Atheism and Theism; two wheels of the same cart.
It seems that a common thread on the CoV mailing list is one of discrediting
the religious for their blind faith and belief in the teachings of the bible
and of their ministers. For example, a previous poster recanted a time when he
attended a 'debate' on creationism and evolution at a local church. He was
suprised to see the congregation support the minister's defense of
creationism--even after having heard evidence supporting evolution. In fact,
it seems that religious faith is a popular and easily attacked target for the
'scientific' community. Geez, I think it's time to remove the 2X4 from our
Yesterday, I visited Richard Dawkin's website. I went to the "books" link and there was a short listing of his books with description. The webmaster then gives you a recommended reading order depending on your goals. One of the goals was "I want to defend evolution against creationist", to which, the visitor is then directed to buy "The Blind Watchmaker".
Is there any fundamental difference between this example and a religious person who reads the bible and accepts it as truth?
How many of us (general public w/interest in science) quickly validate the theories and claims made in the popular science works of Dawkins, Gould, Bloom, etc., without ever doing our own research or otherwise applying our own scrutiny and skepticism? Aren't we guilty of this phenomenon called faith? I've heard, "to know without doing is not knowing"; how many pseuo-intellectual--would be scientists among us does this describe?
I am not defending the concept of faith or the religious mind. I just think
that in many cases atheists are the evolutionary 'pots' calling the creationist
'kettles' black. We just open a hole in our back large enough for our chosen
ministers (Darwin, Dawkins... whoever)to put their hand in there and then use
us as the ventriliquistic mediums of their work. Regardless of whether these
scientist/authors are right or not, until we ourselves see it, hear it, touch
it taste it and otherwise live out these theories, we are reduced to nothing
more than Sunday morning yes men.
Michael Fulford
Disgruntled Wage Laborer