On: A scientist must go where the evidence leads

[simonsarris]

Agree very much. It's a terrible state to be in.

I think religion's job is not to explain things, as the very non-religious (and even now, most religious!) seem to think, but to leave you in wonder, to fill you with the mystery of the world.

Demanding such an explanation from your religion seems like asking for the wrong thing. Like asking your cat to sub in as a human baby. You will be disappointed, and scratched.

> Corollary to this is that everybody is Religious and everybody is Scientific, and plays the card when its needed.

I think you are right. And yet, I wish people were more religious, and filled with wonder, open to mystery. I also wish people were more scientific too, and took their life seriously enough to practice, experiment, measure their health, wealth, etc.

[krapp → simonsarris]

>I think religion's job is not to explain things, as the very non-religious (and even now, most religious!) seem to think, but to leave you in wonder, to fill you with the mystery of the world.

Religions were created when there was no concept of a separation between a physical and metaphysical world, when everything natural was also supernatural. Religion's job is not only to explain things, but to assert itself as the only valid explanation.

Also, I disagree that religion is necessary for one to be able experience wonder and mystery in the world. One doesn't need to believe in faeries at the bottom of a pool to appreciate its beauty.

[kiba → simonsarris]

I don't see why we need to appeal to religion to have a system of morality or having a sense of wonder.

[wellpast → kiba]

You don't have to appeal to religion -- in the word.

But you will be appealing to something that isn't Scientific rhetoric, call it what you will.

You can just use the word Wonder if you like.

I only object when one approaches someone else (like a religious person) and accuses them of being "wrong" and "un-scientific".

You are both doing the same thing. One is staring at Wonder. The other is staring at God.

Or call me wrong and devise whatever vocbulary you want that is better than this^^

But god-forbid anyone think they're on higher ground just because they have a different word for it.