For many people, science is the only valid means of describing our world. And for many people, science has no validity in describing our world. Both are extreme views, and just like any other viewpoint, neither is right, and neither is wrong. Somewhere in the middle lies the common ground and truth.

Fundamentalists of established religions have fought science for hundreds of years. We know that Galileo was imprisoned as a heretic for suggesting that the earth revolved around the sun, and Darwin's On the Origin of Species and all of the science that followed it has been loudly rejected by many over the years. None of this is new, but now we are seeing a backlash against scientific medicine, not just by members of established religions, but by spiritualists of all stripes. Paradoxically, being anti-science has become a mainstream pursuit in a time when technological breakthroughs happen almost daily.

On the other side, it's true that science can be a religion in itself, and it does not solve all problems. It is a noble thing to seek to understand ourselves and our world, but one cannot ignore the spiritual component entirely. Physical evolution happens all the time; viruses and bacteria mutate daily, and we see evidence that all life does this. On the other hand, what we observe to happen does not mean that there is no Spirit involved in the process.

When science rejects all spirituality outright, we are missing a tremendous part of the big picture. True, we can't measure spirit, and this is a problem for scientists. But we can observe its effects, and we do, particularly in the enigmatic, non-rational world of quantum physics. Likewise, the spiritually inclined reject science at their peril, because much good has come of it. When Dr. Jonas Salk developed the polio vaccine, parents would literally walk up to him on the street and thank him. Polio rarely kills, but it can disable for life. Today we enjoy a carefree attitude toward diseases and illnesses that used to strike fear into the hearts of many, and we have western medicine to thank for it.

Of course, western medicine is not the only healing modality. Energy healing, acupuncture, herbology, naturopathy, and countless other methods are needed and valid, and they often don't get the respect they deserve from science. On the other hand, when a person has an infection, the safest course it to get a prescription for antibiotics. All healing modalities can and should work together. Rejecting one is the same thing as rejecting a tool in God's toolbox. We have the knowledge to help, so we should use it.

It is important for us to discern what is helpful, however. As the Wiccan rede states, "An it harm none, do what thou wilt." This should be applied in all things. Can science be harmful? Of course. Nuclear weapons and war machines do nothing constructive for the human race. Creating grains or vegetables with seeds that will not reproduce themselves is also highly questionable. And in the case of polluting technologies, the bad clearly outweighs any good that comes of it. But safe drinking water, green technologies, sustainable food production, and medical care are among the many wonderful things that science has done and that we take for granted. And certainly, who can find anything objectionable about the breathtaking photos from the Hubble space telescope? We are a curious species, and we want to know things. Science plays an important role.

Certainly, spirituality is also vital to our well being. We are spiritual beings having a human experience. We need to nourish our spirit. But spirituality can also be harmful if it involves giving your personal power away to something—or someone—else. Spiritual abuse is a real phenomenon, and it isn't restricted to cults. If you are told what to believe or what is "right," and your thoughts and ideas are not treated with respect, then you probably need to find a more nourishing environment. When it comes to matters of the soul, you are the authority figure. What rings true for you is what matters, because every path is unique.

The bottom line is that we shouldn't reject anything out of hand from science or spirituality. But we should use our powers of discernment to choose the things that serve the higher good or that exalt our spirits. We should make choices from a place of love instead of fear. There is no either/or when it comes to science and spirituality. In fact, one day there will probably be no difference between them at all. Science will be spirituality, and spirituality will be science.

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• We have two choices:  love and fear
• Who is right?