Re: virus:Logic
Sodom (sodom@ma.ultranet.com)
Thu, 09 Oct 1997 11:43:11 -0400
Marie, I can't agree about religion, though I admire the attempt to
qualify religion as an attempt to explain the existence of the energy we
seem to agree exists. I see no reason, either currently or historically
to believe that religion is interested in explaining what is happening
in the universe around us. It is more interested in molding our thoughts
to what they would like reality to be. In my opinion this is done in an
attempt to dominate and control others. Religion is about power over the
ignorant. When religion was the dominating philosophical force on the
planet , advancement for the people on all fronts (violence, equality,
life span etc...) was at a near standstill. In the short time that
science has been gaining ground (the last 400 years say) We have become
quite advanced. No one in this forum would even be able to communicate
without the advancements in science we have made in just the last couple
of decades. People use the atomic bomb as an example of the evils of
science - well, what is evil about the bomb? there have only been two
used, and a small number of deaths associated with them (Auto accidents
in the US outstrip the bomb in only four or five years when it comes to
fatalities) Though the potential of the bomb is serious, the
advancements gleaned from this knowledge have led to a huge improvements
in the way we live, and have insured security for our country and many
others that could not be achieved otherwise. I am a pacifist and despise
weapons of mass destruction, but understand that my like or dislike is
irrelevant - does anyone really believe the US has to be concerned about
an invasion? Of course not, no nuclear power worries about invasion.
(except perhaps Israel which is a religious state surrounded by
religious states)
I don't see that religion offers ANY insights not obtainable through
common sense alone. I was raised an Atheist from the start and in
general find myself of stronger moral character than most religious
people I know. I cannot kill, because death is final and complete, there
is no "heaven" to send people to. I cannot harm another without a
logical reason such as self continuation or defense of anther's
continuation. I started studying religion in my early teens, and to this
day am sickened by all religions I have discovered. This is due to one
thread of thought in religion, and that is "divinely inspired infallible
truth" positioned by all major religions and many minor religions.
Science, on the other hand, is nothing like religion. Science has a
single purpose - learn what is learn able. My opinions change every time
a better scientific theory comes about. I cannot afford to let my
personal tastes dominate over logic, though they try mightily. Before I
discovered the Church of Virus, I had already determined that the three
major necessities were Life, Love and Logic - not too dissimilar from
Reason - Empathy and Vision.
Life: This is so valuable because unlike most other things, we each only
get one, and it is finite. Logically, because of it's scarcity, it is
extremely valuable.
Love: I consider this to be "Empathy" in the Virian Virtues.
Logic: So far the best tool we have to guarantee growth and
understanding.
Now that I know the Virian Virtues, I must admit that I like "Vision"
quite a bit too, but that seems to me to be the natural condition of a
healthy mind.
Answer to your question: Universe is NOT infinite, it is a closed
system that so far obeys the laws of physics as we understand them. As
this understanding grows every day, our Universe becomes a little
smaller and our physics becomes a little more accurate.
I must agree with some things you say though, I love poetry, literature,
art and the like. I am a musician and am very pleased with the
electro-chemical reactions that happen in my brain when I am releasing
"creative energy". But nothing about these tastes argue against science,
I will agree that science however has yet to explain precisely the
nature of creativity. In fact, as you say, there are still mysteries -
more mysteries than answers. I think that without these mysteries to
pursue, existence for me would be without "value".
I would like to see a "Religious insight" that depends upon religion for
it's conception. Can someone demonstrate this?
I HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT, AND I AM IT
sodom@ma.ultranet.com
Marie Foster wrote:
> I am going to risk it and sling in my thoughts about science -
> religion. It seems to me that both are attempts to explain the
> existence of the energy we seem to agree exists. How well or poorly
> either does this has to do more with the power structure that uses (
> or
> misuses) the insights gained. Scientific knowledge leads to atomic
> bombs as well as MRI machines. Luddites on the web bemoan the very
> technology that brings us all together in this arena. As a scientist
> I
> still read poetry. And I am glad that there are still mysteries left
> to
> be solved.
>
> And now a question. If the universe is infinite, are we not all the
> center of it?
>
> poetically,
>
> Marie