Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!! -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: The Philosopher who wrote (83727)	7/13/2000 12:04:25 AM
From: epicure	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

Theology seeks to find truth through faith. If I lack faith there is no point in studying theology- except for curiosity. I wouldn't argue ABOUT theological minutiae, only about my lack of faith and my observation that I've seen no evidence for any greater power. As far as I know no theologian has suggested any experiments that would demonstrate the probable existence of God. In fact it seems foolish to suggest such an experiment. Might as well have experiments that prove love. Theological proofs don't exist. Scientific proofs really don't exist either- but we aren't supposed to get bent about that because it's science- and we are simply trying to show what is likely, not what IS. Religion always goes after the IS- and wants to show it for certain. You seek (again) to equate apples with oranges. This is a time honored pursuit, but it is illogical.

To: The Philosopher who wrote (83727)	7/13/2000 1:10:27 AM
From: Dayuhan	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 108807

Perhaps I also did not make myself clear. I meant not only that new experiments test the old, but that entirely new methods of measurement and perception are being invented to test the old ones. Experimentation is not perceived as a valid way of searching for "truth". It is a valid way of searching for the rules that govern the physical universe in which we live. To those who believe that this physical universe is an illusion, this quest is not very important. To most of us it is important, because the physical universe and the laws that govern it have huge impacts on our lives. The history of religious change supports my point, IMO. Religious beliefs tend to change through schism - often through violent schism - because religious institutions generally refuse to accept challenges, viewing them as hostile attacks rather than opportunities for growth. In this sense, religion is closer to politics than to science. I am not conversant with recent discoveries in either science or religion. I base my conclusions, and to some extent my feelings, on observations of the two. I perceive that while religion is enormously beneficial to certain individuals, religious institutions have a dangerous tendency toward demagoguery and fanaticism. I have never heard of a scientist who proclaimed "believe or die". I have never heard of a terrorist who claimed science as a motivation. I have never seen a scientist on TV demanding that our nation be governed by the laws of science. I have never heard a scientist proclaim that only by adopting a certain scientific belief could anyone attain salvation. I know that many, perhaps most, religious people do not share these tendencies. I do feel, though, that history provides abundant evidence that religion and politics are a bad mix, and that any acquisition of political power by religious institutions should be viewed with extreme caution. So I believe in freedom of religion. I also believe that evangelism is a violation of the religious freedom of the person being evangelized. I also believe in a thorough and rigorous separation of church and state.