[PLUG-TALK] Science is not a legitimate religion.

[plug_0 at robinson-west.com]

Science is concerned with what can be described through either direct
or indirect measurements.  It is not within the realm of true science
to make value judgements.  Science can give credence or be a source
of criticism for various belief systems, but for those things which
are not repeatably observerable, it breaks down.

Keith has tried to use physics to say that no being can be all knowing.
What experiment could any person come up with to test that?  Considering
there are many opposed to the idea of testing God, even if there were an
effective experiment that could magically prove/disprove the existence 
of God, it would be too controversial for any ethical scientist to carry 
it out.  Does this mean God doesn't exist because there's no available
experiment, let alone an ethical experiment, to test for His presence?
If you say yes, then you believe that things which can not be 
scientifically verified do not exist.  In all fairness, you should 
reject string theory because it can't be experimentally verified 
using today's techniques.  You should reject that there are multiple
universes, because again there's no way to prove this theory.  If
you only accept that which science can prove to exist actually does
exist, then you are very limited when it comes to asking questions 
about what man's purpose is.

There are those who are on a crusade to protect the teaching of Evolution
in high schools.  Thing is, evolution can be added to a broader theory 
that adds in a supreme intelligence guiding it.  While science can not
prove or disprove the existence of such an intelligence, we can look at 
the complexity of our genetic code and question whether or not random 
mutations alone brought it to where it is today.  Considering there 
were human cities as early as the time of the Wooly Mammoth, it seems 
reasonable to ask, Is evolution alone enough?  Sadly, the narrow 
mindedness of the courts and some in the scientific community has 
lead to this idea that evolution has to be taught seperately from 
any theory of intelligent design.  Science cannot prove that there 
is an intelligent designer, but it can give insights into the probability 
of evolution without intelligent leadership producing something of 
great complexity.  If the probability of random mutation producing
a particular feature of say gene X is low, that's something that 
can be quantified and measured.  If there are many genes that 
don't seem to be a good fit to the evolutionary theories,  that
at least opens the door to other explanations.

Another issue Keith seemingly touched upon is whether or not science
is a reasonable basis for a concerted campaign to foist an attitude
of pluralism onto others concerning religious faith.  This seems 
contrary to science.  Indeed, some ideas are elevated above other
ones.  Some hypotheses are more credible than others.  Relgions
are not all equal.  Different religions have different aspects,
there are many diametrically opposed belief systems.  To say that
diametrically opposed belief systems are equally correct and 
relevant is quite a statement indeed.  The communist party in 
Russia tried to outlaw religion in Poland, this didn't work.
Sadly, Berkeley has been a breeding ground for left thinking
people to the detriment of other viewpoints.  

California's stem cell research initiative really bothers me.  
There's no credible evidence that fetal stem cells will ever be 
the source of any cure for any disease.  There exists no known 
way to harvest human fetal stem cells without killing an unborn
child.  Until a non lethal harvesting technique that does not
in any way harm the health of the donor is discovered, I am 
disgusted with governor Schwarznegger's decision to go ahead 
with fetal stem cell research using state taxes.  Health care
is too expensive for most people to get even the most basic
care.  Medical research should be more cost effective, carried out
in areas that are less controversial, and it should be more outcome 
driven.  

 
"Logic is not the end, it's only the beginning of wisdom,"  roughly
what Spock said in Star Trek VI.    


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