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Cosmos - Science And Religion


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Posted (edited)

So I've been watching this new Series (started in 2014) on Hulu+ and have enjoyed it very much.

 

Cosmos_spacetime_odyssey_titlecard.jpg

 

The thing that has stuck out to me the most, especially in the latest episode has been the emphasis on being a humble science believer, and to not be a know it all In what every you do. (Which would include religion and other subjects). I also have enjoyed how it has treated religious subjects with dignity and respect.

 

For example... Speaking of the Alexandrian Library they treated the writings of Plato and Socrates and other great thinkers as important and respected as those of the scripture. Mentioning that it is because of this library that we have many of the Greek and Aaramaic copies of the scriptures that we do have. Its a real shame that the Mob set it ablaze! How much knowledge must have been lost?!  No wonders the world was plunged into the dark ages!

 

People might get the idea by my posting that I'm Anti-Science, which couldn't be farther from the truth.  Its just a pet peeve of mine when people seem to take one thing over the other and use what they call scientific "fact"  (If there even is such a thing because even in this series He makes it clear that those "facts" can change with further discovery which is what makes science exciting) and use it to bludgeon the opposition with or try and use those "facts" to ridicule others or belittle their faith.  The cynical side of me also likes to be an agitator and I find myself poking others in the eye with sticks way to often.  I just think that we all (me included) could take a lesson from this and raise the quality of our public discourse and interactions with each other when it comes to these subjects of Science and Religion and really anything that we talk about. Lets put down our differences as Meldromites and Sorensonites/FARMS-ites and recognize the merits and weaknesses of other theories than our own pet ones. I've been all over the map on the questions of BOM Geography. I once was stanch great lakes proponent, then a Meso America proponent. Now I'm leaning heartland,  but possibly hemespherical. So I'll claim to be agnostic on the subject. Because I see strengths and weaknesses in everything I've studied so far.  But I don't want to make this thread all about me so I digress.

 

The episode before this last one on Climate change and the way in which he presented it has done more to soften my stance on that subject than anything I've read to this point. There's no doubt that our climate is "changing", climates tend to do that now don't they?!  But what that means and some of the Apocalyptical images that many of the proponents invoke when speaking on the subject get under my skin and that cynical side of me peaks through and I start poking with sticks again.

 

They couldn't have picked a better logo for the series either, "The eye of God", it engenders the title of this thread perfectly.  The intersection of Science and religion. This series has been a really huge breath of fresh air, and I hope others can enjoy. 

Edited by Zakuska
Posted

Its captivating, at least from what little i have seen. I personally am not a fan of Neil DeGrasse Tyson so I cant really listen to it for more than a few minutes before he drives me crazy.

Posted

Its captivating, at least from what little i have seen. I personally am not a fan of Neil DeGrasse Tyson so I cant really listen to it for more than a few minutes before he drives me crazy.

The one that drives me crazy but in an entertaining sort of way is this guy, but I'm not sure any one would accuse him of being a scienctist. Well... maybe a mad scientist perhaps.

 

tumblr_lk8evdSSas1qjtfpzo1_500.jpg

Posted

So I've been watching this new Series (started in 2014) on Hulu+ and have enjoyed it very much.

 

Cosmos_spacetime_odyssey_titlecard.jpg

 

The thing that has stuck out to me the most, especially in the latest episode has been the emphasis on being a humble science believer, and to not be a know it all In what every you do. (Which would include religion and other subjects). I also have enjoyed how it has treated religious subjects with dignity and respect.

 

For example... Speaking of the Alexandrian Library they treated the writings of Plato and Socrates and other great thinkers as important and respected as those of the scripture. Mentioning that it is because of this library that we have many of the Greek and Aaramaic copies of the scriptures that we do have. Its a real shame that the Mob set it ablaze! How much knowledge must have been lost?!  No wonders the world was plunged into the dark ages!

 

People might get the idea by my posting that I'm Anti-Science, which couldn't be farther from the truth.  Its just a pet peeve of mine when people seem to take one thing over the other and use what they call scientific "fact"  (If there even is such a thing because even in this series He makes it clear that those "facts" can change with further discovery which is what makes science exciting) and use it to bludgeon the opposition with or try and use those "facts" to ridicule others or belittle their fatih.  The cynical side of me also likes to be an agitator and I find myself poking others in the eye with sticks way to often.  I just think that we all (me included) could take a lesson from this and raise the quality of our public discourse and interactions with each other when it comes to these subjects of Science and Religion and really anything that we talk about. Lets put down our differences as Meldromites and Sorensonites/FARMS-ites and recognize the merits and weaknesses of other theories than our own pet ones. I've been all over the map on the questions of BOM Geography. I once was stanch great lakes proponent, then a Meso America proponent. Now I'm leaning heartland,  but possibly hemespherical. So I'll claim to be agnostic on the subject. Because I see strengths and weaknesses in everything I've studied so far.  But I don't want to make this thread all about me so I digress.

