Another thing.
It really grinds my gears when I hear muslims say that another one of the beautiful things of the Quran is that it contains scientific knowledge, just like this bit here about "salty water and fresh water not mixing" (and even then, YMMV).
The Quran may very well contain bits of knowledge of the natural world here and there. But this does not mean they are scientific (nor that they are divinely inspired). The reason these bits of knowledge are not pieces of scientific knowledge is in the way they are proposed: namely, as God's revelation, and not as the result of repeated observations and tests, with quantifiable (and falsifiable) results.
It's as if someone was saying that the Bible contains scientific knowledge because it says that the sky is blue and, in reality the sky really is blue. Merely stating that something is in a certain way, even if what is said is true, does not make science.
Not like I expect a book written in the seventh century to follow a scientific mindset, of course. Just a late night rant.
It really grinds my gears when I hear muslims say that another one of the beautiful things of the Quran is that it contains scientific knowledge, just like this bit here about "salty water and fresh water not mixing" (and even then, YMMV).
The Quran may very well contain bits of knowledge of the natural world here and there. But this does not mean they are scientific (nor that they are divinely inspired). The reason these bits of knowledge are not pieces of scientific knowledge is in the way they are proposed: namely, as God's revelation, and not as the result of repeated observations and tests, with quantifiable (and falsifiable) results.
It's as if someone was saying that the Bible contains scientific knowledge because it says that the sky is blue and, in reality the sky really is blue. Merely stating that something is in a certain way, even if what is said is true, does not make science.
Not like I expect a book written in the seventh century to follow a scientific mindset, of course. Just a late night rant.
"Every luxury has a deep price. Every indulgence, a cosmic cost. Each fiber of pleasure you experience causes equivalent pain somewhere else. This is the first law of emodynamics [sic]. Joy can be neither created nor destroyed. The balance of happiness is constant.
Fact: Every time you eat a bite of cake, someone gets horsewhipped.
Facter: Every time two people kiss, an orphanage collapses.
Factest: Every time a baby is born, an innocent animal is severely mocked for its physical appearance. Don't be a pleasure hog. Your every smile is a dagger. Happiness is murder.
Vote "yes" on Proposition 1321. Think of some kids. Some kids."
Fact: Every time you eat a bite of cake, someone gets horsewhipped.
Facter: Every time two people kiss, an orphanage collapses.
Factest: Every time a baby is born, an innocent animal is severely mocked for its physical appearance. Don't be a pleasure hog. Your every smile is a dagger. Happiness is murder.
Vote "yes" on Proposition 1321. Think of some kids. Some kids."
