Hi y'all - quite the reverse, I disagree with the statement. Scientific (physical) theories do define the emergence of life in the universe. I'm happy with Dawkins' Goldilocks planet and Dennett's description of the beginnings of life on this planet in "Darwin's Dangerous Idea." These scientifice theories need no assistance.
On Sep 17, 4:05 pm, ornamentalmind <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > clog, not sure I understand your point. As best as I can tell, you are > agreeing that physical theories alone do not define, predict or > explain...if you want to expand some it would help me. > > On Sep 17, 8:22 am, Clogtowner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > Hi y'all - yes that is an interesting article. I don't fully agree by > > any means and I choose one of the main themes to nit pick: "Physical > > theories alone do not define, predict or explain the emergence of life > > in the > > universe." If we are searching for absolutes, then of course, I agree > > with the preceding statement, but given overwhelming evidence > > accompanying a scientific theory, I feel that the emergence of life in > > the universe is defined (its in the bible!) > > > On Sep 16, 3:40 pm, ornamentalmind <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > For what I see as a rather balanced view of 'gaps', I strongly suggest > > > this short article by Alan Wallace, "Materialism of the Gaps." > > > >http://www.sbinstitute.com/PDF%20AW.org/sctheo.pdf > > > > It is in pdf format. If you have to use html use this > > > link.http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:Ye8StlnCWlsJ:www.sbinstitute.com... > > > > On Sep 16, 12:56 pm, Isparklaria <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > On Sep 16, 12:19 pm, "Jason (Memphis)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > wrote > > > > > > That reference on p. 28 is calling out the pseudo-science in New Age > > > > > religions. > > > > > I agree that it is common for proponnents of New Age ideas, practices, > > > > religions and so forth to use gaps in scientific understanding as > > > > "proof" of their opinions. In this they resemble many other > > > > dogmatists. However the second part of that statment does not negate > > > > the first half, which reads, "These conundrums, which ought indeed to > > > > make us reexamine any scientific dogmas we may embrace.” Jason, do you > > > > suppose that Price is saying science has dogmas or do you think that I > > > > have interpreted correctly by saying that he really means scientistic > > > > dogmas? > > > > > On Sep 16, 12:19 pm, "Jason (Memphis)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > wrote: > > > > > > Most of the books that I read are science and philosophy--only a few > > > > > are mostly skeptical. > > > > > > Price is more in line with the way I look at these alternative > > > > > religions. > > > > > > That reference on p. 28 is calling out the pseudo-science in New Age > > > > > religions. > > > > > > I wasn't calling you out either but I did remember our debates about > > > > > Martin Gardner, Carl Sagan, CSICOPs and so forth and thought that > > > > > Price might be in that category. > > > > > > Jason > > > > > > On Sep 16, 11:07 am, Isparklaria <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > > On Sep 15, 8:27 am, "Jason (Memphis)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > > > wrote: > > > > > > > >I thought that Michael would be turned > > > > > > > off by book because it goes after "New Thought" and "New Age" > > > > > > > religions. > > > > > > > Jason, > > > > > > > I thought that you might not like the book because it is more > > > > > > philosophically oriented, rather than just being skeptical. In > > > > > > addition to just challenging idealistic monistic metaphysics, new > > > > > > age > > > > > > interpretations of quantum mechanics and other physics, new age > > > > > > extrapolations from quantum mechanics and other poor examples of > > > > > > reasoning by new age/new thought adherents, the author also > > > > > > challenges > > > > > > scientistic dogmas (he calls them scientific dogmas). He says, in > > > > > > the > > > > > > middle of the first paragraph of on page twenty eight, in reference > > > > > > to > > > > > > the mysteries of quantum mechanics,” These conundrums, which ought > > > > > > indeed to make us reexamine any scientific dogmas we may embrace.” > > > > > > > On the other hand, I have noticed that as I have become more > > > > > > realistic > > > > > > about new age nonsense, you also have seemed to recognize the limits > > > > > > of scientism and pseudo skepticism. For that reason you may like a > > > > > > book that rightly points out there is often some good in new age > > > > > > religions. The author even likes the Bible, though he is an > > > > > > atheist. I > > > > > > can understand his feeling since I like the Bible and don’t believe > > > > > > in > > > > > > its crazy bully of a god either. Actually I do believe that I AM > > > > > > exists, but I AM is not God, a god, a goddess an angel or anything > > > > > > else like that. What I Am is, in my opinion, is so obvious that we > > > > > > most people miss it. The secret is hidden in plain sight, where no > > > > > > one > > > > > > dares to look > > > > > > > On Sep 15, 8:27 am, "Jason (Memphis)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > > > wrote: > > > > > > > > the book that we are reading for book club (Top Secret by Robert > > > > > > > Price) > > > > > > > > The first chapter was good. I thought that Michael would be > > > > > > > turned > > > > > > > off by book because it goes after "New Thought" and "New Age" > > > > > > > religions. In some of these alternative religions, your mental > > > > > > > powers > > > > > > > or mind influences the environment around you by vibrating your > > > > > > > surrounding with sort mind beam that helps you control your > > > > > > > surrounding (or some other mind control of your surroundings). > > > > > > > Most > > > > > > > people would just think that positive thinking and persistance > > > > > > > helps > > > > > > > you "do" or "say" the right things to get what you want--not > > > > > > > project > > > > > > > some sort of mystical mental energy on your surroundings to > > > > > > > control > > > > > > > it. > > > > > > > > Regardless, the book "The Secret" (not Top Secret) and New > > > > > > > Thought/New > > > > > > > Age religions are very popular in some circles and parts of the > > > > > > > country. > > > > > > > > Jason- Hide quoted text - > > > > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Memphis Freethought Alliance" group. 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