Deists and scientists: peaceful coexistence

[kowalskiL]

Have to agree with Arioch, they're very different, and there's no problem until they begin encroaching on each others turf, so to speak. The scientific method quantifies and explores the natural world through observation and experimentation. The theologic method explores spirituality through feelings, emotion, and scriptures. Many scientists are spiritual, and there's no issue so long as they don't try to mix two immiscible philosophies when performing their work in the fields of science. The quality assurance of peer review in most cases would likely catch that before publishing, but it's not a perfect system. I would think there is more resistance to bringing spirituality into science, than vice versa.

I was not thinking of bringing one field to another. The main point was to recognize, by scientists and theologians, that we live in two different worlds--material and spiritual--and that methods of refutation valid in one field are not valid in the other. Who is more resistant to this idea? I do not know.

Ludwik Kowalski
Former Communist: Thoughts, Feelings, Reality

[kowalskiL]

Only those who demand that others see it their way, create strife and conflict. I've had many rousing discussions about theology with atheists, where we've discussed our reasons for our views, without ever insulting or disparaging one another. It helps when it doesn't open with insults and a declaration of where the conversation will end up, of course.

As I already wrote, debates become futile when method of refutation acceptable in one field are used in another. Scientists should not try refute the existence of God by performing laboratory experiments--God is a spiritual entity. Likewise, theologians should not refute the age of the earth Billions of years) by referring to the Bible. Two worlds and two clearly described methodologies of validations/refutation should be recognized by all. But I do not expect this to happen very soon; certainly not during my life-time (I am 80) or in this century.

Ludwik Kowalski
Former Communist: Thoughts, Feelings, Reality