RE: Science and Religion cannot overlap.
August 11, 2014 at 11:36 am
(This post was last modified: August 11, 2014 at 11:41 am by ManMachine.)
(August 11, 2014 at 11:06 am)Ryantology (╯°◊°)╯︵ ══╬ Wrote: The issue of a god's existence is a not a purely philosophical question or abstract concept when that assertion naturally follows with the assertion is that everything is that being's creation. It's a question with real, physical implications.
"God did it" is not a valid answer to the scientific question "how did the universe come to exist". It can't be falsified, and as such, it is an answer with no explanatory value.
As far as scientific enquiry is concerned, I agree. But I'm not aware any religious person ever stating god was the answer to any scientific enquiry. God has been presented often as an alternative, but that's a different debate.
MM
(August 11, 2014 at 11:29 am)Michael Wrote:(August 11, 2014 at 11:18 am)Rhythm Wrote: Yes, it is, and very poorly so. Human beings really aren't all that good at imagining non-falsifiable things, or things which cannot be investigated (if not currently, than in-principle). We have no experience with that sort of thing, and so our lack of ability in this regard is understandable. I would add that it;s really only the apologists god that is designed this way, of course.
I would suggest that it is an anachronistic view to see the belief in the existence of God, or the 'design of God', as one which is trying to avoid investigation by science (or by other means). I would see the God of the Hebrew Scriptures, for example, as much more of a 'sense-making' exercise of the history of the people who would become known as Jews.
Historically I think that is very true, but we are a long way (historically and theologically speaking) from that particular god.
MM
"The greatest deception men suffer is from their own opinions" - Leonardo da Vinci
"I think I use the term “radical” rather loosely, just for emphasis. If you describe yourself as “atheist,” some people will say, “Don’t you mean ‘agnostic’?” I have to reply that I really do mean atheist, I really do not believe that there is a god; in fact, I am convinced that there is not a god (a subtle difference). I see not a shred of evidence to suggest that there is one ... etc., etc. It’s easier to say that I am a radical atheist, just to signal that I really mean it, have thought about it a great deal, and that it’s an opinion I hold seriously." - Douglas Adams (and I echo the sentiment)
"I think I use the term “radical” rather loosely, just for emphasis. If you describe yourself as “atheist,” some people will say, “Don’t you mean ‘agnostic’?” I have to reply that I really do mean atheist, I really do not believe that there is a god; in fact, I am convinced that there is not a god (a subtle difference). I see not a shred of evidence to suggest that there is one ... etc., etc. It’s easier to say that I am a radical atheist, just to signal that I really mean it, have thought about it a great deal, and that it’s an opinion I hold seriously." - Douglas Adams (and I echo the sentiment)
