----- Original Message ----- From: "Erik Reuter" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Killer Bs Discussion" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2003 12:10 PM Subject: Re: Twenty (or so) Questions, was Re: Plonkworthy?
> On Wed, Jun 11, 2003 at 10:32:06AM -0400, Jon Gabriel wrote: > > > I think, although I could be wrong, that this is where Erik was going > > with his question. Am I right? > > Pretty much. I've notice religous people like to sidestep these > questions because they don't have a rational answer. > > > > > > >>Can you explain why a survey published in the September 1999 issue of > > >>Scientific American found that 90% of Americans believe in a personal > > >>god and life after death, but only 40% of scientists (people with at > > >>least a B.S. degree in a scientific field) believe in these phenomena? > > > > > >Nope. Certainly not without the survey in front of me to study its > > >methodology. A lot of the scientists I know personally belong to the 40% > > >group, but of course that could be selection bias. > > > > > > > > > > A while back I remember reading a story about a website where scientists > > who believe in God and spirituality could connect and voice their views > > without fear of being ostracized by the scientific community. If it's > > still around, when I get more time, I'll post it to the list. > > Here is my explanation. Science is by far the best tool humans have > developed for testing knowledge. Are you really willing to accept anything that is not subject to scientific testing as no more real than God? I've noticed that most folks who claim they do end up doing a lot of arm waving to explain why things that have no scientific basis really do because they really really believe in them. I'm not saying that you act this way; you've pleasantly surprised me a few times in the past. But, if not, we can explore how much is really verified by experiment. Dan M. P.S. I can give a long answer to your 20 questions if you really want that; but it involves how I differ with some of the premises that underlie the question...and would take a while to write clearly. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
