RE: MD On Faith

From: Scott Roberts (jse885@earthlink.net)
Date: Mon Oct 11 2004 - 22:46:00 BST

  • Next message: Platt Holden: "RE: MD On Faith"

    Chuck et al,

    The only problem with this and with the Dawkins quote is that there is the
    implication -- especially with Dawkins -- that science is a substitute for
    religion. It can't be. Science can only deal with the measurable and
    repeatable, and there is more to life than that. That doesn't mean that
    religion is the only thing that can deal with the unmeasurable and the
    unique, but to compare science to religion is -- since the 17th century,
    anyway -- meaningless.

    - Scott

    > [Original Message]
    > From: Chuck Roghair <ctr@pacificpartssales.com>
    > To: <moq_discuss@moq.org>
    > Date: 10/11/2004 3:25:04 PM
    > Subject: RE: MD On Faith
    >
    > Hello:
    >
    > I ran across this this morning while reading LILA.
    >
    > >From Chapter 17, pg. 254-255:
    >
    > "It's ironic that although the philosophy of science leaves no room for
    any
    > undefined Dynamic activity, it's science's unique organization for the
    > handling of the Dynamic that gives it its superiority. Science supercedes
    > old religious forms, not because what it says is more true in any absolute
    > sense (whatever that is), but because what it says is more Dynamic.
    >
    > If scientists had simply said Copernicus was right and Ptolemy was wrong
    > without any willingness to further investigate the subject, then science
    > would have simply become another religious creed. But Scientific truth
    has
    > always contained an overwhelming difference from theological truth: it is
    > provisional. Science always contains an eraser, a mechanism whereby new
    > Dynamic insight could wipe out old static patterns without destroying
    > science itself. Thus science, unlike orthodox theology, has been capable
    of
    > continuous, evolutionary growth. As Phaedrus had written on one of his
    > slips, "The pencil is mightier than the pen."
    >
    > Seemed pertinent to the conversation.
    >
    > Best regards,
    >
    > Chuck
    >
    >
    > -----Original Message-----
    > From: owner-moq_discuss@venus.co.uk [mailto:owner-moq_discuss@venus.co.uk]
    > On Behalf Of Mark Steven Heyman
    > Sent: Monday, October 11, 2004 6:31 AM
    > To: moq_discuss@moq.org
    > Subject: RE: MD On Faith
    >
    > Hi all,
    >
    > You may remember a while back that DMB and I were trying to convince
    > someone (Ian, I think) that bad logic can be very dangerous in the
    > real world. Take a look at the following line of reasoning:
    >
    > "Dawkins supports a belief system which denies the existence of God.
    > Communism and humanism are belief systems that also deny the
    > existence of God. Godless belief systems have slaughtered millions to
    > impose their belief systems on others. ... That's why I objected to
    > Dawkins' sanctimonious support of his pagan belief system."
    >
    > msh says:
    > Now, imagine a world in which people who reason in this way actually
    > have political and military power.
    >
    > Actually, sadly, it's not hard to imagine...
    >
    > Best,
    > msh
    > --
    > InfoPro Consulting - The Professional Information Processors
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    >
    > "Thought is only a flash between two long nights, but this flash is
    > everything." -- Henri Poincare'
    >
    >
    >
    >
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