BELLARY, NOV. 30: “School children should imbibe scientific temper by thinking rationally, respecting laws of nature and avoiding all sorts of superstitions”, declared Bishop of Bellary Henry D’Souza.
Bishop D’Souza was inaugurating an Arts and Science Exhibition organized by a local Catholic school – St. Joseph’s Boys’ School, on Nov. 25 at Bellary.
“True science is not opposed to religion. Religious faith and scientific spirit are not contradictory. Science deals with what can be experimented upon and verified; religious faith provides meaning to life and life after”, affirmed Bishop D’Souza.
“Both science and faith are complimentary to each other. As it has been stated, religion without science is blind and science without religion is lame,” reminded Bishop.
“Superstitious beliefs and blind practices are galore in the Indian society. Illiteracy makes the situation worse. The poor, widows, women and children become the worst victims of superstitious practices. True scientific spirit can make a difference in such a situation, opined Bishop D’Souza.
“Some of the obscurantists and religious fanatics spread superstitious beliefs and make people live in perennial fear and uncertainty. School should enable students to counteract such tendencies through right beliefs and scientific spirit”, urged Bishop.
“God is the source of all knowledge and order. In God there is neither ignorance nor chaos or irrationality. All scientific order is God ordained. Hence, all humans have to respect the same and benefit from it”, added Bishop D’Souza.
Over 12,000 students from the city schools saw the exhibition and benefited from it. Some of the booths depicting solar system, Egyptian mummies and social forestry were much appreciated.
Principal of the school, Fr. Ivan Pinto led the team which managed the three-day exhibition effectively.
The Shrine of Bellary Arogya Mathe was blessed and dedicated on 8th September 2000 on the feast of the Nativity of our Blessed Mother Mary in memory of the great jubilee 2000 and the Golden Jubilee of the Diocese of Bellary