02.27.06
Dennett: A Science Authority
Here’s quote from Dennett’s article in the current instalment of Seed magazine. I would have to admit Dennett has shock value: his thinking is so silly you are taken aback, Can he be serious?
What exactly are the ‘magnificent truth-seeking tools of science’ that are going to be used on religion?
One thing I would like to know is, how many sufis are there per square mile in, say, Arabia?
Dennett produces an ugly phrase, the ‘authority of science’. What authority? Please tell me.
There is none. A century of muddle on Darwinism, plus the lies, how on earth will scientists even reach first base on religion?
Defy scientific authority on sight. It’s over.
Scientific evidence, for reductionist style problems solved, fine. But that’s not authority.
But if scientists start mouthing off on god, soul, and the metaphysical mainline, their authority is bogus.
Unfortunately, they have reached critical mass stage where idiots can be made to knuckle under.
I care little for ID, but the IDM’s real task seems to kick that kind of science in the teeth. Let’s hope they kill each other off.
Religion is such an important phenomenon that it is high time we directed all the magnificent truth-seeking tools of science on religions, to see ( what makes them work in the ways they do. I am not suggesting that science should try to do what religion does, but that it should study, scientifically, what religion does. Is there a ( good reason to oppose this? Those who are dubious about, or fearful of, the authority of science will ~ have to search their souls. Do they acknowledge the power of science, properly conducted, to settle controversial factual questions or do they reserve judgment, waiting to see what the verdict will be? The ethos of science is that you pay a price for the authoritative confirmation of your favorite hypothesis, risking an authoritative refutation of it. Those who want to make claims about religion will have to live by the same rules: prove it or drop it. And if you set out to prove it and fail, you are obliged to tell us.
The potential benefits to religion of joining the scientific community are enormous: getting the authority of science in support of what you say you believe with all your heart and soul…