Open Minds.

Steve · Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2002 3:59 am Post subject: Open Minds.

Hello all, just reading some of the posts and there are some interestings ideas knocking about. Personally I cannot understand how you can have such a heated debate over creation vs evoulution when neither if correct proves the other to be wrong.
I.M.H.O We all have to be open to every theory, no matter how ubsurd. someone could say that the world is controlled not by God but by Satan. That their is no God that Satan is all powerfull and that life as we know it is just his way of having some fun. This is not my belief but as I cannot prove it to be untrue I have to accept it as a possibility and that means it is possibile.
No body on this planet knows 100% what is out there, things we cannot concieve, however we are all inteligient people so we have to be open to everything,even if it does contradict with some of your beliefs.
Be Good.

lazarus · Posted: Fri Nov 22, 2002 6:23 am Post subject: Open Minds.

The debate is not exactly creationism vs. evolution. The debate is more likely about religious dogmatism, and scientific method. For some reason, people find it extremely difficult to think that scientific method is not simply just another 'faith', backed up by a certain amount of material evidence.

The advocates of Intelligent Design, or Biblical Creationism, draw their conclusions from preconceived notions handed down via authority, and based on religious text. They then proceed to call their 'faith' science, while attempting to discredit real science through any means necessary. They do no extensive field or lab research to prove out their hypothesis'. Instead, they struggle to bring their religion into the public school system in order to indocrinate all children into their belief system. This is not science, but proselytism, or evangelism.

Scientific method cares little for faith, or belief systems, and makes no moral claims. It has never pretended to have all the answers, When applied properly, science adjusts as new evidence is presented.

Furthermore, science is NOT just the 'best guess'. Science is observable, testable, replicable, and verifiable. While erroneous hypothesis' may occur on occasion, scientific method is self-correcting, and open to challenge, and/or change. After all, one does not become a Nobel Laureate by simply concurring with the work of others.

On the other hand, religion disguised as 'Creation Science' claims to have all the answers, seeks to define our morality, and resists change until it is no longer possible to continue its' resistance. Sometimes, that resistance to change has a very high cost in human freedoms and lives.

Plus, Steve, you are correct. No one knows 100% what is truth, and what is not. However, that does not mean that we need to give blind acceptance to every crack pot idea that is circulated. Anyone can write down some fanciful ideas, call her/himself an expert, and demand obeisance. If someone wants their claim to be accepted, they must prove that claim. Plus, the more radical or extravagant the claim, the higher the level of evidence that is required to prove that claim.

For instance, if I claim that I will jump from my chair, and land firmly on the ground in a short time, then very little evidence is required, because we all know the effects of gravity through experience. If I say that I will jump from my chair, and enter geosynchronous orbit in a moment, well... the evidence required to prove that would be extremely high. Even then, it is not likely that many will believe me, because they know through observation that this feat is not within our realm of experience.

In other words, if you cannot prove it, (or disprove it, as in the case of the supernatural), that does NOT mean that it demands serious consideration. People can believe whatever they like, but believing in, and teaching untestable, and unverifiable notions as science is NOT going to find oil, or cure cancer, or save us from biological weapons.

[This message has been edited by lazarus (edited 11-22-2002).]

admin · Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2002 1:29 am Post subject: Open Minds.

Excellent points by both.

godskid · Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2003 11:44 am Post subject: Open Minds.

"someone could say that the world is controlled not by God but by Satan."

According to the bible, that is the current state of things.

"That their is no God that Satan is all powerfull and that life as we know it is just his way of having some fun."

According to the bible, that is what Satan would have you believe.

Mangetout · Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2003 4:26 pm Post subject: