7 ms·
It's high time. There's no place for superstition in science
by bitcharmer 4y ago
It's high time. There's no place for superstition in science
- Tepix 4y agoAs Sagan put it: "Science as a Candle in the Dark"
- rationalfaith 4y ago[dead]
- mrwnmonm 4y ago"There's no place for superstition in science" The universe is eternal xD
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- WeylandYutani 4y agoHow did that quote go? "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic". When I was a child the creation myth from the Bible reminded me of aliens.
- hajile 4y agoLet's kick the can down the road of "who created the aliens?" and simply consider the alternatives for "who created us?" On the one hand, you have ALL major religions agree that powerful beings who came to earth (or created Earth) and populated it with humans. On the other hand, you have the "scientific" alternative. This is where you have several different asteroids all exactly the right size to have proto-atmospheres. Each atmosphere is different because the fundamental building blocks of life can't all form in the same atmosphere. They all develop their specific part of the equation. Now, they all happen to crash together in the exact same place at the exact same time. Their material is thrown together onto yet another asteroid with a different atmosphere sufficient to sustain life. Those materials happen to collide just right so they form a primitive lifeform. Finally, this meteor happens to crash on Earth (instead of any other planet) without generating enough heat or impact force to destroy the fledgling lifeforms and it happens to land on a part of Earth where the lifeforms won't be killed off by the surroundings. What are the odds all those asteroids form? That every one has different atmospheres? That the all hit the exact location at the same time? That the constituent parts aren't destroyed in this crash? That the parts randomly come together to form life? that this happens close to a solar system? That the solar system has the right star and planets to support that life? That the life isn't destroyed? Now put that up against a powerful alien (which could have formed under different universal rules without such astronomical odds) implanting life on a planet?
- Grustaf 4y agoPlacing your hand on a book and uttering words is the essence of being “superstitious”, at least if you aren’t religious.
- kube-system 4y agoRituals can have a social purpose beyond superstition: e.g. signaling.
- tigerlily 4y agoIn fairness, the act of it could equally be held superstitious even if one is religious.
- Grustaf 4y agoWell, not if the words are aimed at your God. In Christianity and many other religions it’s a very real thing to promise God you will do something, it’s not superstition.
- gobrewers14 4y agoBelieving that there is a god to promise something to is the definition of superstition.
- Grustaf 4y agoNo, that’s not what the word means. Religion and superstition are different concepts. This is a linguistic fact, regardless of your personal beliefs.
- defrost 4y agoSuperstitions are literally beliefs and practices about things supernatural. Supernatural is a term attributed to non-physical entities, such as angels, demons, gods, and spirits. It also includes claimed abilities embodied in or provided by such beings, including magic, telekinesis, levitation, precognition, and extrasensory perception. One persons superstition is frequently anothers religion.