“Science is the antithesis of faith. Science, by definition, is the attempt to
fine physical proof for that which is unknown or not yet defined. When science affirms an answer, that answer
is universal. Humans do not go to war
over it.”
Origin by Dan Brown
A computer
is programmed to store, retrieve and correlate information. When a computer is tasked with a query it
cannot solve its response is insufficient
data.
The human
brain is a computer, but its programming differs from its electronic counterpart. The brain stores information from a lifetime
of personal experiences; but the human brain always seeks closure and
order.
Our brain tends to fill in the
gaps of insufficient data or uncomfortable realities with an imagined
acceptable alternative, in order to bring comfortable closure to a
subject.
Early man
was fearful of things he could not understand: death, storms, fire, night… so
he fantasized Gods to explain the unexplainable. As civilization advanced, the
stories of Gods became more sophisticated.
Poseidon ruled the Oceans (Greek), Vulcan was responsible for volcanic
eruptions (Romans), Odin was the god of war and Valkyries carried the dead
warriors to Valhalla.
Gods filled
in the gaps of man’s knowledge in order to bring about closure to the
unknowable. But, as science and
mathematics advanced the Gods became unnecessary and were replaced with known
quantities.
Religion has
been the enemy of Science and Knowledge from the very beginning. Adam and Eve were supposedly driven from the
magical garden of Eden for eating from the tree of knowledge. William of Ockham was tried for heresy for
his math and scientific studies. Giordano
Bruno was burned at the stake for declaring the sun was the center of the
universe.
Galileo was threatened with
the stake and make to recant his belief in a sun centered universe. It wasn’t until 1822 that the Catholic Church
finally accepted that the fact of that the earth rotates around the sun.
People do
not give up their Gods easily. Science
and logic have systematically shined a light on religious superstitious
ignorance. Yet there are still major
populations of mankind that believe in a virgin birth, a flying horse, a
talking burning bush, a man walking on water, reanimation of the dead, angels,
devils, heaven, hell, bread that turns into flesh and wine into blood…
Religion has
held its sway because children have been indoctrinated from birth by their
religious parents, their religious communities and religious leaders. Children and adults have been played upon by
apostolic snake oil salesmen.
But today,
more and more young people are moving away from religion. The major hold that religions still flexes on
mankind is the promise of life after death. It fills in the gap. It is
what people want to believe.
Religion's promise is: I will pay you tomorrow for a hamburger today. So religions will never go easily into that
good night.
the Ol’Buzzard
This is all very true, but we must be careful not to make a God of science either. Science by its very nature is amoral and can lead to some horrendous things being done in its name by people without a sense of right, wrong and morality.
ReplyDeleteYes, but Religion has the worse track record. The notion of morality is fluid and determined by those in charge.
DeleteI see some that use science or atheism as a religion.
ReplyDeleteScience is worshiped because it appears opposite of religion. Atheism 'can' be a faith based belief, and sometimes it really looks like it is.
Personally IMO people can believe what ever they want as long as they don't try & involve me in whatever it is.
Live & let live...
Rob, I think Atheism is absolutely faith based. No one can know definitely there is or is not a supreme being. I am from the I don't know agnostic side of things.
DeleteRegardless, I do not feel it is wise to worship any concept, notion or idea that lives in reality or the back rooms of our imaginations.
I am a scientist who also ascribes to a faith. I fully understand the ability of science and the scientific method to uncover new knowledge. I also ascribe to my faith RCC because it helps me. It provides a philosophical framework I find valuable. Perhaps it is untrue, hopefully it is true. But, it does not matter, for it helps to show me a way in which I can be kinder, more patient, more giving and a better person than I otherwise would likely figure out to be on my own.
ReplyDeletePipeTobacco
Please also know that I would never suggest my ideas are correct. I simply say that for me, my faith is helpful for me as I try to be a better person than I am.
ReplyDeleteThen you are using your faith as I feel it should be used. A personal device from which clarity and a common sense set of rules for you personally.
Delete"Yet there are still major populations of mankind that believe in a virgin birth, a flying horse, a talking burning bush, a man walking on water, reanimation of the dead, angels, devils, heaven, hell, bread that turns into flesh and wine into blood ..."
ReplyDeleteWith the exception of the virgin birth I have experienced all of these while under the influence of LSD, Psilocybin, Peyote, or DMT.
Organized religion has and still is doing more damage than good in my opinion.
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DeleteBTW, Excellent post Ol'Buzzard.
Delete