Science/Religion

The twentieth century saw science take over from religion as the principal source of prophecy. The trend had been germinating for a long time-its origins can be traced all the way back to the Renaissance and to the work of such individuals as Leonardo da Vinci and Sir Thomas More. Where earlier prophets drew their inspiration from the gods, modern seers have increasingly sought to predict coming events by human reason alone. By controlled effort of the imagination, they have tried to "think" the future-both how it is likely to develop and, in the case of More's seminal "UTOPIA" and its successors, how they wish it to be.

Over the past half-century, prediction has become big business. Hundreds of thousands of individuals around the world now earn their living through forecasting everything from economic and demographic trends to the likelihood of earthquakes or tomorrow's weather. In a few limited firelds the forecasters have made great strides, but elsewhere the track record is at best checkered. As the third millennium dawns, the future remains, for the most part, as unpredictable as ever.

The above is taken from "Prophecies: 4000 years of prophets, visionaries, and predictions." by Tony Allen

I put the above excerpt in my hub to show how closely related Science and Religion are. I have little trust in either as they are practiced in today's world. (don't let this confuse you, I AM a person of faith, not religion. I AM also a student of science)

I had been thinking about how science and religion attempt to answer the same questions; What is the purpose of life? Where did I come from? Where am I headed? How should I live? Why does this or that happen? Who am I?

Science attempts to answer these questions with empirical (perceived with the senses) evidence, religion with metaphysical evidence. (metaphysical means; along side of, over or next to the physical)

A person on my friend's list called me a mystic. At first I rejected this. I do not feel as if I know anymore than anyone else on how to answer the above questions about life or how to live it. I looked up the word "mystic". Here is what I found. Root word myst-esoteric, belonging to an inner circle/within, hidden, hard to perceive/for a select few.

I certainly do not feel that I belong to any inner circle of knowledge; for what I know is readily available to anyone who cares to find it. Hard to perceive; Well perhaps, but all of life is hard to understand, isn't it? For a select few; No.... the knowledge I have gained is there for everyone who wishes to gain it. It is freely shared with all. He said mysticism is used to control. This is true of some religous groups. But it is true also of some scientific groups as well. Just go to the doctor and try and get some straight answers about how to PREVENT disease...most will have none for you. Same with the drug companies. They spread more lies than the soothsayer selling potions out of the back of a wagon ever did.

He also said that in his opinion; science has and will in the future bring us a better world.

There are many good things in the world as a result of science, I agree. There are also many bad things in the world due to science. Pollution, chemical waste, depleted soil, cancer rates off the graph, heart disease rates exploding, diabetes rampant and many, many more "evils". We trusted science back in my childhood to cure/find answers to the "evils" of the world....and now we have more "evils" to deal with as a result.

Mankind's misuse of scientific knowledge has been responsible for billions of people dying and suffering as well as saving as many lives. Its contributed to weapons capable of destroying the whole world, chemicals in our air, water and food supply that are destroying the next generation, and superbugs that are threatening world wide pandemics in this generation. We are scrambling to correct these "evils" now...but it was pride in our "knowledge" that brought them to us in the first place. People did not question the modern advances of science during my childhood. If they did they were "kooks". Now we have Earth Day to remind us that we are living on a planet with limited and fragile resources. It appears the "kooks" were correct.

Don't get me wrong...I enjoy the fruits of science as much as anyone. I kinda like not having to live like it's the 1600's. But I don't think science is going to bring us a better world. Not any time soon. I guess I'm saying it's not science but the "religion of knowledge" that upsets me so. Those who have a "god complex" and think they have or will discover ALL the answers. Those who belittle us "kooks" who do not trust the "evidence" presented to us. Those of us who still believe in the mystical, mysterious and unknowable. Those of us who have faith in God.

We have replaced our faith in God/gods with faith in our knowledge/mind. We have a new Religion...we now worship ourselves.

Faith without knowledge is dangerous.

Knowledge without faith is deadly.

We are a prideful race. It will be our undoing.