Abstract

The principle of the unity of science and religion is one of the foundational teachings of the Bahá’í Faith. It was first articulated by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá during His travels in Europe and North America between 1911 and 1913, where He proclaimed to audiences in the cultural and economic capitals of the West that both science and religion are vital, necessary, and indeed spiritual endeavours in humanity’s collective evolution towards the realization of its highest potential. While not explicitly stated in the writings of the Báb or Bahá’u’lláh, the principle of the harmony of science and religion is a direct consequence of their teachings on the nature of reality, such as ineffability, metaphor, and epistemic humility; the intelligibility of the universe and the elevation of rational thought; emanation and degrees of being; necessary relationships; and the relativity of religious truth.