Subject:
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Re: Critical Thinking
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Mon, 4 Dec 2000 22:04:57 GMT
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Viewed:
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683 times
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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, John Neal writes:
> Dave Schuler wrote:
> > In lugnet.off-topic.debate, John Neal writes:
> >
> > > Hey Dave!-- I just thought of a question to which I would like to hear your
> > > response: What do you think about scientists who believe in God? Does
> > > believing in something unprovable put into question their worthiness as
> > > scientists? Or is there some sort of "out" from adherence to the
> > > scientific method with respect to religion?
> >
> > Lar was already kind enough to answer before I had a chance to respond,
> > and he summed it up pretty nicely for me (thanks, Lar!) I'll elaborate just
> > so I'm not guilty of a "me too" post.
> > Many scientists certainly do believe in a god or ultimate something-
> > or-other, even if it doesn't adhere strictly to Christian, Hindu, or Animist
> > principles. Two of the most famous quotes by Einstein himself are, to
> > paraphrase (at the risk of slightly misquoting):
> >
> > "I want to know God's thoughts--the rest are details."
> > "I refuse to believe that God plays dice with the Universe."
> >
> > Interestingly, Hawking has countered this latter quote (which was an
> > expression of distaste for uncertainty) by stating that God not only *does*
> > play dice with the Universe; he plays them at every moment for every event.
> > In addition, Hawking has declared outright that his work is not intended to
> > disprove God's existence, and in fact he alludes to "God" being revealed
> > through the equations of physics.
> > I would say, therefore, that science and religion are not mutually
> > exclusive, in that one can pursue actual science with vigor while
> > maintaining devout Faith in God. I would further qualify that statement by
> > saying that science and religion do not fit in one another's realm; the way
> > science seeks to explain things is not the way religion does, and vice
> > versa.
>
> Then WHY do atheists and agnostics try and hold religion up to the scientific
> method? Seems to me you can't have your cosmic cake and eat it too. Anyone
> stating that they need some sort of proof or evidence that God exists is
> inconsistent, when we all agree that that is *by definition* not possible.
I DON'T - Don't let him force you in to his inconsistant "proof" requirements.
See 7864...
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: Critical Thinking
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| (...) Then WHY do atheists and agnostics try and hold religion up to the scientific method? Seems to me you can't have your cosmic cake and eat it too. Anyone stating that they need some sort of proof or evidence that God exists is inconsistent, (...) (24 years ago, 2-Dec-00, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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