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Originally Posted by ardeegee
But as for any god with actual, non-nebulous details about them? Those have been on the defensive ever since the Enlightenment (and earlier.) Before Galileo, Earth was thought to be the literal center of the universe-- until it had to be handwaved away as metaphorical. Before (the general period surrounding) Darwin, the age of the Earth was thought to be a literal few thousand years-- but now it has to be handwaved away as metaphorical (except for the true nitwits who still believe in a Young Earth.) Science is constantly chipping away at things the religious once thought to be literal facts but are constantly being faced with the choice between handwaving away to metaphor or clinging to in the face of all evidence.
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There is, of course, a third option....
Simply admit; "hey, we got it wrong and now with greater understanding we are happy to accommodate the known facts into our view of the world."
Which is pretty much what science does when new information proves a previous hypothesis was incorrect.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by ardeegee
Yes, science and religion are in conflict. And science is winning (on the side of understanding if not on the side of popularity.)
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You know it has been said the cold war arms race was only won when one side walked away. Conflict breeds conflict and it is only when one side or the other walks away that the conflict will end.
Atheists could walk away from the conflict by getting on with understanding the world through science and letting the theists cling to whatever beliefs they like.
Theists could walk away from the conflict by doing one of two things;
1: Accepting scientific understanding and incorporating such into their belief systems by modifying said belief systems or;
2: Clinging to whatever beliefs they feel like but accepting that they can't, and have no right to attempt to, force others to share their views.
So which do you think is going to happen sooner?
The way it's going now I think too many people on both sides are having way too much fun reveling in the conflict to let it go.
Cheers,
PKFFW