Lump the bum in with Carl Sagan and all the other arrogant atheists who believe that God doesn't exist because of their total faith in human senses and human reason. Duh. Science is not opposed to religion, but science can become an alternative religion.
A brilliant scientist that one can learn from does not necessarily make a brilliant philosopher or theologian to learn from. Academic religious education is another complex discipline on its own.
Atheism vs. Christianity is a discussion where scientists on both sides can agree on actual empirical science and disagree on issues concerning theology and first cause.
It is funny, Sagan came up in my satire and theology comments last night as a blog troll implied that I just read my Bible.
Your points are right on. I think what surprised me most about Einstein's attitude was the dismissive (and epistemologically naive) attitude towards "limited causation" (creation by God ex nihilo). A coherent scientist is more able to say, "understanding about whether there was a supernatural cause to the universe we perceive is simply beyond our natural understanding, and I can not find the faith within myself to believe what Abraham and Moses say they heard from their God, let alone what Jesus claimed to be revealing." Etc. And then the rest of what Einstein does say is certainly o.k. But no, he has to claim believers are mental midgets.
I prefer Stephen Hawking's answer is an improvement on the arrogant Sagan (and Einstein): at least he says that questions about where the universe comes from are irrelevant because they cannot be answered with a mathematical formula. Now that's honest.
Thanks for popping by as always!
I think what surprised me most about Einstein's attitude was the dismissive (and epistemologically naive) attitude towards "limited causation" (creation by God ex nihilo).
A strictly empirical philosophical approach to life can rule out God from being a possible consideration.
A coherent scientist is more able to say, "understanding about whether there was a supernatural cause to the universe we perceive is simply beyond our natural understanding
This is where divine revelation/theology and philosophy come into play.
I prefer Stephen Hawking's answer is an improvement on the arrogant Sagan (and Einstein): at least he says that questions about where the universe comes from are irrelevant because they cannot be answered with a mathematical formula.
Agreed.
Thanks for popping by as always!
Happy Weekend, Mr Ox. I appreciate your comments too.
Thanks for the inspiration. I cover this topic here:
http://thekingpin68.blogspot.com...-who-
cares.html
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