(April 16, 2013 at 4:13 pm)CleanShavenJesus Wrote:(April 16, 2013 at 4:00 pm)DeistPaladin Wrote: If it is a legitimate question, then for the record, I'd also like to express a "belief" in the theory of gravity, germ theory and atomic theory.
To be fair, isn't gravity a law?
This equation here:
F = G M1.M2/r^2
Is the law of Universal gravitation, as devised by Newton.... of course he didn't use equations, he just wrote the equation in words.
It's a nice, and simple equation. It has been superseeded by General relativity, but it's still a very good approximation of the observed effect that the phenomenon of gravity can have between two bodies of mass M1 and M2 at a distance r.
Gravity itself is a force. This force is mathematically described by the law of gravitation and that's why we get a F in the equation.
So, where does belief enter this construct?... this law?
We all feel gravity.... unless you were born in outer space and spent your whole life there, then you have first hand experience of gravitational force.
Observation of the movements of astral bodies, namely our closest, moon, planets and sun fit all too well with this law. Actually, the law arises when a guy takes all the available data and tries to fit an equation to it... this guy tries a lot of different equations until one fits quite nicely.
Other people check the results and, if they pass the test, the equation is approved and can be used in other situations, providing a reliable outcome.
Where is belief?
