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Bob and Others,
It is interesting the twists and turns this list has taken over the past
couple of weeks on political and religious issues. One of the things that
scientists must insist on is naturalistic explanations for phenomena in
order to advance knowledge. If we allowed supernatural explanations, then
we would be stopped in our tracks.
An example on this that I like to share is that when I was in high school
I was doing a huge research project on origins of the universe and
humankind in comparing science and religions. I was talking with an
extremely religious, creationist friend of mine about the project. I
asked him, "Scientists dig up fossils and through carbon dating find out
that they are millions of years old. Yet, you believe that the Earth is
around 6000 years old. How do you explain that?" He said, "The Devil put
them there to test our faith and move us away from God." This is a
wonderful explanation that cannot be disproved. He also said that light
from galaxies million of light years away was "created by God on its way
to us, so that we could see the majesty and extent of God's Creation." If
we allowed these kinds of explanations, we could go no further in adding
to our knowledge and understanding.
Yes, many religions accept that science has added to human knowledge and
have adapted to findings. In my classes as I talk to students about
science and religion I say that each has its role. Religion serves many
functions that science doesn't address. Really, they are two different
human endeavors. Religious people should not be attacked out of hand for
being religious. You can be a scientist and accept the findings of
science and still belong to the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, etc. faiths.
Others should not be so quick to judge.
David
I agree that religious methodologies are not appropriate for science.
However, I am getting a little annoyed with some people on this thread
painting all people with participate in religion as somehow anti-science.
As I have posted before, thinking about the existence of deities plays
little part in my life. However, I do work at a Catholic college. The
Catholic church, for the most part, is highly supportive of science. At
the upper levels, the Vatican Observatory has been a constant contributor
to serious astronomy. Down in the trenches, the church supports the
teaching of evolution and never gets involved when our biology instructors
discuss human reproduction and the growth of the human fetus. Their
feeling is that one can only have an honest Faith if you are educated to
all the alternatives.
I am amazed how some on this list who profess to be so liberal (in the
classic sense) and free thinking can come out with this knee-jerk bigotry
regarding religion.
BC - this was not aimed at you - I just used your email to respond to the
thread in general.
Bob at PC
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