The Problem with Science as a Substitute

[sandmanz32]

Any empire that has ever used religion as a power base has been eventually defeated and overthrown, including Catholic Rome.

I think that is the 1st intelligent thing you have said regarding this issue. Now, think about that statement, and the situation us americans are in.

 

[Teamcasa]

On the spiritual side, I don’t have to reject one to embrace the other. I just recognize that the long held religious answers the nature’s mysteries were recorded before modern science began to provide us with some of the answers.

So what do you do? Do you view them as mythology that conveys a moral or spiratual message? How do you deal with the fundamentalists who want to teach our childern such mythology and at the same time call it science?

The problem many fundamentalists have is they fail to value the message being taught and instead favor the specifics. Fundamentalists feel they have to reject anything that chips away at their faith because the faith is based on their understanding and trust in a book and/or the teachings of a minister/priest/holy man or whatever. My faith and spirituality is based on my own understanding of who God is to me. A simple look into space, a microscope, forest or the sea below just reinforces my faith.

What I have done and continue to do is teach the truth. The truth as I understand it. Where science explains many things in physics, chemistry and biology, it still falls short in other areas. Many of these will someday be understood and some are destined to remain a mystery. The truth is what it is and I don’t make it up as I go. I and my (now adult) children, know the difference.

Unfortunately scientists and the religious will many times resort to ridicule and name calling when they reach the limit of their own understanding.

No ... when the religionists reach the limit of their understanding and then try to tell the scientists that they know "THE TRUTH" what can we do but tell them that they're full of horse pucky.

I see my point was not lost on you.

 

[moshiach]

An agnostic, dyslexic insomniac stayed up all night wondering if there is a dog.

 

[Thalassamania]

We covered that one in the last thread many moons ago.

 

[moshiach]

But you don't seem to have learned. You keep using words that do not stand for any clearly defined notions (never mind personal attacks and intentional misunderstandings).

 

[Thalassamania]

But you don't seem to have learned. You keep using words that do not stand for any clearly defined notions (never mind personal attacks and intentional misunderstandings).

Such as?

 

[moshiach]

"God", "spirituality" etc.
And, with all due respect, I fail to see how your proven ability to reproduce and educate (brainwash?) your offspring contribute to your qualifications to have a discussion, less so make a point.

 

[Thalassamania]

God is irrelevant except to those interested in ancient myths (or who still believe ancient myths) and the last time I heard the word spirituality used, some fool was trying to talk to the dead.

If you doubt my qualifications for this discussion, just stick around, we'll take it easy on the greenhorn.

 

[AXL72]

"God", "spirituality" etc.
And, with all due respect, I fail to see how your proven ability to reproduce and educate (brainwash?) your offspring contribute to your qualifications to have a discussion, less so make a point.

I think you are wrong with that.

Not all atheists tell or teach their children that there is no God.

That would like telling them there is no Santa.

Come on now. There are atheists that raise smart children, who eventually decide for themselves. Do you have children? Are they grown? Did you ever tell them there is no Santa? or did they figure it out on their own?

 

[Thalassamania]

I think you are wrong with that.

I know that he's wrong about almost everything, as they say ... hell hath no fury as an unwarranted assumption.

Not all atheists tell or teach their children that there is no God.

I for one did not. Brainwashing creates a vacuum that will be filled later in life by some disfunctional nonsense. I made damn sure that he had (and continues to have) a broad suite of "religious experience." That assures that he sees first hand the similarities and differences between the various belief systems and in time, with exposure to many, and blind allegiance to none, is vaccinated against them because he comes to see them (much as I did through a similar broad exposure) as a collection of very similar mythologies with one no more correct than another and all equally absurd and egotistical.

That would like telling them there is no Santa.

I think he still believes in Santa (or at least pretends to), but then that's in his own best interest.