Sciences as a religion.

[Frank Merton]

It happens. I tend to go into "fundamentalist mode" debating science; seen the work of some professionals, sound like they're in "fundamentalist mode," too.

Maybe that is the only mode a fundamentalist understands, but I doubt it.

Science is merely institutionalized and organized, systematic, inquiry using reasoning. It grows and develops as it discovers. One must respect what it does, but one does not worship it. One does not cover over its mistakes; one does not exaggerate its capabilities beyond its natural boundaries. In short, one remains objective and skeptical.

The mistake some religionists make is to forget that scientists are trained experts, and experts know more about their fields than do lay people. For the most part, then, we are wise to listen to them and take their word for things within their expertise.

 

[ellenjanuary]

I guess. I'm stuck in rural Cambodia with nothing available to me except the internet, and you can read the news on it only so many times. I want intelligent discussion, not argument. I realize the two are not much different, since discussion doesn't happen unless there are differences of opinion. Still, it really gets to me when it is obvious the person responding to what I post has completely misinterpreted what I say, making all sorts of unsupported assumptions about me.

Man, have you taken a wrong turn...

"Intelligent discussion" is an endangered species in any environment, but it a place called "religious debates?" I mean, it happens; and this is a pretty decent forum, but... you know, religious debate. Mostly, it is like the high grass; a bunch of tigers lurking, waiting for the careless prey. Which is somebody making an unsubstantiated claim. My take is that honest exploration of religious integrity has been suppressed for so long, people don't know how to react - so they act like a bunch of animals.

 

[unique75]

Science comes in many names, but only Electronics and Medical sciences are producing great wonders.

 

[Frank Merton]

Science comes in many names, but only Electronics and Medical sciences are producing great wonders.

I understand your point, and it is quite true as far as the examples people here have posted. Still, there are things other than life improvements that science has given us that makes our life richer. Astronomy, for example, has given us an understanding of the cosmos and where our planet came from. Paleontology has shown us the history of life on the earth. Physics has given us an understanding, both of space-time on a cosmic scale, and of the atom on a micro scale.

The argument about the merits of religion and science is really quite a silly one when you think about it, and seems to me mainly aimed at finding ways for people to vent their hatred of religion. Although I agree with the scientific perspective, I don't hate religion, and so don't see point.

 

[Revoltingest]

Science comes in many names, but only Electronics and Medical sciences are producing great wonders.

Hah! When you see a rocket fly into space, you're looking at mechanical engineering & many other fields.

 

[Sunstone]

Religions are based on beliefs. Science is based on beliefs

Perhaps, but the sciences and the various religions have very different sorts of beliefs. It is misleading to equate them, so far as I can see.

 

[gnostic]

I understand your point, and it is quite true as far as the examples people here have posted. Still, there are things other than life improvements that science has given us that makes our life richer. Astronomy, for example, has given us an understanding of the cosmos and where our planet came from. Paleontology has shown us the history of life on the earth. Physics has given us an understanding, both of space-time on a cosmic scale, and of the atom on a micro scale.

The argument about the merits of religion and science is really quite a silly one when you think about it, and seems to me mainly aimed at finding ways for people to vent their hatred of religion. Although I agree with the scientific perspective, I don't hate religion, and so don't see point.

Because with some people have their addled by religious belief or faith. People like creationists and intelligent design followers prefer ignorance or lies, to actual progress in scientific knowledge.

Why do these imbeciles single out evolution as being anti-religion? Why do they give misinformation about evolution?

Evolution is just biology, and it is a field that has nothing to do with the beginning of first life, but creationists ignorantly persist in using evolution.

Until they actually understand evolution, they are only making themselves look like fools when they want to debate on something that they don't understand.

Theology and religion should stay out of science, especially when they are trying to justify their creationism as science. It is shown they are not compatible.

 

[Sapiens]

I understand your point, and it is quite true as far as the examples people here have posted. Still, there are things other than life improvements that science has given us that makes our life richer. Astronomy, for example, has given us an understanding of the cosmos and where our planet came from. Paleontology has shown us the history of life on the earth. Physics has given us an understanding, both of space-time on a cosmic scale, and of the atom on a micro scale.

All true.

The argument about the merits of religion and science is really quite a silly one when you think about it, and seems to me mainly aimed at finding ways for people to vent their hatred of religion. Although I agree with the scientific perspective, I don't hate religion, and so don't see point.

I don't know what makes you think anyone "hates religion" but that is the standard phrase that religionists use to describe anyone who lives free of their tithes and shackles. What is, however, roundly disliked is the ignorance or much religion and the intellectual straight jacket that it would have everyone wear.

 

[gnostic]

The argument about the merits of religion and science is really quite a silly one when you think about it, and seems to me mainly aimed at finding ways for people to vent their hatred of religion. Although I agree with the scientific perspective, I don't hate religion, and so don't see point.

I don't know what makes you think anyone "hates religion" but that is the standard phrase that religionists use to describe anyone who lives free of their tithes and shackles. What is, however, roundly disliked is the ignorance or much religion and the intellectual straight jacket that it would have everyone wear.

I dislike listening and reading ignorance from certain religious groups, especially when they attempt at debating about science, without first understanding actually science. They talk of evolution, theory, fact and proof without actually understanding what they mean. But what I really hate is when they attempt to distort or to use misinformation about certain theory, which is basically "lying".

Some may think I am against the bible, but that's not true.

I like a good story and good storytelling, even though I may not believe what I read to be true, historically or scientifically.

After all I do enjoy reading myths and legends, folklore and fairytales. To me, it does matter if it didn't happen.

I have explored Greek, Roman, Celtic, Norse, Egyptian, Sumerian/Babylonian, Ugaritic myths.

I do enjoy reading stories from the Bible, including the Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Samson, David and Jesus, but I just don't treat them as historical. Jesus may have been historical person, but I think NT authors may have distorted his life.

To me, the most important parts, if they tell good stories. Secondarily, understanding the meaning of stories/myths/fables, is important.

Belief in the stories would be the least important to me. And believing in god is rated even lower than that. Reading the bible, is those characters (Adam, Noah, Abraham, etc) are the most interesting; God, angels and Satan are not as interesting, nor very important to me.

When I was teenager, I thought it was real, but the last 15 or so years, I have to come recognize that the bible shouldn't be read literally, or taken the stories as historical or scientific records.

So I draw line between science/reality and religion/scriptures/supernatural.

 

[suncowiam]

Hah! When you see a rocket fly into space, you're looking at mechanical engineering & many other fields.

When you see your toilet flush, isn't that also mechanical engineering?

Can't forget the essentials. =)

 

[Revoltingest]

When you see your toilet flush, isn't that also mechanical engineering?
Can't forget the essentials. =)

Toilets......evidence of an advanced civilization!