Welcome to the Science Section: Studying the World, Understanding the Creator
“Science takes things apart to see how they work. Religion puts things together to see what they mean.” — Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, “The Great Partnership: God, Science, and the Search for Meaning.”
Science is how humans describe the world. We examine and inspect every aspect of the cosmos and try to understand it. Religion differs from science in this regard. It offers meaning and philosophy about the world. Science and religion appear to be completely unrelated. However, there may be a way to view both as two strands that make up something greater, leading to a more fundamental and deeper understanding of our world.
There are many approaches to the connection between science and religion. Maimonides’ understanding is particularly noteworthy. He begins his primary work, the Mishneh Torah, with hilchot yesodei hatorah, the laws of the foundation of the Torah. In this section, Maimonides discusses the topics that he believes are fundamental to the study, observance and understanding of the Torah. Many of the ideas discussed in this section can be considered prerequisites to other topics in Judaism. Maimonides begins by listing many of Judaism’s core beliefs, including that there is only one G-d and that G-d both created the world and is constantly involved in it.
After these foundational ideas, Maimonides continues by identifying the commandments of loving and fearing G-d. The natural question of how these very abstract commandments can be achieved is Maimonides’ first query. He responds that one can fulfill these commandments through the study of G-d’s world: “What is the path [to attain] love and fear of Him? When a person contemplates His wondrous and great deeds and creations and appreciates His infinite wisdom that surpasses all comparison, he will immediately love, praise, and glorify [Him], yearning with tremendous desire to know [G-d’s] great name” (Maimonides, Laws of the Foundation of the Torah, chapter 2, law 2).
In Maimonides’ view, the study of the world will lead to a greater understanding of G-d and His actions in this world, leading to a stronger desire to understand and connect with G-d. Finally, it will make people understand the lowliness of humanity compared to the greatness of G-d.
This study of the world as described by Maimonides can also be called the study of science. Modern-day science differs from that of Maimonides’ time, yet its importance and relevance have stayed the same. Studying the sciences remains the mechanism for humans to understand the origins and the workings of our world. This comprehension allows us to acknowledge the splendor of G-d’s creations and His greatness, while concurrently leading to a deeper appreciation of the wondrous world that He created. It’s for these reasons, according to Maimonides, that the study of science is important for the Jewish people.
Today, Yeshiva University maintains its position as the flagship Jewish university. Its values are guided by Torah and Judaism, and it offers strong programs in the sciences. At the same time, YU’s scientific academic programs are guided by the same Torah ideals, with the goal of better comprehending our world and getting closer to G-d. The role science plays in Judaism is why Yeshiva University needs academic programs in the sciences and why its student body needs an understanding of current, modern scientific research.
This is the goal of our new science section: to educate The Commentator’s readers about cutting-edge developments in today’s world of science, and to better understand G-d and the world He created.
With that, I would like to welcome you all to The Commentator’s newest section — the science section! I hope this section grows and develops throughout the upcoming academic year and beyond!
Photo Caption: Model of the atom
Photo Credit: Unsplash
