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We were invaded by Christians a few months back. [Note: I say a few months back, but I actually started writing this the day after they left]. It did get me thinking though:
What is a religion? A religion is something that you follow and believe in. Religions will never explain everything, but it offers an opinion and you choose to accept it if you wish. Christians choose to believe the Universe was made in 6 days, etc... Now, our RS teacher, Mr Clarke, posed us all the question "Do you have a religion", to which most of us answered "No". I also answered "no", because I believe in science, which I don't class as a religion. However, Mr Clarke and I got chatting at one point. He asked me if I had a religion and I said no, and when he asked why I replied "Because every explanation religion makes towards the Universe, etc. can also be explained through science, and to me the earth forming over billions of years makes much more sense than it being created over 6 days". The thing is, he noticed a flaw in my argument. There are some things that science can't explain like it can't explain fully how the universe was created and it can't explain fully how life evolved from scratch and how it came to be like it is today. Religion howeverm can. So, I quite stupidly replied "Well, I believe science will explain it eventually."
Then it hit me... I BELIEVE in science. I don't understand it. Sure, there are some things I understand, but most of it is just being told "this is how it is" and accepting it because it made sense in some way. The thing is, all I know is what I've been told. The only thing that makes it different to religion in a way is that it can be "proved" and measured. The fact that millions of other scientists concuur is no matter, because millions of priests concuur. It's a very interesting concept which has, well, changed my way of thinking I suppose.
I no longer just accept things, but I BELIEVE in science as my religion, I have found science. It's a young and upcoming religion, almost fledgling, because it is far behind other religions in terms of completetion. I will even worhip it by furthering my knowledge of science and endeavouring to contribute to its teachings, so that many before me may learn science at school and in life, and hopefully think "Oh, Robin Haswell discovered that, I want to be like him and discover stuff", and so writing more chapters in the big bumber bible of science.
What is a religion? A religion is something that you follow and believe in. Religions will never explain everything, but it offers an opinion and you choose to accept it if you wish. Christians choose to believe the Universe was made in 6 days, etc... Now, our RS teacher, Mr Clarke, posed us all the question "Do you have a religion", to which most of us answered "No". I also answered "no", because I believe in science, which I don't class as a religion. However, Mr Clarke and I got chatting at one point. He asked me if I had a religion and I said no, and when he asked why I replied "Because every explanation religion makes towards the Universe, etc. can also be explained through science, and to me the earth forming over billions of years makes much more sense than it being created over 6 days". The thing is, he noticed a flaw in my argument. There are some things that science can't explain like it can't explain fully how the universe was created and it can't explain fully how life evolved from scratch and how it came to be like it is today. Religion howeverm can. So, I quite stupidly replied "Well, I believe science will explain it eventually."
Then it hit me... I BELIEVE in science. I don't understand it. Sure, there are some things I understand, but most of it is just being told "this is how it is" and accepting it because it made sense in some way. The thing is, all I know is what I've been told. The only thing that makes it different to religion in a way is that it can be "proved" and measured. The fact that millions of other scientists concuur is no matter, because millions of priests concuur. It's a very interesting concept which has, well, changed my way of thinking I suppose.
I no longer just accept things, but I BELIEVE in science as my religion, I have found science. It's a young and upcoming religion, almost fledgling, because it is far behind other religions in terms of completetion. I will even worhip it by furthering my knowledge of science and endeavouring to contribute to its teachings, so that many before me may learn science at school and in life, and hopefully think "Oh, Robin Haswell discovered that, I want to be like him and discover stuff", and so writing more chapters in the big bumber bible of science.
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And THAT is what I call an answer.
This is quite an interesting point that you make here, but it really does depend on the view that you take and the basic differences between science and religion.
The major difference between science and religion, is that science is a search for an answer. Whether it is an answer to the meaning of life, the creation of the universe or how life came to exist on this planet. In science the answers to the questions are not always known, but it is this searching for the answer that drives science to discover more, often leading to the redundancy of a previous theory or accepted belief.
Take for example the two major theories put forward during the last century, those of Relativity and Quantum Mechanics. Both are exceptionally sound, each standing up to major scrutiny and observation. Both however, cannot be right. One of the theories, that has founded some seriously major advances in our world will be discarded as an approximation (like Newtons Laws have been). Of course these both may be ‘wrong’, and another breakthrough will move us closer to understanding the truth and nature about our universe.
I noted that you said that you believed in science without understanding it. This is not as stupid as you may think, it is in fact a very important step to take scientifically speaking. Take this particular era, the start of the twenty first century. Ask yourself if we are at the peak of our understanding of the universe and everything. If you answered no, then you are more or less spot on. Barring some global disaster that wipes us all out, our science and technology will advance. It was once accepted that the world was flat, until observation proved otherwise.
