind obedience replaces thought.

  • Ideological extremism emerges when people treat their own worldview as the only truth.

All forms share one thing in common: they stop the brain from thinking.

If something is considered so perfect that it cannot be questioned, then progress stops. The universe itself teaches us that everything changes: stars die, species evolve, and ideas change. This pattern in the universe reminds us that nothing is permanent, not even our beliefs.

Let your beliefs inspire you, and let your thinking refine you

The scholars say that if you believe in the internet, satellites, and medicines of today, then you have to, by logic, believe in the theory of evolution, physics, and scientific reasoning. You cannot believe “half science” when it benefits you and “half spirituality” when it comforts you.

But balance is possible. You can believe in spirituality while embracing scientific truth. You can appreciate religion without getting trapped by it. You can admire science without pretending it has all the answers.

Belief is not the problem. The problem is when belief becomes rigid, when it silences curiosity, compassion, and growth. We should opt for flexibility over rigidness, questions over blind acceptance, and growth over fear. The moment you stop questioning—whether in the name of God, science, or ideology—you step closer to extremism.

The goal is simple: the balance: believe fully, but think fully too. Question courageously.

And never let any belief silence your ability to learn.