Georges Lemaitre: The Priest and the Scientist
 |
| Georges Lemaitre (1894-1966) |
The Big Bang theory that brought about a new
revolution in science was proposed by a Catholic priest, Georges Lamaitre. When
this priest-scientist suggested that the universe began from a “primeval atom,”
Pope Pius XII was eager to link that primeval entity with God. But Rev Lemaitre
told the Pope gently enough that science and religion are two different things
and it’d be better to keep them separate.
Both science and religion are valid ways to
truth, according to Lemaitre. Science uses the mind and religion uses the
heart. Speaking more precisely, science investigates how the universe works,
and religion explores why anything exists at all. Lemaitre was very
uncomfortable when one tried to invade the other.
God is not a filler of the gaps in
science, Lemaitre asserted. We should not invoke God to explain what science
cannot. Science has its limits precisely because it is absolutely rational. Although
intuition and imagination may lead a scientist to certain hypotheses,
ultimately reason and material evidence are required for any assumption to
become a scientific theory.
Such evidence is not required in
religion. For Lemaitre, religion was a path to meaning and moral truth,
completely distinct from scientific inquiry, and therefore never in conflict
with it. Religion addresses the why of existence: questions of
purpose, value, and moral orientation. Science, on the other hand, investigates
the how of the universe. Religious faith is a personal commitment
that shapes the believer’s ethics as well as the sense of wonder that leads one
beyond one’s ego towards transcendence.
Lemaitre valued intellectual honesty,
humility before truth, and openness to mystery. They are essential for any
genuine religious person as well as a scientist. That’s where science and
religion may meet. That harmonious blend of science and religion within him was
what enabled Lemaitre to pray regularly, say Mass in his church, and also teach
science at the Catholic University of Leuven. To him, scientific wonder and
religious awe were not contradictory emotions: they were just two ways of
knowing the universe.
When Albert Einstein initially
dismissed Lemaitre’s scientific theory with the remark, “Your calculations are
correct, but your physics is abominable,” Lemaitre cycled through the
countryside with a few friends and retained his cool smile. Later, Einstein
corrected himself. “This is the most beautiful and satisfactory explanation of
creation I have ever heard,” Einstein had to admit.
Lemaitre was a quiet, modest, and
self-effacing character. He avoided publicity and disliked ideological
battles. He let ideas speak for
themselves. He knew truth didn’t require too many words or any eloquence. Truth
doesn’t require bombastic public orations. Truth shines more brightly in calm
words than in thunderous speeches. And truth is not the private property of anything:
neither science’s nor religion’s.
Illustration by Copilot Designer
I wonder how a person of Lemaitre's stature and honesty handled the conflicts that arose in his mind. A person who has the reasoning ability to propose a theory as scientifically advanced as the big bang and at the same time have faith in religion too must have surely faced a lot of conflict in his own mind. It is a measure of his intellectual honesty and clarity in thought that he was able to deal with this dichotomy.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the mysteries that haunt human nature, I think, Jai. You may love to read Hermann Hesse's novel Steppenwolf which deals with this theme quite hauntingly. Body vs Spirit. Harsh reality for all thinking humans.
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteHad Lematire been introduced to Advaita Vedanta, he would have recognised the substantiation of his argument! I have noticed that all the truly great minds reach this common conclusion - that there is room for both these things. To balance them with integrity - therein lies a true challenge. YAM xx
I have read scientists like Frityof Capra who used Advaita Vedanta quite effectively to explain this duality-nonduality. But I'm always amused and surprised why my own country people don't ever learn the meaning of advaita.
DeleteThanks for this piece. Honestly, I had not known that Lemaitre was a Catholic priest. Glad for his wisdom and balance, giving science and religion, their due place. And I bow before both the "arrogance", more than that, the humility of Einstein.
ReplyDeleteThe "arrogance" and humility of Einstein had caught my fancy too. Perhaps a paradoxical attribute of science.
DeleteThat pretty much sums up my philosophy. I'm surprised I hadn't heard of him before, but then again, this outlook has been around for a while.
ReplyDeleteYes, many scientists are able to achieve that harmony and synthesis. It's religious people who find that harmony difficult to achieve, I think.
DeleteScience and religion coexist. If one can accept that without any conflict, life is quite easy. Most problems arise because people choose one and the ignore the other.
ReplyDeleteA harmonious blend of the two may not be all that easy for many. I don't find it easy to accept religion. But I also don't question people's faith and beliefs as long as they don't interfere with public peace and harmony.
Delete