Science Finds God | Hacker News Reader

Science Finds God

newsweek.com

8 pointsnickb10 comments

I've always wrestled with the whole Science vs. Religion issue, and my conclusion is that we shouldn't necessarily question either group, but the debate itself.

Why can't Science and Religion complement each other? I don't believe in the 7-day creation, but that doesn't mean there's no higher power that played a role in the big bang, creation of life, and subsequent evolution.

The biggest problem Religion has is its resistance to change. The Bible was written thousands of years ago, across many centuries. It was written for its own time. As our knowledge and understanding of the world around us and the universe at large changes, so must our interpretation of the Bible.

It may sound lame, but the movie Dogma had a profound impact on my religious beliefs. Dick and fart jokes aside, the message that it is better to have a good idea rather than strict beliefs has stuck with me since I first watched it many years ago. The humor may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is worth watching once.

Doesn't mean there is either. You can't disprove it & you won't prove it. It's a hypothesis that's no use in understanding the world.

I believe his point was that science and religion don't necessarily conflict with each other.

Yes, religion suggests things that have no use to understanding the world in raw science terms. Instead, it tries to find meaning. While I love science and the great benefits/improvements it gives us, it has not taken any steps (nor should it) towards finding true meaning in my life.

"Meaning" is an urge like any other. I'm sure we'll understand it as we learn more about the brain.

I think they conflict in the sense that people with that need to find meaning get strange ideas about the nature of the world. Of course it doesn't have to be this way, but it is often the case.

strange ideas about the nature of the world

You mean like string theory?

It's a hypothesis that's no use in understanding the world.

It really depends on how you define "understanding". If the wonder of existence is such that you cannot believe it is anything but purposely created, so be it. There's nothing that conflicts with science in that belief.

"The more deeply scientists see into the secrets of the universe, you'd expect, the more God would fade away from their hearts and minds. But that's not how it went for..."

That's misleading. It does go that way for scientists as a group.

Such a worthless article. I coudn't continue reading after the first mention of quantum physics

"This points to a very deep fact about the nature of the universe, namely, that our minds, which invent mathematics, conform to the reality of the cosmos. We are somehow tuned in to its truths. Since pure thought can penetrate the universe's mysteries, this seems to be telling us that something about human consciousness is harmonious with the mind of God"

Why is it surprising that our minds "conform to the reality of the cosmos"? They are, after all, part of the cosmos. Yes, our minds are harmonious with nature (call it God, if you must) because our minds are nature.

religion = irrational belief (like lottery)

science = rational belief (like repeatable success)

It's dangerous to think that science can never equal irrational belief.

In fact, most scientific progress begins with a person's slightly irrational belief. The crazies move us forward because they constantly challenge the common wisdom.

That being said, this comment is not a defense of religion.

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