Posts by Alex 67

Pope says gravity proves technology can't supplant God

re: Scientific Laws = Articles of Scientific Faith

Er, no, they don't assume them to be true. They (the scientists) come up with testable hypothesis about the data that's been gathered. If the preponderance of evidence supports the hypothesis then the hypothesis may become a theory. Like the theory of gravity for instance. If there isn't sufficient evidence then it remains a hypothesis. And here's the important part; if new evidence comes to light then the theory is either modified or discarded.

And when it comes to gravity. There is a theory of gravity: how we *think* it works, and there is the fact of gravity: we are held on to the earth.

Finally, in science there is no proof. Just evidence that fits theories. Science tries to explain what happens in nature/universe; it doesn't prove anything. Of course some theories have a *lot* of evidence. The TOE has much more evidence, say, than the various theories of gravity.

re: OK, let's start an argument...

Well it's not a very useful god then. If it doesn't get involved with the affairs of mankind ('puny mammals' I assume) then really what *is* the point of believing in it? The god would just be fairly pointless. ergo, nothing to reconcile.

re: Donald Knuth agrees with you, as did Newton, as do and did hosts of others

You're using an 'appeal to authority' fallacy in your argument. Logically, it adds nothing to the question of whether your god exists or not. If you were born in ancient Greece you'd probably believe in their gods.

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"If you'll only believe in a god whom you can measure with our pathetic experiments and prove with our petty little logic then you've defined a god you're willing to believe in as one smaller than yourself, a god cast in your image rather than the other way around."

Ah, interesting. Did you see what you did there? You appear to have defined your god as having no detectable influence on the real world, in any shape or form. Is that what you intended? It's almost as if it doesn't exist. You've also defined it in a way that locks you completely into your belief system. Still if it makes you happy.