Bruce Lilly wrote in message <3796003E.B4DF62B7 at erols.com>...
>John wrote:
>>>> Anyway, scientific knowledge is not available to all, most of us
implicitly
>> trust others and are in no position to independently verify a zilch of
what
>> we take as true.
>>That you *choose* not to verify something is irrelevant to the fact that it
is
>possible for you to do so.
>>> But remember that science has its own history of labelling and
>> burning. Bolztmann, many would not believe Einstein until 1919 eclipse
>> verification (he received his Nobel for the photo-electric effect). There
>> are others, but the difference is that over time science recognizes its
>> errors. The Church does too, it only took until 1992 until the Catholic
>> Church officially recognized Galileo's rave and it wasn't until 1822 that
>> they actually condoned the publishing of material relating to the same!
Gee,
>> what's wrong with waiting half a millenium to catch up?
>>Well it could hardly be of any consolation (not to mention reparation) to
>Galileo, who was tortured by the Inquisitioners.
>>Moreover, there are religious fundamentalists who do not accept any changes
to
>their dogma.
Come on Bruce it was tongue in cheek bud, of course religion has seriously
inhibited the spread of knowledge (The Great Library etc etc )all I was
trying to point out is that the dividing line between science and religion
is not as fine as many - myself included - would like. For if it were we
might start getting somewhere in terms of disavowing so many of so many
misconceptions arising from religious beliefs. Unfortunately the history of
science gives its proponents ample weaponry to launch counter assaults and
while I do not expect scientists to involve themselves in what usually are
empty arguments I also believe that science has a history of
under-estimating its limitations and so a little humility is required every
now and then. As I once read in a strange and interesting work: The
Metaphoric Process: The Creation of Religious and Scientific Understanding
(not recommended but I enjoyed it): It seems that we have a habit of
under-estimating what we can do and over-estimating what we can know (or
something like that).
Incidentally, it is physically impossible for us to verify all our
knowledge, we must trust others, so I place my faith in people (certain
ones!) before God.
I'm sorry for posting under bionet.neuroscience re this thread. My last.
John
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