Another point which I would like to discuss with you is that knowledge is beneficial for humanity only when it is accompanied by religion and morality. You should know for certain that although knowledge may make great progress, it will not be beneficial for humanity if it stays away from morality and religion. Those people who say that they want knowledge for improving the conditions of human beings should pay attention to this point. You may have seen clear examples in this regard and I do not want to expand on these examples such as the fact that those who made progress in chemistry built chemical bombs and weapons of mass destruction and those who made progress in nuclear sciences built atomic bombs and slaughtered people throughout the world in a disastrous way. These are clear examples.
Take a look at other peoples. Take the case of an advanced people who stand at the peak of scientific progress in the world. See if these people have truly achieved happiness. Is there any justice in this country? Have poverty, discrimination and injustice been eliminated in this country? As they claim, do the people live in peace and without any violence and transgression? Although knowledge prevails in such countries, these facts can be seen as well. Does a sense of trust and tranquility dominate families in such countries? Are children brought up in the arms of their parents and are they filled with human emotions? Is there not any murder, crime and wrongdoing in these countries? As you can see, the situation is quite the opposite.
Today, there is the most insecurity in the country - that is to say, America - which has achieved the highest scientific rank. No country in the world - neither in Europe nor Asia - is as insecure as America. There is the most psychological insecurity in America. It has the highest crime and murder rate and it has the highest level of violence. And such crimes are committed by civilians themselves. It has the highest level of discrimination and class inequalities. The wealth of a number of people in this country can be likened to the height of the Himalaya Mountains and a number of people are so poor that it cannot be described in words. They die of hunger in the real sense of the word. Class differences are like this in America.
The most important ideals of humanity are these. From the beginning of history until today, these ideals have not undergone any change despite the changes that have occurred in the world. The important ideals of humanity are justice, security, living comfortably with other people, being safe from others' harm - paradise is any place where there is no harm - feeling psychological tranquility, feeling comfortable in the family, enjoying one's family life and the presence of one's children, and enjoying the arms of one's parents. These are the most basic needs of human beings. These are the things which human beings have wanted from the beginning until today. They wanted these things in the past and they want them today as well.
These ideals do not at all exist in a society which is the most advanced in terms of scientific progress. Notice that if knowledge is not accompanied by faith and morality and if they do not move forward shoulder to shoulder, it will lead to such results. If a scholar is religious, society will gain a real benefit from his knowledge. Not only does religion not prevent knowledge from making progress, but it also helps it to achieve progress. However, it prevents knowledge from overstepping human boundaries.
Leader's Speech in Meeting with Outstanding Youth; Sep 16, 2006
