Science In The Bible

[naomi24]

A day or two back a contributor here said….

“It's [the Bible's] contents are scientifically sound on matters that human researchers discovered only at a later date.”

…. but he declined to elaborate.

I know the bible fairly well, but I can’t think what he might be referring to. Does anyone have any idea?

Or perhaps he would like to explain?

[Zeuhl]

"I'm a spider"

"And how do you feel about that?"

[Hypognosis]

How long before the extant world population exceeds the number of people who had ever lived in the past?

What of reincarnation then? Will some people have to wander through life soulless?

Or is that where animals conveniently step in to help?

Or does a person have to flunk at 'untouchable' caste before they're 'downgraded' to animal status?

(I've put downgraded in inverted commas in case coming back as a pet is actually a step up from life as a human) ;-)

[pixie373]

Tis in my house, hypognosis:-)

[atalanta]

I've never seen any verifiable science in the bible, but there's certainly some very dodgy geography. If the hebrews had walked straight from Egypt to the promised land, it should have taken them 2 or 3 weeks. Since it is supposed to have taken 40 years, they must have wandered all round Africa two or three times.

[solvitquick]

Dear goodlife,
Your arguments against trust in science appear to be based on a misconception of what science is and can or cannot do.
Science is simply a method. It is a method of helping us understand how we and our environment work. There are set rulles to applying the method notably reproducibility by others. Therein is the way that science can refine our knowledge - yes by eventually someone disproving one theory and submitting a new one for verication. So this built in self criticism is the root of its success not a reason for its failure.
Science is not a religion nor the sole way of life (we do not fall in love scientifically). But it's our most valuable tool to understanding. I doubt if mankind can survive long enough to scientifically solve all of our ills. But it's done more good in two centuries than religion has done in many millenia.
Now to human wisdom! You say: "Some can see the folly of trusting in human wisdom".
True, that's what science does.
But from your own mouth you dismiss the wisdom of Solomon, Jesus and all the so-called wise men or women in the bible. Thank you.
SIQ.

[goodlife]

All this and humans can only look on and wonder. Scientists develop an awe “bordering on reverence” when they study nature,
And yet Brilliant design leads us to the logical conclusion, “that life was designed by an intelligent.

If so, what is that purpose?
Could it be to make humans to think more.?

Is it not reasonable, therefore, that the creator also has a purpose, one that includes humans? If so, what is that purpose?

[naomi24]

Goodlife, you’re making assumptions because you're looking at this from pre-conceived viewpoint. Before you attempt to employ reason, you must first clear your mind of all unverifiable pre-conceptions, and ask yourself why the men who have taught you what to believe know more about what a creator might be than anyone else. The rational answer to that is they don't.

[jomifl]

/ Scientists develop an awe “bordering on reverence” when they study nature, /

Has anyone found the logical link to this

/And yet Brilliant design leads us to the logical conclusion.../

GL just rely on faith because you can't do reasoning.

[jim360]

At some level goodlife's criticisms of Science amount to this: For all that Scientists have been able to achieve and actually put into practice, they still haven't gone as far as God is apparently able to go, but never has. Still, which side would you rather trust: the ones who can't do everything but try to do something, or the one who can do everything but has done nothing?

[Khandro]

Hypo.; //How long before the extant world population exceeds the number of people who had ever lived in the past?//
It is estimated that nearly 6% of all the people who ever lived are alive today, which is high, but a long way to go. We 6% are to die out anyway so the numbers are not accumulative.

[ludwig]

// It is estimated that nearly 6% of all the people who ever lived are alive today //

Blimey, some of them must be really old.

[goodlife]

No, I am saying religion and science are both examples of mankind’s desire to know the truth.

So the search for scientific truth is an ongoing operation.

Scientific “truths” of today may be tomorrow’s mistaken, and possibly even dangerous, ideas of yesterday.

[jomifl]

/they still haven't gone as far as God is apparently able to go,/
Apparently to whom? not to me certainly

[jomifl]

GL, at least the 'scientists' put a bit of thought an effort into it.

[naomi24]

Goodlife, //I am saying religion and science are both examples of mankind’s desire to know the truth.//

Indeed, but unlike religion, science doesn’t claim unsubstantiated guesses to be fact.

[goodlife]

Yes, when you see criticism even at its best, is speculative and tentative, something always liable to be modified or proved wrong and having to be replaced by something else.

Or you could say It is an intellectual exercise, subject to all the doubts and guesses, for you.

[Khandro]

//science doesn’t claim unsubstantiated guesses to be fact.// Most scientific 'facts' are only guesses in that they are the best understanding at the time, something else might, and often does, come along and provide a better explanation.

[naomi24]

Khandro, whatever science claims, it is never unsubstantiated. There is always tangible evidence.

[Hypognosis]

@goodlife

//Scientific “truths” of today may be tomorrow’s mistaken, and possibly even dangerous, ideas of yesterday. //

And which areas of current research would you like to see invalidated by future discoveries?

Nuclear Power?
Human Embryo Stem Cell research?
Blood transfusions?
Organ Transplantation?
Depleted uranium munitions?

Anything else?
(just don't re-hash the whole creationism thing all over again, please. It's already eaten a sizeable chunk of the internet's storage space)

[Hypognosis]

Khandro said:
// It is estimated that nearly 6% of all the people who ever lived are alive today //

Thanks, K

Still a long queue for reincarnation then? Reminds me to make more effort not to waste my turn. ;-)

Ludwig mused:

//Blimey, some of them must be really old. //

Heh heh. Wilfully misunderstood and all the funnier for it.