Religion, Science and Literature: An Integrated Vision of World Peace

Religion, being lamp of soul is one of the potent primordial instincts in human beings, finds expression in divergent ways in literature. Literature not only nurtures and promotes this religious instinct but simultaneously it also saves it from the dross of superstition and ostentation, consequently by adopting the process of purification and filtration it reflects its real nature. All literary bards of the East and the West in their literary compositions have reflected upon religion in their own way. The universe with its cosmic nature also reveals this religious feeling in a peculiar way as the divine postulate embedded within its structure. Refined and filtered religious feeling has its roots in rationality and scientific thinking; therefore, the great scientists, philosophers, poets, saints and seers also build a bridge between science and religion. Religious light comes from the innate divinity with positive, constructive and altruistic outlook to life which ultimately takes us to world peace with love and sympathy towards human and non-human world. Thus literature is the powerful expression of real religion with overt sentiments and covert reasoning and rationality, hence it may be instrumental to promote world peace, progress and happiness; consequently it may lead the world to bright and better future in 21st century. The present paper intends to surface the real nature of religion with scientific thinking embedded in the works of some eminent literary bards. The religious undercurrent in the sublime literary works reflecting true spirit of religion may pave a way to world’s unity, peace and fraternity.