Sense Of Wonder

[Storm]

Two things occur to me:

- I think this points to something else being the cause of loss of wonder.

- I think that some people mentally tie together wonder and mystery. Science certainly does "rob" us of mystery, but I don't think this has to mean "robbing" us of wonder as well.

There's a thought.

 

[Storm]

I don't think all "marvelous" things that we could behold, are enjoyable like a rainbow or an eclipse though. If we are to be consistent in our use of the word miracle to describe anything which instills in us a sense of awe, we must call the efficiency with which a virus replicates in and ravages a human body "miraculous" as well.

I disagree. We can ditch "miraculous," if you like, but "marvelous" has definite positive connotations.

 

[jrbogie]

OK, I followed you up to here (and that is the point, yes), but you lost me after this.



Could you rephrase this please?

hmmm. you want me to rephrase four sentences? which one threw you?

 

[Magic Man]

hmmm. you want me to rephrase four sentences? which one threw you?

All four.

 

[invisible chzbrgr]

I disagree. We can ditch "miraculous," if you like, but "marvelous" has definite positive connotations.

I apologize, I feel like the universe-design threads I've posted in sort of melted over into this one; so I've confused myself!

People describing how "perfect" the natural laws are to accommodate our existence; the "perfectly" created sun and moon just the right size for eclipses we can enjoy, etc... forgetting that a parasite is also "perfectly" created to ravage a human body (or animal or plant or ocean body). If you accept that one is designed for us to wonder at, then the other must be as well.

Sorry if I went conflating and derailing a little bit!

I do still like rainbows :rainbow:

 

[painted wolf]

Does God-belief nurture a sense of wonder? Does science rob us of it?

I would say no on both counts.

I've met people who believe in God and have no sense of wonder.
Learning and practicing Science has provided me with more wonder than I ever got sitting in a church or following any religious practice.

wa:do

 

[j76]

Science gives us a sense of wonderbread

 

[CarlinKnew]

Does God-belief nurture a sense of wonder?

No, the reverse is true. A sense of wonder inspires belief in a god. When we feel amazement, our natural reaction is to look for an explanation. It's in our DNA; we're pattern-seeking animals. When we see a magic trick, a typical response is, "Wow... how did he do that?" The complexity of the universe is like a magic trick. The sense of wonder demands an explanation, so some conclude that it must be God.

Does science rob us of it?

Partially, yes. When we find the real explanation to the magic trick, the sense of wonder is lost. The reason that believers still feel a sense of wonder after they've concluded that God is the explanation, is because it's not a real explanation: it leaves questions open. All it does is redirect the sense of wonder from the complexity of the universe onto the complexity of God.

The good news, for those who enjoy feeling a sense of wonder, is that humanity will never have all the answers.

 

[logician]

A "miracle" is just a happening that has no current explanation(by the paticipants in said event). That does not mean there isn't one, or that one is not forthcoming.

 

[Storm]

No, the reverse is true. A sense of wonder inspires belief in a god. When we feel amazement, our natural reaction is to look for an explanation. It's in our DNA; we're pattern-seeking animals. When we see a magic trick, a typical response is, "Wow... how did he do that?" The complexity of the universe is like a magic trick. The sense of wonder demands an explanation, so some conclude that it must be God.

Interesting perspective, thank you for sharing.

Partially, yes. When we find the real explanation to the magic trick, the sense of wonder is lost. The reason that believers still feel a sense of wonder after they've concluded that God is the explanation, is because it's not a real explanation: it leaves questions open. All it does is redirect the sense of wonder from the complexity of the universe onto the complexity of God.

I think you're the first person to say this (with the caveat that my memory SUCKS). Does that mean that you lack that sense of wonder? If so, do you miss it? If not, how do you nurture it?

The good news, for those who enjoy feeling a sense of wonder, is that humanity will never have all the answers.

True!

 

[Storm]

A "miracle" is just a happening that has no current explanation(by the paticipants in said event). That does not mean there isn't one, or that one is not forthcoming.

One of my favorite quotes, from Joan Of Arcadia: "Miracles happen within the rlues." ~ God

 

[gnostic]

Does God-belief nurture a sense of wonder?

er...no.

Mostly a sense of disbelief.

I'm sounding more and more like an atheist.

Does science rob us of it?

No, again.

I think that it is wondrous that how much we have learned and understand, through science. And much more we could learn in the future.

I don't believe in miracle, when used in the religious sense.

When I looked at the image of nebula, from the Hubble Space Telescope, I don't think of God creating this; hence I don't see it being a miracle. I only see how wondrous the working of nature. There are no evidence that God or any spiritual being having anything to do with it.

 

[Storm]

er...no.

Mostly a sense of disbelief.

I'm sounding more and more like an atheist.

God-belief nurtures a sense of disbelief? That can't be right....

 

[gnostic]

I have a disbelief in the so-called "miracle" of certain faiths.

There no evidence of so-called God's miracle. So I don't have a sense of wonder in these "miracles".

 

[Storm]

Gnostic, I think you may have answered the wrong question. It's not whether the stories of miraculous deeds trigger your sense of wonder, but whether anything does.

 

[monta]

Science holds me personaly in a state of wonder, it does nothing but amaze me, whether it is describing the haploid then diploid state of emiliana huxleyi or searching for organic compounds in space, or even just a slightly magnified insect, it is a fountain of wonder and joy.

On a level with science is people who are interested in something, I will listen to a devotee of lightbulbs talk about them any day of the week rather than a jaded person talk about any topic that I am interested in.

 

[Kay]

From another thread:

Does God-belief nurture a sense of wonder? Does science rob us of it?

I can only speak for myself, but "Yes" and "No."

My belief that there is something much greater than what I can perceive (infintely so) - that I call God - definitely generates a sense of wonder. Science does not rob me of that wonder. It nurtures it deeply.

 

[Storm]

Right there with ya.

 

[challupa]

I can only speak for myself, but "Yes" and "No."

My belief that there is something much greater than what I can perceive (infintely so) - that I call God - definitely generates a sense of wonder. Science does not rob me of that wonder. It nurtures it deeply.

I'd have to say I pretty much agree with this. The only thing I might say different is that I don't know if it can be explained by a God. Having said that, I am always amazed by what science has learned and awed by what we still don't understand. It creates a sense of excitement and anticipation for me to think of all the things we are still discovering. I also am really glad that we don't know everything because the learning about new things keeps me in a state of amazement. Cudos to the scientists out there that just keep on finding new things and writing about them so I can read them and be constantly amazed at the wonder of the human mind. We really are amazing creatures, exploring our universe, and that inspires me. If there is a God behind all of this, okay. I just don't know that there is. If there is then I am in awe of a being that can create such an amazing playground for us to explore!

 

[gnostic]

Gnostic, I think you may have answered the wrong question. It's not whether the stories of miraculous deeds trigger your sense of wonder, but whether anything does.

Then I would have to say that all my sense of wonder, are not attributable to god.