It is a dangerous and arrogant presumption that leads to the answer of yes, we know all there is to know, we can’t find out anything else. This leads to a rather unfortunate blend of science and religion in which the scientist will state; “I know everything there is to know, but it still makes no sense. There must be a God.” This approach abandons the basic principles of science, and adopts the major difference between science and religion; Knowing the answer without having to formulate the question.
If you look at these two examples you will see what I mean by this.
Equation 1: (x + y) = 4
Equation 2: (1+ z) = p
Equation 1, though not complete can be guessed at, approximated, and we can easily shoehorn numbers in that fit this equation. This is religion at a very basic level. Ever wonder why there is more than one religion? The answer is that if you already know the answer (There is a God), then putting the question together to arrive at that answer becomes very easy. Though many people will choose different numbers, most will choose 2 + 2, or 1 + 3 or 3+1 and so on. Here are our major religions, all finding different paths to the same answer.
The second equation which represents science, is much harder to solve. You can substitute numbers in that fit, but without knowing the answer it becomes much harder to arrive at the correct solution. In reality p would have to be proved via observation, taking only one conflicting result to rubbish that theory.
This is a huge oversimplification (bad science eh!), but I feel it makes an important point about the difference between science and religion. In fact, religion should not need numbers or equations to attempt to explain itself, that’s what faith is all about. Here is the other major difference between a science and a religion; It takes more than faith and ideas to persuade the scientific community that your Grand Unification Theory is correct. Faith and Ideas are the lifeblood of religion, without it they would be dismissed as quickly as the notion that the moon is made of cheese.
Which it isn’t, so don’t start.……
The major difference between science and religion, is that science is a search for an answer. Whether it is an answer to the meaning of life, the creation of the universe or how life came to exist on this planet. In science the answers to the questions are not always known, but it is this searching for the answer that drives science to discover more, often leading to the redundancy of a previous theory or accepted belief.
Take for example the two major theories put forward during the last century, those of Relativity and Quantum Mechanics. Both are exceptionally sound, each standing up to major scrutiny and observation. Both however, cannot be right. One of the theories, that has founded some seriously major advances in our world will be discarded as an approximation (like Newtons Laws have been). Of course these both may be ‘wrong’, and another breakthrough will move us closer to understanding the truth and nature about our universe.
I noted that you said that you believed in science without understanding it. This is not as stupid as you may think, it is in fact a very important step to take scientifically speaking. Take this particular era, the start of the twenty first century. Ask yourself if we are at the peak of our understanding of the universe and everything. If you answered no, then you are more or less spot on. Barring some global disaster that wipes us all out, our science and technology will advance. It was once accepted that the world was flat, until observation proved otherwise.
It is a dangerous and arrogant presumption that leads to the answer of yes, we know all there is to know, we can’t find out anything else. This leads to a rather unfortunate blend of science and religion in which the scientist will state; “I know everything there is to know, but it still makes no sense. There must be a God.” This approach abandons the basic principles of science, and adopts the major difference between science and religion; Knowing the answer without having to formulate the question.
If you look at these two examples you will see what I mean by this.
Equation 1: (x + y) = 4
Equation 2: (1+ z) = p
Equation 1, though not complete can be guessed at, approximated, and we can easily shoehorn numbers in that fit this equation. This is religion at a very basic level. Ever wonder why there is more than one religion? The answer is that if you already know the answer (There is a God), then putting the question together to arrive at that answer becomes very easy. Though many people will choose different numbers, most will choose 2 + 2, or 1 + 3 or 3+1 and so on. Here are our major religions, all finding different paths to the same answer.
The second equation which represents science, is much harder to solve. You can substitute numbers in that fit, but without knowing the answer it becomes much harder to arrive at the correct solution. In reality p would have to be proved via observation, taking only one conflicting result to rubbish that theory.
This is a huge oversimplification (bad science eh!), but I feel it makes an important point about the difference between science and religion. In fact, religion should not need numbers or equations to attempt to explain itself, that’s what faith is all about. Here is the other major difference between a science and a religion; It takes more than faith and ideas to persuade the scientific community that your Grand Unification Theory is correct. Faith and Ideas are the lifeblood of religion, without it they would be dismissed as quickly as the notion that the moon is made of cheese.
Which it isn’t, so don’t start.……
ME: Forgive me Father for I have sinned.
FATHER SCIENTIST: "What have you done my child?"
ME: Well, I have on many occasions indulged in mindless superstition.
