From: CurtAdams@aol.com
Date: Thu Jul 19 2001 - 17:27:05 MDT
In a message dated 7/19/01 12:58:32 PM, citizens@vcn.bc.ca writes:
>"I have faith and belief myself. I believe that the universe is
>comprehensible within the bounds of natural law and that the human brain
>can discover those natural laws and comprehend the universe. I have not
>evidence for this. IT IS SIMPLY WHAT I HAVE FAITH IN AND WHAT I BELIEVE".
>(Counting the Eons, p. 10)
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Is this statement scientific? Is it a dogma which the Extropian Religion
>should accept on faith and incorporate into its catechism (defined as
>"religious questions and answers")?
Pancritical Rationalism is a part of the Extropian Principles, and it holds
that nothing need be taken on faith and that all assumptions can and should
be critically analyzed. So, no, basing important beliefs on faith alone isn't
consistent with extropianism. The principles aren't a credo Extropians
swear to; particular Extropians can and do have beliefs at variance with
the EPs. Further, as principles based on the real world, they are open
to change. But, I'd say blind faith and dogma are pretty far out for
Extropianism; I would not call somone firmly attached to them an
Extropian while I would tend to call someone questioning perpetural
progress or self-direction an Extopian if they agreed with the other
principles.
IOW, I expect some evidence supporting blind faith ;-)
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