 

The episode before this last one on Climate change and the way in which he presented it has done more to soften my stance on that subject than anything I've read to this point. There's no doubt that our climate is "changing", climates tend to do that now don't they?!  But what that means and some of the Apocalyptical images that many of the proponents invoke when speaking on the subject get under my skin and that cynical side of me peaks through and I start poking with sticks again.

 

They couldn't have picked a better logo for the series either, "The eye of God", it engenders the title of this thread perfectly.  The intersection of Science and religion. This series has been a really huge breath of fresh air, and I hope others can enjoy. 

 

It is certainly true that anything can be used for good or evil, including science. But the sad reality is that for all its faults science is a but a piker compared to the absolute horror that is religion when used by the wrong hands.

 

The good thing about an emerging scientific fact is that it's true whether or not you believe in it.

 

Global Warming is such an emerging scientific fact. Climates do change over time. CO2 holds heat. The more CO2 added over time the more heat is held. The amount of CO2 now in the air is greater than in anytime in the last 600,000 years. It is hubristic in the extreme to imagine that those facts will have no effect on the things that live on our planet, including us.

 

Stop the politics!

Posted

I always ask my children what they learn in school. I know too often our schools and the public system of education teach a completely godless paradigm where everything we discover has some purely naturalistic beginning and that God and religion are not to be involved. We recently went to Colorado and were in some rocks where there were dinosaur footprints and I was excited to get my pictures taken next to some tracks that were a few thousand years old. My son though that was cool. I feel I have taught him well that we killed off the dinosaurs a few hundred years ago and that we ourselves are not animals. You watch Cosmos and its important to realize that for the most part- its just a piece of science fiction work. 

Posted (edited)

Here's the episode on Climate change,

 

http://www.hulu.com/watch/643055

 

I like the final scene. We already have built in machines to process CO2 we just need to find better ways to use them. And yes... limit our CO2 footprint in the mean time.

 

We should make every day Arbor day!

photo.jpg

Edited by Zakuska
Posted

I always ask my children what they learn in school. I know too often our schools and the public system of education teach a completely godless paradigm where everything we discover has some purely naturalistic beginning and that God and religion are not to be involved. 

 

Just because schools don't teach about God in science class (and they shouldn't) doesn't mean the schools are anti-God.

Posted

Here's the episode on Climate change,

 

http://www.hulu.com/watch/643055

 

I like the final scene. We already have built in machines to process CO2 we just need to find better ways to use them. And yes... limit our CO2 footprint in the mean time.

 

We should make every day Arbor day!

photo.jpg

 

Good idea.

 

We're also working on non living processes to convert CO2 to fuel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_photosynthesis

Posted

 The more CO2 added over time the more heat is held. The amount of CO2 now in the air is greater than in anytime in the last 600,000 years. It is hubristic in the extreme to imagine that those facts will have no effect on the things that live on our planet, including us.

My question here is our methods of measuring ancient CO2. We had no instruments back then to measure so how can we say with complete accuracy what it was. Ice core bubble testing is fraught with issues  Ice melts and forms again and again. Climates eb and flow.

Posted

Just because schools don't teach about God in science class (and they shouldn't) doesn't mean the schools are anti-God.

We just need to realize that the public schools cant mention God and so when a teaching is taught from the naturalistic view (such as how life arose) we need to correct our childrens schooling so that they may know the truth.

Posted (edited)

Good idea.

 

We're also working on non living processes to convert CO2 to fuel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_photosynthesis

That sounds very promising.

 

Has anyone here ever looked into adding HHO gas into the fuel intake of their cars?  I've partially installed an HHO gas generator in my car but my daughter got sick and so medical bills came first and I haven't been able to buy my hydrogen cell.  I know Myth busters did an episode on these but I didn't feel they gave it much of a try or justice.  More like just trying to debunk some of the most out landish of the claims. Here is a video on it:

 

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xa5sl2_vw-beetle-with-hydrogen-kit-water-p_auto

 

Ive seen one where a guy uses a 16oz water bottle and drives 15 miles on it.

