Joklem wrote:
There are alot of problems to solve in physics, and missing links in biology.
If we assume god/intelligent design as the answer to those or any scientific problem, no progress is going to be made. I think secularism, global communications and easy access to historical information made us more aware of the pattern throughout history, and we're more able to avoid it. As I pointed out, the frontier where intelligent design was assumed was to stabilize the solar system in Newton's time. That's very narrow compared to the data we have today.
Thinking intelligent design or other philosophies if you're a layman is not necessarily stupid because science indeed does not yet have an answer to the questions you seek, but it should not be taught in the science classroom.
Thinking creationism is abysmally retarded. Interest in science is at an all-time high, and the toads pushing creationism are getting scared and use lying and propaganda tactics. They are a disgrace to humanity and I feel sorry for anyone who falls for it.
That's the jist of it.
I don't think anyone here is arguing about the legitimacy of our scientific knowledge in general, or even about specific portions of it. Is the person who yells, "SCIENCE!," in response to challenges of their faith (and given some of the silly things some have said during the course of this conversation, the word 'faith' applies far more than 'knowledge') any better or worse than the person that yells, "GOD!," in response to their faith being challenged? Of course not, but that's exactly what happens when someone does the "science proves there's no god" bit, because science seems to be fairly quiet on the subject of the existence of God.
The vast majority of those of us who believe in a god of some type don't agree with those who think we need to warp scientific information to fit their view or reject it in part or whole. They are small people incapable of incorporating new information into their world-view. Science, being a way of exploring the natural world to find the truth about its order, is as much a way of understanding God through his creation as any of the scriptures are.
I would be pleased if you all believed as I did, because I am concerned for your immortal souls, whether you believe you have one or not. While I would be happy if you chose to believe, it would be wrong of anyone to attempt to force that belief on you, and while I don't remember chapter and verse, I know that the Bible says as much. Those people that would attempt to force their religion on people do not serve the will of God, because all men must come to the Lord on their own. The faith of anyone who believes that you have to distort or hide the truth is seriously flawed. Those that believe that others should be forced to share their views have an equally flawed understand of the finer points of their own religion.
If you want to say, "I don't believe what you believe because...," there's nothing wrong with that. Saying that the only way a rational person can come to believe in higher power is because they're somehow deficient, however, only highlights that close-minded adherence to orthodoxy isn't a flaw exclusive to the religious.
Your Pal,
Jubber
