I've said it before and I'll say it again:

[low_delta]

Some people believe that God created the universe and point to fossils and other scientific evidence as a record of His works, while some people believe that God created the universe and point to fossils and other scientific evidence as a myth perpetrated by nonbelievers. What the fuck?!

Comments

[hinterland.livejournal.com]

humans aren't intelligent, on the whole. not much point in listening to them ;)

[ravenfeather.livejournal.com]

The difference is how wide that crack in their mindset is that allows INFORMATION and EVIDENCE in. Some people have a metal security door installed over that crack, and have it locked with a code that they have forgotten.

They seem perfectly content to live like that.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and that security door is to keep their beliefs in as well as out.

info, evidence, and propoganda...

[dwivian]

Information is always sketchy -- it is necessarily biased as it is the interpretation of "facts as understood". Which means, of course, that it could be false, or misunderstood.

Evidence is also, by definition, subjective, as presentation of evidence is only done in an adversarial role and therefore requires a vested interest in the outcome of discussion, which creates an agenda in the presentation.

As both are subjective, it is necessary **not**A to have a chasm through which such observations are made, unfiltered. That way lends itself to confusion and a lack of thinking. A metal door is always a good idea when the information is inconsistent with known positions, you see.

The idea is to get facts, and allow critical reasoning based within. The problem with that position is that the identification of facts generates lots of information and evidence where experiential study is not possible or appropriate. Weeding through that requires not only a metal door, but several sieves and a good bullshit rejector.

Such is the case with the fossil record, where we find lots of supposition, information, and evidence that is outright wrong (remember the Brontosaurus, which never existed, but is a misguided attempt at bone assembly by someone wanting their name in the academic record?) because experience is lacking in a creature with a lifespan short of the epoch mark. We are making best-guess efforts, but there are also agendas, malpractice, and malfeasance to deal with (just as with any other profession).

However, to reject the attempt to apply the principles of scientific observation to things inherently unyielding to science is to throw the baby out with the diaper (we're not even to the bathwater yet). It is a poor choice to reject intellectualism outright, but many do, in a misguided attempt to preserve a worldview that is constantly under assault.

The problem with the Bible as science text is that it was never intended to be such a text, and using it incorrectly creates issues that cannot be resolved without critical reasoning (and the decision to quote the science of the Bible as superior to other methods shows a lack of critical analysis skills immediately). For those that cannot understand the fossil record or the ages involved in response to a literalist interpretation, and therefore assume conspiracy in the attempts by the scientific community to apply their craft to the world, the only possible response is to tout the Holy Book as definitive despite the issues within. It is almost impossible to reason with that sort even when you show them internal problems with the object of their perfection obsession.

Sometimes it sucks to be an academic and a theologian. It requires much from the pharmaceutical industry in order to cope. ::grin::

[sunshyncat.livejournal.com]

The bible can be interpreted to support evolution (heck, the bible can be interpreted to explain away an infinite number of things). Why people choose not to do that and create a big conflict over it instead is beyond me. I guess it's just human nature. Heaven only knows :P

Re: info, evidence, and propoganda...

[ravenfeather.livejournal.com]

*laughing* Been there.. done that..

[ravenfeather.livejournal.com]

very true. I envy them however. Those that don't constantly question.. EVERYTHING seem so content with their lot in life. Of course that could be a false assumption on my part, and a gift of projecting a content demeanor on theirs.