Scientists, theologians ponder if latest biological findings are more compatible with religion

[guillaumeb]

From the article:

Unlike the earlier views, which seemed to lead toward either agnosticism or atheism, the theologians see this “new biology” or “holistic biology” as more compatible with religious belief.............

But he added: “It would be naive to imagine that the grander questions about biology, religion, the humanities and evolutionary theory generally have been put to death.”

To read more:

http://religionnews.com/2017/07/28/scientists-theologians-ponder-if-latest-biological-findings-are-more-compatible-with-religion/

[trotsky]

1. ...

“Nature is so complex and rich and that prompts questions about why on earth is this the case? If you’re an atheist, how do you explain a universe that seems to have the capacity to produce these things in the first place?” asked Alister McGrath, an Oxford theologian who is director of the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion that hosted the conference.

This is just the Argument from Personal Incredulity. Is this really what passes for advanced theological thought?

“The life sciences tell us that the building blocks of what we call morality are actually found — presumably they were selected for — in nonhuman social primates,” he said. “Science gives you an account of what otherwise looks like magic: Why do we have a moral sense to begin with? How did we develop it?”

Considering that other animals also display a moral sense, why do we need to assume it couldn't possible have arisen naturally? The theologian needs to explain why his or her god is needed. The scientist doesn't need to prove a god *wasn't* needed.

[beam me up scottie]

2. "Holistic" or "new" biology is also known as intelligent design.

For theologians who see a “new biology” emerging, this knowledge points to a more holistic system than scientists have traditionally seen, one more open to some divine inspiration for life.

In this view, the fact that epigenetic markers can bring outside pressures to bear on the genome deep inside a human means genetics is not a closed system, but part of the wider sweep of nature in which they, as religious thinkers, also see God’s hand.

“Nature is so complex and rich and that prompts questions about why on earth is this the case? If you’re an atheist, how do you explain a universe that seems to have the capacity to produce these things in the first place?” asked Alister McGrath, an Oxford theologian who is director of the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion that hosted the conference.

This in turn opened a space for theologians to augment the discussion about the “new biology,” he said.

People would take theologians more seriously if they would stop trying to co-opt science. Intelligent design proponents should stick to preaching about deities and leave science to scientists. Their constant need to redefine scientific terms and theories so they can make room for their God smacks of desperation. Like the last gasps of dinosaurs who know the end is near.

Bullshit by any other name smells just as bad.

*apologies to Shakespeare

[trotsky]

3. God of the gaps.

Theologians get very excited when a new gap is found, even if it's smaller than the last one. "Maybe we can squeeze god in there!"

“People think that epilepsy is divine simply because they don't have any idea what causes epilepsy. But I believe that someday we will understand what causes epilepsy, and at that moment, we will cease to believe that it's divine. And so it is with everything in the universe” ― Hippocrates

“No one infers a god from the simple, from the known, from what is understood, but from the complex, from the unknown, and incomprehensible. Our ignorance is God; what we know is science.” ― Robert G. Ingersoll, On the Gods and Other Essays

“The God excuse, the last refuge of a man with no answers and no argument.” ― George Carlin

“Operationally, God is beginning to resemble not a ruler, but the last fading smile of a cosmic Cheshire Cat.” ― Julian Huxley, Religion Without Revelation

“The more a man is imbued with the ordered regularity of all events the firmer becomes his conviction that there is no room left by the side of this ordered regularity for causes of a different nature. For him neither the rule of human nor the rule of divine will exist as an independent cause of natural events.

"To be sure, the doctrine of a personal God interfering with the natural events could never be refuted, in the real sense, by science, for this doctrine can always take refuge in those domains in which scientific knowledge has not yet been able to set foot. But I am persuaded that such behavior on the part of the representatives of religion would not only be unworthy but also fatal.

"For a doctrine which is able to maintain itself not in clear light but only in the dark, will of necessity lose its effect on mankind, with incalculable harm to human progress."

- Science and Religion (1941) ― Albert Einstein

[beam me up scottie]

4. And that gap is getting smaller all the time.

They're using industrial size crowbars to try to wedge God into the new findings, they pair nicely with the industrial size manure shovels they use to serve intelligent design to the masses.

Spealing of industry, have you noticed that intelligent design has become quite a lucrative business? A huge niche market has opened up and bullshit factories like Answers in Genesis depend on their suppliers so they can continue to serve home schoolers and bible colleges.

Gotta keep those machines running, we're falling behind on converts and we need to make quota!


Awesome collection of quotes btw.

[Lordquinton]

5. Sorry Theologians

The courts already ruled against you on this issue.

https://www.aclu.org/other/trial-kitzmiller-v-dover

[Act_of_Reparation]

6. Theologian thinks new science means something it clearly does not.

Totes surprising, I know.

[AtheistCrusader]

7. This is like re-heated corned beef hash that has been sitting on the stove for 3 weeks.

There is nothing new, no interesting arguments presented whatsoever in this article. It's the same old 'WHAT IF' god of the gaps nonsense.

ZERO new evidence for an intelligent supernatural creator is presented. Not a shred.

[Act_of_Reparation]

8. Yeah, but biology is really complicated.

So God.

[trotsky]

9. I mean, a person who has studied things like Greek and Latin...

doesn't understand how basic principles of chemistry and physics could lead to complex life, so c'mon, there's GOT to be a god, amirite?

[Act_of_Reparation]

10. Look, trotsky, it makes perfect sense.

There's a gene that makes you shit gold OR gives you asshole cancer, and it all depends on HOW that gene is turned on. The dude next door turns twenty years old and he's Tywin fucking Lannister. You turn twenty and BAM! Asshole cancer.

Who diddled your genome? God did. Duh.

[trotsky]

11. Your logic is sound.

I am convinced.

[uriel1972]

12. Science more compatible with religion...

I'm thinking it should be the other way round.

[Voltaire2]

13. babbling-jibber-jabber.

Bottom line was that somehow epigenetics = proof of god. Amazing.