Science, Law & Religion - Commonality

In Science, an empirical view is adopted based only on sensory observation & logic. In Law also, only eye-witness & other evidence is allowed, disregarding heresy & opinions.

Thomas Paine, in his "The Age of Reason" also argued that much of the Bible is believed based on heresy & hence (legally) not acceptable. He extended it to all organised religions. Swami Vivekananda also argued that the same criteria used in science should be applied to religion to test & accept it. Whenever his guru, Sri Ramakrishna told any thing, Swami Vivekananda (then known as Naren), would ask "Where is the evidence?" & accept his teachings only after satisfying himself of their rationality.

So even in matters of religion, if one is lucky to be contemporary of an enlightened soul & has access to him/her, it is better to examine them first hand & then accept their teachings only if they meet the criteria of Science & Law, rather than blindly believe in the Scriptures & Rituals. The phrase "Unbeliever", instead of being a derogatory term, can be viewed as a desirable term for any progress in the spiritual path.