“It would be misleading to think that all these factors influenced all scientists to the same degree. However, a major component of anyone’s theoretical outlook is his religious worldview (which could be atheism or agnosticism, as well as a traditional religion). Worldview had a far more significant influence on the origin of old-earth geology than has often been perceived or acknowledged. A person’s worldview not only affects the interpretation of the facts but even the observation of the facts. Another prominent historian of science rightly comments about scientists and non-scientists: ‘men often perceive what they expect, and overlook what they do not wish to
Christians have many different views on the issue of inventions and how their use can be controlled. The Christian deontological teachings of the 10 commandments provide many rules that some Christians may use to apply to the issues of inventions. A more relative approach is Situation ethics which would weigh up the effects an invention would have on mankind. Natural Law largely followed by the Catholic Church maintains the fact that all life is sacred and so inventions such as genetic engineering and stem cell research would raise concerns. Neil Postman (1931-2003) was an American author that described technophiles as the people who rejoice in human inventiveness for its own sake, for the sheer excitement of what it might bring.
However, the scientific method is only a way of seeking the truth. It does not in any way reach the truth. There is no way to test every single circumstance to know for sure that the results are completely factual. However, the scientific method is at least testing and research is being done. The old way of just debating a theory is the not a realistic means to the
While scientology is not considered a religion on this table, I feel it still lacks things other religions have and believe also that things it claims are facts have been claimed to be wrong through science. I believe it is a sect because they seem to have religious ideas but they also
Another person who also criticized some of the religious views was Pierre Bayle. Bayle argued that religion and morality were not necessarily linked. The Enlightenment also developed around the belief that scientific thought and expression should be free from religious interference and that the foundations of society should be human reason and logic. The Enlightenment’s relationship with God and the individual was more rational and distant leading to the idea of Deism. Deism became very popular in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries during the Enlightenment.
Genesis 1-2 can show us that God is all-powerful and all-loving. As far as Genesis 1-2 goes, it is more important to understand the scripture, rather than prove it to be factual. “Although popular images of controversy continue to exemplify the supposed hostility of Christianity to new scientific theories, studies have shown that Christianity has often nurtured and encouraged scientific endeavor, while at other times the two have co-existed without either tension or attempts at harmonization” (Ferngren, 2). Genesis 1-2 is the cause of much unnecessary tension between the religious and scientific communities. The writers of Genesis 1-2 wrote it in a way that presents the Earth’s creation as a factual account of God creating the heavens and the Earth.
We cannot judge God, nor his actions because he is a non cognitive being. Only God knows the future, and therefore when it is appropriate to intervene. Therefore, through miracles he is not favouring some of his creation over others, but the good of the whole creation itself. Furthermore, our free will stops God from intervening in every situation, because according to Swinburne, if we do not have the capacity to damn ourselves, we are not truly free agents. However this does not necessarily overcome the problem of God favouring his creation because by having the ability to intervene, but not at every moment he can prevent evil from happening to some but not too others.
“Visions and voices are not caused by God but can be explained through science” Discuss. (35) A vision can be termed as an experience of seeing something or someone in a trance like state or as a supernatural apparition. When complimented by voices from religious figures it can be said to evoke an even deeper religious experience for believers. However, there exists much debate on what the catalyst is for these experiences; some would argue for God attempting to communicate through his creation, whereas others believe the answer lies in science. A vision and auditory related religious experience can occur in a person consciously or unconsciously.
The counter argument to this though, is that animals do not fall under his jurisdiction and so the brutality that is nature is out of his control. God can only then make humans all good; which is apparent to be untrue (war, rape, murder.) In effect, Gould has showed that there could very validly be no active god. Whichever way a person’s belief systems lean, this paper by Stephen Jay Gould is a very insightful read into one way of thinking. Whether that means it solely educates those who firmly believe in god that there are other views, or it converts a person to non religious views, it is a worthwhile read.
Religion From an Alien’s Perspective Shawntara McCaskill Instructor: Phillip Vanvleck Course: Religion 212 Date: November 4, 2012 From our perspective life form on planet earth has been involved in activities unexplainable by common laws of science. These activities have something to do with what they believe in. Common explanations by our kind include terms like culture, tradition and the most interesting of all: religion. For our report, we have set specific criteria for the determination whether the dominant species on earth are religious or not. According to our reports, religion is somewhat of a backup emotional connection that each individual has when he has lost complete hope in the world.