FATHER SCIENTIST: "Hmmm..."
ME: I have also...
FATHER SCIENTIST: "Speak child, tell me!"
ME: Last night I prayed to God! Forgive me Father, forgive me!
FATHER SCIENTIST: "Your sins are serious, my child. Say three Hail Albert Einsteins and you will be forgiven."
FATHER SCIENTIST: "What have you done my child?"
ME: Well, I have on many occasions indulged in mindless superstition.
FATHER SCIENTIST: "Hmmm..."
ME: I have also...
FATHER SCIENTIST: "Speak child, tell me!"
ME: Last night I prayed to God! Forgive me Father, forgive me!
FATHER SCIENTIST: "Your sins are serious, my child. Say three Hail Albert Einsteins and you will be forgiven."
Peasants?
Thanks
Anyway, Scientology is a religion, and it's to do with Science. Famous members include John Travolta and Tom Cruise
Thanks
Anyway, Scientology is a religion, and it's to do with Science. Famous members include John Travolta and Tom Cruise
Ignore football, talk about this you peasants.
We were invaded by Christians a few months back. [Note: I say a few months back, but I actually started writing this the day after they left]. It did get me thinking though:
What is a religion? A religion is something that you follow and believe in. Religions will never explain everything, but it offers an opinion and you choose to accept it if you wish. Christians choose to believe the Universe was made in 6 days, etc... Now, our RS teacher, Mr Clarke, posed us all the question "Do you have a religion", to which most of us answered "No". I also answered "no", because I believe in science, which I don't class as a religion. However, Mr Clarke and I got chatting at one point. He asked me if I had a religion and I said no, and when he asked why I replied "Because every explanation religion makes towards the Universe, etc. can also be explained through science, and to me the earth forming over billions of years makes much more sense than it being created over 6 days". The thing is, he noticed a flaw in my argument. There are some things that science can't explain like it can't explain fully how the universe was created and it can't explain fully how life evolved from scratch and how it came to be like it is today. Religion howeverm can. So, I quite stupidly replied "Well, I believe science will explain it eventually."
Then it hit me... I BELIEVE in science. I don't understand it. Sure, there are some things I understand, but most of it is just being told "this is how it is" and accepting it because it made sense in some way. The thing is, all I know is what I've been told. The only thing that makes it different to religion in a way is that it can be "proved" and measured. The fact that millions of other scientists concuur is no matter, because millions of priests concuur. It's a very interesting concept which has, well, changed my way of thinking I suppose.
I no longer just accept things, but I BELIEVE in science as my religion, I have found science. It's a young and upcoming religion, almost fledgling, because it is far behind other religions in terms of completetion. I will even worhip it by furthering my knowledge of science and endeavouring to contribute to its teachings, so that many before me may learn science at school and in life, and hopefully think "Oh, Robin Haswell discovered that, I want to be like him and discover stuff", and so writing more chapters in the big bumber bible of science.
What is a religion? A religion is something that you follow and believe in. Religions will never explain everything, but it offers an opinion and you choose to accept it if you wish. Christians choose to believe the Universe was made in 6 days, etc... Now, our RS teacher, Mr Clarke, posed us all the question "Do you have a religion", to which most of us answered "No". I also answered "no", because I believe in science, which I don't class as a religion. However, Mr Clarke and I got chatting at one point. He asked me if I had a religion and I said no, and when he asked why I replied "Because every explanation religion makes towards the Universe, etc. can also be explained through science, and to me the earth forming over billions of years makes much more sense than it being created over 6 days". The thing is, he noticed a flaw in my argument. There are some things that science can't explain like it can't explain fully how the universe was created and it can't explain fully how life evolved from scratch and how it came to be like it is today. Religion howeverm can. So, I quite stupidly replied "Well, I believe science will explain it eventually."
Then it hit me... I BELIEVE in science. I don't understand it. Sure, there are some things I understand, but most of it is just being told "this is how it is" and accepting it because it made sense in some way. The thing is, all I know is what I've been told. The only thing that makes it different to religion in a way is that it can be "proved" and measured. The fact that millions of other scientists concuur is no matter, because millions of priests concuur. It's a very interesting concept which has, well, changed my way of thinking I suppose.
I no longer just accept things, but I BELIEVE in science as my religion, I have found science. It's a young and upcoming religion, almost fledgling, because it is far behind other religions in terms of completetion. I will even worhip it by furthering my knowledge of science and endeavouring to contribute to its teachings, so that many before me may learn science at school and in life, and hopefully think "Oh, Robin Haswell discovered that, I want to be like him and discover stuff", and so writing more chapters in the big bumber bible of science.
Page: