Science and God (One and the same?)

Published on April 11, 2009 By Gh0st_Note- In Everything Else

Has it ever occured to anyone that, over the course of history, humans often come to the conclusion that anything that cannot be explained at the moment is automatically considered to be supernatural? For example, the Greeks. They had a god for just about anything that they could not explain with their means of science or technology at the time. How else could they explain the torrent of fire and molten lava that spwes out of a volcano? By claiming that Hephasteus is simply working in his forge of course.

But fast forward to today. And we know that isn't the case. The advent of computers, automobiles, airplanes, etc etc etc, would simply astound the Ancient Greeks. They would consider us gods. They would be unable to speak out of pure awe.

And since science is never ending in the sense that, with each question answered, more questions are formed... we still do not have a logical explanation for God. That being that supposedly judges us from afar, and moves through us all.

Think about it though... what if we just haven't reached the technological threshold to explain it yet?

It could be possible, that "God" is nothing more than a wave that interacts with our matter. Influencing our decisions with maybe electrical impulses or something similar. Religion is making "god" more important than it really is. With the advent of more powerful technology, we may be able to see what it is that moves through us all. More than likely, it is just another force of nature. It justs exists. It is there, always has been. But it is not a being, it is not something to worship... it is just not something we can understand. YET.

Basically, what I am trying to say is, we humans have proven over time that with the advent of better technology we can understand the ways of nature around us. So what's to stop us from unlocking the secrets of the universe? As well as explaining what "god" really is? We just can't comprehend it yet... but we will in time I think. Just like we did with volcanoes, oceans, telephones, airplanes, etc etc etc.

Religion is powerful in many ways no doubt. It helps certain people get through rough times, and to them, it explains the way things are as well giving them a code of ethics that they can follow. But religion is also on a way ticket to being obsolete. If science can bridge the gap between the two, what now?

Now just so everyone knows, I am not trying to attack anyones beliefs, I am merely wondering outloud if the above could be the case. I would also like to hear what other people have to say. Please be open-minded, and rational.

I will explain in better detail some ideas that I have heard as well some of my own if a great dialogue can be established.

Comments (Page 48)

706

RiddleKing

on Dec 21, 2011

tetleytea

reply 705

He said the proportion was interesting. And I concur. So I went and looked up some stuff. Ancient Egyptian ships had a 7:1 ratio. Kayaks are about 9:1 to 10:1. Modern ships tend to design for higher length-to-width ratios to navigate choppy waters, but they have the liberty to steer and propel their boats directly into the waves. Noah would not realistically be able to steer the ship. Longer boats are easier to propel. Noah probably wanted to have some degree of control, but he wasn't building a racing boat: his priority was just to survive.

I looked up length-to-beam ratios of modern cruise ships--what I expect to be the closest design to the ark. Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas has a 6:1 ratio. Others range from 8:1 to 9:1, though certainly they're going to have a much higher draft and they have advanced ballast and controllers to stabilize the ship. Plus they're designed to motorboat at 30 knots. 6:1 vs. 9:1...IMHO that is not that large of a deviation. I think there's a lot to be said how some things about boat design have not changed that much over the millennia. And like I said, Egyptian boats were 7:1, so we can safely take any strong biases for/against the Bible out of the equation. I think the big thing to take from the 6:1 ratio of the ark is, this boat was designed for stability in the event of catching a wave to its side--not to be a warship, or fish, or travel somewhere, etc.. Which is significant, considering he spent 100 years building the ark in the middle of what was likely arid land.

Noah was no engineer

707

tetleytea

on Dec 21, 2011

If he spent 100 years building a boat, I think he qualifies.

708

bigdave13

on Dec 21, 2011

To RiddleKing

To answer the question about why there aren't many prophets is because a good amount of the major ones were prophesying about Jesus coming to earth.

God did not comit genocied he brought two of the unclean animals and seven of all the clean animals and isn't it kinda obives that he wouldn't have to take any fish on the ark. I mean if fish have gills why not let them swim in the water. They could have taken two hermaphrodites with them because they still could reproudce with each other.

709

Philly0381

on Dec 21, 2011

Here is my take on this discussion, and just my opinion mind you, but as part of the current intelligent species on this planet I find it somewhat ironic that an equal amount of our time and effort isn't spent on solving the real problems that face us, like world hunger, world peace or disease all of which could be solved with a little more effort. I don't think there is one among you that could argue that by doing this we may also be able to finally find the answer to this whole god question.

Just my opinion mind you but in my mind that's what a god would expect us to do and not sit around the campfire debating the existence of god.

710

MortalKhrist

on Dec 21, 2011

BoobzTwo

reply 697

MortalKhrist, the title is "Science and God" ... not God being science. What does God need science for since everything is just a snap of the fingers (wiggle of the nose) away. Sooo … man (hahaha) was not made privy to the spirit world (check insane asylum clientele?) so we just muddle along as best we can mostly through trial and error, but we are getting there. If one is want to describe our understanding of the world around us and everything in it as our ‘science’, it’s ok with me. All I need to make my case is a reasonable encyclopedia … the opposition uses a two thousand year old black book compiled by likeminded folk (zealots one and all) from folk lore handed down verbally for uncountable generations. Hell, just give me Wikipedia and I am ready for the “debate (hehehe)”. If one is going to discuss God … I would think morals are at the center of the discussion and cannot be avoided, just me though.

Going by the idea that God made everything in the universe, God made science.

711

tetleytea

on Dec 21, 2011

I find it somewhat ironic that an equal amount of our time and effort isn't spent on solving the real problems that face us, like world hunger, world peace or disease all of which could be solved with a little more effort.

A few premises I disagree with. a) world hunger and world peace cannot exactly be solved with just a little more effort. b ) I don't think I agree that an equal amount of time is not already being spent on those things. And c) In order to establish world hunger as the higher priority, don't we first need to establish what's the purpose of life in the first place? Okay, so we want some people to live longer. Why? Why do we want people to live longer? What exactly have you accomplished besides increase the global population?

712

bigdave13

on Dec 21, 2011

One problem with word peace is that it can't happen because the radical Muslims won't stop at nothing to destroy us and that the radicals will also never make peace with Israel.

713

MortalKhrist

on Dec 21, 2011

bigdave13

reply 712

One problem with word peace is that it can't happen because the radical Muslims won't stop at nothing to destroy us and that the radicals will also never make peace with Israel.

What? So Muslims and Jews are fighting over the alphabet? Why? What is this "word peace" you speak of?

714

k10w3

on Dec 21, 2011

bigdave13

reply 712

One problem with word peace is that it can't happen because the radical Muslims won't stop at nothing to destroy us and that the radicals will also never make peace with Israel.

715

Jafo

on Dec 21, 2011

MortalKhrist

reply 713

What? So Muslims and Jews are fighting over the alphabet? Why? What is this "word peace" you speak of?

Can't end a sentence with a preposition....

" What is this "word peace" of which you speak?" .... Spell checker

716

Jafo

on Dec 21, 2011

Remember..."The red penis your friend..."

717

MortalKhrist

on Dec 21, 2011

Jafo

reply 715

Quoting MortalKhrist, reply 713What? So Muslims and Jews are fighting over the alphabet? Why? What is this "word peace" you speak of?

Can't end a sentence with a preposition....

" What is this "word peace" of which you speak?" ....

Oh you got me. damn.

718

Philocthetes

on Dec 21, 2011

bigdave13

reply 712

One problem with word peace is that it can't happen because the radical Muslims won't stop at nothing to destroy us and that the radicals will also never make peace with Israel.

Radicals won't make peace with Israel? Israel is a radical project in its own right, and the right-wing nutbars there (yes, I mean Bebe's crowd) are just as much to blame for the endless cycle of violence as the Hezbollah or PLO militants are. The failure of the efforts to achieve peace belong squarely at the feet of everyone who is in denial of the need for a two-state solution.

719

RiddleKing

on Dec 22, 2011

bigdave13

reply 708

To RiddleKing

To answer the question about why there aren't many prophets is because a good amount of the major ones were prophesying about Jesus coming to earth.

God did not comit genocied he brought two of the unclean animals and seven of all the clean animals and isn't it kinda obives that he wouldn't have to take any fish on the ark. I mean if fish have gills why not let them swim in the water. They could have taken two hermaphrodites with them because they still could reproudce with each other.

This a stupid answer based on speculation. Stop writing your own bible story.

Bigdave i think you have even lost perspective on what it means to be human and the so called beliefs you hold dear. "world peace is not hindered by religion so please remember that. There is always a peaceful way to changing people ideologies than just exterminating one another. You can't sit back and let people decide violence is the answer. You have to show them a peaceful solution exists and stop at nothing to achieve it (preferably without weapons). Narrow minded views are not acceptable in this world if we are to obtain peace and harmony and your thinking is questionable and your religion as a result is also questionable.

720

Brainsucker

on Dec 22, 2011

I'm curious : About the story of Noah Ark, Was it Noah himself who write the story? Or was it a folk Lore that been told from mouth to mouth for generations before it was written?

I think it is not relevant for us today to discuss about this story as a historical material, or as a fact, but more of morale teaching that it offer to the readers of the story. Well, I'm sure the writer didn't aim us, modern people who have a lot of materials to deny such story. but, long or short, the story teach the readers to believe in God, and if they believe and obey God's order, they would be save. It was success for thousand of years, and still workable for modern people like us.

I'm also curious, why there is no modern prophet nor teaching about God. Why there is no God intervention to human life? I mean, why God never show himself to us, the people and life with us?

but, I'm also curious with other thing, if God live among us, interfere with everything in this world, would we call him a God, or a Ruler? Would he become the Emperor of the world or just a sage that teach morale and good deed? Would he save people from death, or prevent poverty or would he just let everything like it is? And the last one is, would we happy and kneel, and bow to him everyday or think that we just a tool or slave that the purpose is only to satisfy God's will? What will we do? Do civilization will go like we know now or become something else? and, would we happy to obey his law, to learn his teaching, or maybe our free will would make us rebel against him?

Well, some time I think, that God as a mysterious being is better than him as the ruler of the world... physically.

RiddleKing

reply 703

FROM: http://christianity.about.com/od/biblestorysummaries/p/noahsarkflood.htm

>> Hermaphrodites are creatures of the same sex: e.g fish, reptiles: It is logical to ask why the text was phrased the way it was. Its incomplete thus once again questioning its validity. They cant take Hermaphrodites in pairs into the ark which means they didn't take everyone and left many to die.

Fish and reptiles are unclean?

Anyway, some time later he decided only jesus should die for our sins?:

If you ask me all of this death in his name doesn't sound like the god people are willing to believe in.

God was pleased with the offerings and promised never again to destroy all the living creatures as he had just done.?

>> really, he's very willing to admit his mistakes unlike some of the religious folks these days as they twist his words left right and centre. He did after all commit genocide on many species but hey there is no law to persecute god of-course because his god?

Well, No law will prosecute me if I massacre all people in my "The Sims" game. Maybe, God see us like us see our sims in the sims game. Who know. I'm not God,

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