04-07-2007, 12:32
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#182
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Trollsplatter
Cable Forum Team
Join Date: Jun 2003
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Re: Floods are a judgement on society, say bishops
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Originally Posted by Ramrod
<snip>Historically, religion has been a major damper on scientific discovery. From anatomy to medicine to physics to astronomy; religion has proven itself to be a massive negative force....
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Beg your pardon, but that's plain nonsense. Have a read of this:
Quote:
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When we look back on the various intellectual and technological achievements that have given rise to modern science, it is easy to think that humanity has merely traversed a necessary path towards an inevitable discovery of the truth about the world. Our understanding of nature in all of its details and all of its glory never ceases to surprise us as once held mysteries are more and more understood to be the intricate workings of physical processes. Such a viewpoint easily guides us to the conclusion that all mysteries in life will one day be disrobed and submit to rational comprehension. Religion, now forced into a small reserve of morals and ethics, will eventually forfeit the last of its entitlements. This totally ahistorical account of science betrays the significant place religion has held in the lives of the very scientists canonised in the history of modern science. Robert Boyle, who made experiment the norm, Michael Faraday and James Clerk Maxwell, who mathematised electricity and magnetism, and Arthur Eddington, who calculated the inner workings of stars, all held sincere religious beliefs. At the very least, modern science owes a debt to those with religious faith. But more importantly, as we examine the progress and development of their scientific discoveries in light of their theological convictions, we see that religion and science were not merely accidental companions in the lives of these scientists. Their scientific work was often formed out of metaphysical convictions, investigative tools, moral values, and social practices all deeply rooted in their religion.
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(emphasis mine)
That's from an introduction to a research paper called 'The Role of Religion in Scientific Creativity', published by the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion at St Edmund's College, Cambridge.
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