From: "Samantha Atkins" <samantha@objectent.com>
> "Robert J. Bradbury" wrote:
> >
> > While I normally grant almost all posters to the extropian list
> > a huge grain of salt, I must state that IMO the article by David
> > Selbourne was entirely useless.
> >
> > It was nothing more than a rundown of a position based on opinions
> > unsubstantiated by facts.
> >
> > Islam, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddism, etc. are faiths based
> > on the "blind" belief of one reality over another. Since they
> > are cannot be subjected to scientific debate, they are useless
> > from an extropian perspective.
>
> Is that a blind belief? Scientific validation is not the only
> way to come to what one considers valid ...
There is, of course, subjective validation (as in anecdotal evidence), but
scientific validation is consistenly the "best" evidence.
>... and crucially important.
Certainly subjective validation may be crucially important (yet that won't
make a particular belief more "true," but rather more "preferred" by
someone).
> Many spiritual systems do not require blind faith but consist of
> a series of exercises and practices possibly leading to a
> validation of a way of being in the world that is seen as of
> great value. Some of these sorts of practices exist within all
> of the major religions and outside of them as well. But I am
> sure you are aware of this also. So why speak as if religion is
> just about "blind belief"?
Even stone sober 20/20 belief is not as good as science, because science is
BEYOND belief. And that, IMHO, makes science a more serious pursuit for
those interested in critical thinking, rationality, and succinctness. (The
habit of scientific critical thinking may be an acquired taste for some, but
once acquired ...yummmmmm.)
Olga
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