Quizzes & Puzzles35 mins ago
Is a Solar Eclipse evidence of a divine purpose?
26 Answers
It is, according to this religious commentator;
http://
coincidence-prof-dawkins/
From the article;
"One more thing I find intriguing. The sun is huge and ninety-three million miles away and the small moon is in our backyard, a mere quarter of a million miles away. Yet in an eclipse their discs precisely cover each other. Don’t therefore imagine that anyone designed it that way. It’s just a cosmic coincidence, isn’t it, Professor Dawkins?"
Well actually, yes, it is coincidence :) We know this, because science tells us about the variation from the perfect circular orbit of the earth around the sun and the moon around the earth.What kind of a god wants to be associated with slapdash wobbly and eccentric orbits?
We also know, from science, that the size of the corona and hence the aesthetic impact, will vary from eclipse event to eclipse event. And indeed, in a few thousand years time science tells us that a "total eclipse" will look very different, since the moon is gradually receding from the earth. This knowledge only adds to the awesomeness though :) And because science tells us how eclipses occur, we also know that an eclipse cannot be considered some sort of exclusive message from god to mankind, since eclipses happen elsewhere within the solar system, indeed, throughout the galaxy.
The good doctor neatly illustrates a point some posters here have repeatedly inferred. That a science perspective or a rational understanding of a phenomenon somehow chills or degrades our aesthetic sense, whist having religion faith, or a spiritual belief, somehow enhances and warms our aesthetic appreciation.
But neither proposition is true. Understanding a phenomenon can only enhance our appreciation, our sense of wonder, because not only do we experience the visceral, sensory impact of a phenomenon, our intellect also experiences and is stimulated by the knowledge of the mechanics. Its like having a shot of expresso in a cappucino.
http://
coincidence-prof-dawkins/
From the article;
"One more thing I find intriguing. The sun is huge and ninety-three million miles away and the small moon is in our backyard, a mere quarter of a million miles away. Yet in an eclipse their discs precisely cover each other. Don’t therefore imagine that anyone designed it that way. It’s just a cosmic coincidence, isn’t it, Professor Dawkins?"
Well actually, yes, it is coincidence :) We know this, because science tells us about the variation from the perfect circular orbit of the earth around the sun and the moon around the earth.What kind of a god wants to be associated with slapdash wobbly and eccentric orbits?
We also know, from science, that the size of the corona and hence the aesthetic impact, will vary from eclipse event to eclipse event. And indeed, in a few thousand years time science tells us that a "total eclipse" will look very different, since the moon is gradually receding from the earth. This knowledge only adds to the awesomeness though :) And because science tells us how eclipses occur, we also know that an eclipse cannot be considered some sort of exclusive message from god to mankind, since eclipses happen elsewhere within the solar system, indeed, throughout the galaxy.
The good doctor neatly illustrates a point some posters here have repeatedly inferred. That a science perspective or a rational understanding of a phenomenon somehow chills or degrades our aesthetic sense, whist having religion faith, or a spiritual belief, somehow enhances and warms our aesthetic appreciation.
But neither proposition is true. Understanding a phenomenon can only enhance our appreciation, our sense of wonder, because not only do we experience the visceral, sensory impact of a phenomenon, our intellect also experiences and is stimulated by the knowledge of the mechanics. Its like having a shot of expresso in a cappucino.
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I think I'll try out goodlife's claim that the bible's advice has always proved practical. Let me see now...
Oh yes, there's that 'turn the other cheek' bit. The next time someone steals a tenner from my left-hand pocket I'll point out that there's another tenner in my right-hand pocket that he can steal as well.
And the next time a chap rapes one of my daughters I'll offer him another daughter; after all, I've got three.
All very practical, I'm sure.
Oh yes, there's that 'turn the other cheek' bit. The next time someone steals a tenner from my left-hand pocket I'll point out that there's another tenner in my right-hand pocket that he can steal as well.
And the next time a chap rapes one of my daughters I'll offer him another daughter; after all, I've got three.
All very practical, I'm sure.
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