Edited by Zakuska
Posted

We just need to realize that the public schools cant mention God and so when a teaching is taught from the naturalistic view (such as how life arose) we need to correct our childrens schooling so that they may know the truth.

 

Mormonism is a philosophically naturalistic faith. 

Posted

We just need to realize that the public schools cant mention God and so when a teaching is taught from the naturalistic view (such as how life arose) we need to correct our childrens schooling so that they may know the truth.

 

I think the proper course would be to ADD TO the accurate teachings of the science class if you desire, not to correct the science teachings as if they are in err.

Posted

The thing that has stuck out to me the most, especially in the latest episode has been the emphasis on being a humble science believer, and to not be a know it all In what every you do. (Which would include religion and other subjects). I also have enjoyed how it has treated religious subjects with dignity and respect.

My take on the show is that is a noble effort to interest pre- and young teens in science. I found some of the language in the animated portions unnecessarily sophomoric and to underestimate the communication needs of that target group.

 

The show isn’t about religion, but shows how religion did have a role (one way or another) in the development of our understanding the cosmos through science, naturally from a scientific perspective.

 

I found the more personal sentiments that were expressed to reflect the higher common desires we all share (the desire to connect with our ancestors and where we came from, to protect our offspring and where they are going, etc.) and what is meaningful to us. Science certainly has a role in achieving those desires.

 

Realizing that one does not know everything is a two-edged sword: on one hand it helps us to be pure in heart, but on the other it is not the antidote against the subtle craftiness of men or being kept from the truth because of not knowing where to find it (D&C 123:11-12). And when it is leveraged to mean, “You don’t know everything / You don't know any better than I do,” it becomes a liability.

Posted

Thanks for sharing. I think its a noble and humble effort also for trying to open the minds of some of the stubborn religionists in the world as well as the stubborn Recliner scientists out there too.

 

I see it as bridge building.

 

In my experience it seems that many people of faith feel threatened by science because for some reason they think it leaves us Godless. I've been able to come to terms with it just by remembering that Science is the how he did/does it and he is the ultimate cause of it all. I realize others may look at that and think it naive or sophomoric , but its how Ive been able to stabilize my world view.

Posted

I think the proper course would be to ADD TO the accurate teachings of the science class if you desire, not to correct the science teachings as if they are in err.

How can you add truth to error? Thats precisely why you correct the wrong teaching.

Posted

How can you add truth to error? Thats precisely why you correct the wrong teaching.

We don't share the same views regarding the truth or error of most areas of scientific consensus.

Posted

We don't share the same views regarding the truth or error of most areas of scientific consensus.

God and truth run together- if you find one, the other is there also. All truth comes from God.

Posted

 But the sad reality is that for all its faults science is a but a piker compared to the absolute horror that is religion when used by the wrong hands.

 

 

 

I don't recall that it was religion that brought us nuclear bombs and hell fire missiles.  Each is bad enough on its own but when it gets really bad is when they team up.

Posted

God and truth run together- if you find one, the other is there also. All truth comes from God.

Satan tells the truth at least part of the time.

Posted

I don't recall that it was religion that brought us nuclear bombs and hell fire missiles.  Each is bad enough on its own but when it gets really bad is when they team up.

Amen to that.

Posted

I always ask my children what they learn in school. I know too often our schools and the public system of education teach a completely godless paradigm where everything we discover has some purely naturalistic beginning and that God and religion are not to be involved. We recently went to Colorado and were in some rocks where there were dinosaur footprints and I was excited to get my pictures taken next to some tracks that were a few thousand years old. My son though that was cool. I feel I have taught him well that we killed off the dinosaurs a few hundred years ago and that we ourselves are not animals. You watch Cosmos and its important to realize that for the most part- its just a piece of science fiction work. 

 

I still can't tell if you're for real.

Posted

So I've been watching this new Series (started in 2014) on Hulu+ and have enjoyed it very much.

 

Cosmos_spacetime_odyssey_titlecard.jpg

 

The thing that has stuck out to me the most, especially in the latest episode has been the emphasis on being a humble science believer, and to not be a know it all In what every you do. (Which would include religion and other subjects). I also have enjoyed how it has treated religious subjects with dignity and respect.

 

 

I'm glad you mentioned this as I've seen the show unfairly characterized as anti-religion due to the first couple of episodes.  If one watches the entire series they'll realize instead that the overarching theme is to not be afraid to question and challenge the status quo, whether that be religion or the established science of the day.

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