These are instructions for how to be religious without being a science moron.  To be fair the market for these instructions is apt to be minuscule.  I am not therefore seeking any trademark.

Instructions:

1) Think about the core mystery of your religion.  (Okay, I'll break "think about" down for you; I realize you may be a little out of shape.)  Whatever it is that you think of as supernatural, consider how it is that anyone ever found out about that stuff.  I mean all of the priest class agrees you can't detect it with an instrument of science nowadays.  The usual story is that the mystery itself reached out to some ancient scribe, possessed his body and wrote out everything He/they/it wanted known about itself .. and then went back into hiding.  At this point you have to decide whether your faith is in the core mystery of your religion or the claims of some ancient scribes.  If it's in the latter, you're doing faith wrong.  Try again.

2) Okay, if you got past step one you now realize that faith requires open ended-ness.  You can't dictate the details of God's nature or intentions.  If you're feeling a little insecure and humbled, you're actually on the right path now.  Keep it up.

3) Next step, think about the nature of science.  It is not a body of facts.  It is a method of empirical investigation, the observational facts and theories which arise are always subject to reinterpretation.  But the beauty is in the openness of process and how readily one can assess the soundness of the experiments proposed to test the hypotheses.  You can trust science-the-method to investigate the nature of the empirical world more than any other method ever proposed.  In the absence of an authoritative alternative, scientific theory represents the best operating hypotheses for what's out there.  Embrace it, it won't bite - and cannot conflict with your religious faith if done correctly.

You may now walk in faith regarding the central mysteries of who and what we are and any purposes you feel accrues to that, keeping in mind that little ole' you do not control the nature of that mystery; presumably the actual state of affairs is vice versa.  But by picking up and embracing the mantle of science you need not go blindly into the (empirical) world.  Rather you may stride confidently knowing you enjoy the fruits of a long history of careful investigation, which at its core is just as humble and open as you're now trying to be.  That's it.  Carry on.

I've met theists that fit that description. I was one, prior to the last vestiges of my faith evaporating in a puff of logic.

Oh, man, your vorlon is NOT going to give the religious a pass to commit vile heresy !!!

(May 1, 2017 at 12:29 pm)vorlon13 Wrote: Oh, man, your vorlon is NOT going to give the religious a pass to commit vile heresy !!!

But I thought that was your favorite way to do it.

Many kudos for that well thought out and beautifully written post, Whateverist.

My mom falls into this kind of thinking. She rejects most organized religious teachings now and just thinks about the core mysteries of life in conjunction with God. She is very pro science and loves learning about new scientific discoveries.

(May 1, 2017 at 2:01 pm)Aroura Wrote: Many kudos for that well thought out and beautifully written post, Whateverist.

My mom falls into this kind of thinking. She rejects most organized religious teachings now and just thinks about the core mysteries of life in conjunction with God. She is very pro science and loves learning about new scientific discoveries.

Eeek !!!



but now she is in danger from the pious for apostasy !!!

Quote:Whateverist Wrote:
 At this point you have to decide whether your faith is in the core mystery of your religion or the claims of some ancient scribes.  If it's in the latter, you're doing faith wrong.

First, I like your post and it would be awesome if more people could read something like that and understand why their faith in ancient (and not so ancient) writings or people is misplaced. But let's face it, thinking is hard work. Philosophy especially requires a great amount of introspection so why bother with all that when whatever religion your family handed down to you has a bunch of pre packaged answers.

That reminds me. I just saw a pre peeled orange in a plastic container at an organic food store. Convenient to the point of stupidity.

"Why science and religious fatih need not be in conflict: It's as easy as 1-2-3!"

I'm surprised no on has thus far given the correct answer of -7.

I was thinking a-b-c!

(May 1, 2017 at 2:23 pm)Crunchy Wrote:

Quote:Whateverist Wrote:
 At this point you have to decide whether your faith is in the core mystery of your religion or the claims of some ancient scribes.  If it's in the latter, you're doing faith wrong.

First, I like your post and it would be awesome if more people could read something like that and understand why their faith in ancient (and not so ancient) writings or people is misplaced. But let's face it, thinking is hard work. Philosophy especially requires a great amount of introspection so why bother with all that when whatever religion your family handed down to you has a bunch of pre packaged answers.

That reminds me. I just saw a pre peeled orange in a plastic container at an organic food store. Convenient to the point of stupidity.

I feel like you are suggesting that any effort to make the thinking easier for those who can not 'taste' what they are already thinking is probably pointless.  I don't disagree but sometimes I'm tempted to interject something between the la-la-la's even if they do have their fingers in their ears.

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(May 1, 2017 at 2:43 pm)Lutrinae Wrote: I was thinking a-b-c!

Extra credit for going algebraic.