tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104479.post6910041801400592309..comments2023-05-27T23:20:32.194+10:00Comments on Marco's Blog: Dissecting God's Undertaker, by Lennox via FBMarco Parigihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00702055111711651319noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104479.post-24318815828707504462012-01-14T19:09:32.516+10:002012-01-14T19:09:32.516+10:00I beg to differ in the sense that scientists are, ...I beg to differ in the sense that scientists are, in general not worth their salt, especially if power or money bears on the situation at all. Exhibit one, climate scientists who appear to exhibit that sense of betrayal when their pet theory or model gets challenged fairly. Exhibit two, if a biology student suggests something akin to group theory or Neo-Lamarkism as explanations for certain kinds of evolution. I think Physical Chemistry might be in that happy state where theories tend not to have either political or religious consequences.Marco Parigihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00702055111711651319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104479.post-9850420314779067242012-01-13T13:29:38.714+10:002012-01-13T13:29:38.714+10:00I think there is a difference, but probably not th...I think there is a difference, but probably not the way winstoninabox is thinking. Religious faith is not more 'blind', but it is more 'personal', in that changing your mind has the implication of 'breaking faith' with a person: to disbelieve your religious authorities is not just an intellectual act, but a betrayal of people who you respect. Whereas no scientist worthy of the name would consider it a betrayal if their students rejected their pet theory.<br /><br />Of course that's just what it looks like from the 'inside', to me...Dr Clamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14985493422534275997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104479.post-22162806255686634522012-01-13T12:09:17.686+10:002012-01-13T12:09:17.686+10:00No. Not really. Winston was still adamant that Len...No. Not really. Winston was still adamant that Lennox is playing semantics with the word faith, implying that the faith religious people have in God is not the same thing as scientists faith in the uniformity of the universe etc. Nathanael and I think that it is Winston playing semantics.Marco Parigihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00702055111711651319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104479.post-85329361939735647672012-01-13T08:31:36.421+10:002012-01-13T08:31:36.421+10:00Have the Brothers Small given up? :(Have the Brothers Small given up? :(Dr Clamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14985493422534275997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104479.post-26254641928698166992012-01-06T12:45:06.140+10:002012-01-06T12:45:06.140+10:00Yeah sure, join in the fun! I suggest you smuggle ...Yeah sure, join in the fun! I suggest you smuggle in an EVILDRCLAM or whatever into FB space with only just the number of friends that you need to maintain discussion though. Nathanael told me to pass on a rock solid promise that he would read the Quran by a June 30 2012 deadline.<br /><br />I will pass on this comment also.Marco Parigihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00702055111711651319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5104479.post-3002728638176896822012-01-06T11:48:39.510+10:002012-01-06T11:48:39.510+10:00So, you're suggesting I read this book, I thin...So, you're suggesting I read this book, I think? :)<br /><br />Since this post is vast, I just want to say that the quoted wikipedia definition of science 'letting reality speak for itself' is bogus.<br /><br />We *assume* that the important features of reality can be explained in terms of reproducible events.<br /><br />We *assume* uniformity of physical laws in time and space.<br /><br />We *assume* that the important features of the universe to us are ultimately comprehensible to things as smart as we are.<br /><br />These are fantastic working assumptions: I would go to the wall for them any day. They are the hopeful assumptions we need to make in order to make any progress. But they aren't 'letting reality speak for itself': they are conceptual filters we put on raw experienced reality.<br /><br />BTW, tell Nathanael not to wait until he is 44 to read the Qur'an. What if he dies tonight and finds out Islam is true? Methinks it would be a bit too late. Carpe diem!Dr Clamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14985493422534275997noreply@blogger.com