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Author Topic:   Christianity, Knowledge and Science
Cocytus
Junior Member (Idle past 6287 days)
Posts: 19
From: Kansas
Joined: 01-07-2007


Message 1 of 7 (375144)
01-07-2007 6:12 PM


Christianity has, within it's very first book Genesis, stigmatized knowledge itself as something terrible.
quote:
Genesis 3:4 - "You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it [the fruit of the tree] your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil..." (NRSV)
Eating of the fruit caused, of course, God's wrath, in turn causing mortality, evil and a whole host of other nastiness. All of which are not up for debate and are stipulated here to be known consequences within the context of the Bible itself.
In practical terms, the consequences of this tale have lead to various problems that are all but unavoidable. The most important of these consequences are as follows:
1) That knowledge itself, for humans, can and should only be obtained through proper channels. Those channels being, namely, God and God's vicars (Pope, priest, minister, pastor etc.)
1.a) As a corollary, all knowledge derived from other sources (namely our senses, either terrestrial or modified via technology) must not be trusted. Only God's word is real in the sense that God could change anything at any time.
2) It is therefore the position of creationists (and other Christians of the same ilk) that the whole of reality must be bound within the Bible. It is thus acceptable, within the faith, to deny any scientific finding that cannot be easily proof-texted.
3) The most important consequence is that Christians desire to stand in the way of science and scientists because their knowledge is somehow inferior to God's.
This, to me, is evil incarnate. If the world can be a better place, and science has the tools to make it so, then there should be no leap of faith that is required of any individual to stand on the side of progress (progress in this sense can be synonymous with "good," so there is an appropriate juxtaposition).
My position is largely in the realm of theory, but I believe it is important to consider whether religion itself is causing humanity to stagnate at a time when anything BUT stagnation is what we need.
This arguement thus asks the question: "Does religion make good people do bad things?" In this case "bad things" refers to standing in the way of progress.
Edited by Cocytus, : My arguement was omni-directional, unfocused and not to the point. The admin pointed this out, it is now fixed.
Edited by Cocytus, : No reason given.
Edited by Cocytus, : No reason given.
Edited by Cocytus, : No reason given.

Replies to this message:
 Message 2 by AdminPD, posted 01-07-2007 6:43 PM Cocytus has replied

AdminPD
Inactive Administrator


Message 2 of 7 (375154)
01-07-2007 6:43 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Cocytus
01-07-2007 6:12 PM


Welcome To EvC
Welcome to EvC Cocytus,
Thank you for proposing a new topic and adding to our diversity. Since you are new to EvC, I suggest that you carefully read the Forum Guidelines and familiarize yourself with the functions of EvC by using the Practice Makes Perfect Forum.
I suggest you make your post consistent.
Title: Is Religion Itself Evil?
Question: Is religion itself the cause of evil in the world?
These questions are not asking the same thing. Make your question consistent.
I also suggest leaving out the part about "the real question" to avoid sidetracking.
Let me know when you have edited your OP and need it reviewed again.
In the purple signature box below, you'll find some links that will help make your journey here pleasant.
Abide by the Forum Guidelines and all will go well.
Again welcome and fruitful debating. Purple

Usually, in a well-conducted debate, speakers are either emotionally uncommitted or can preserve sufficient detachment to maintain a coolly academic approach.-- Encylopedia Brittanica, on debate

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  • This message is a reply to:
     Message 1 by Cocytus, posted 01-07-2007 6:12 PM Cocytus has replied

    Replies to this message:
     Message 3 by Cocytus, posted 01-07-2007 7:27 PM AdminPD has replied

    Cocytus
    Junior Member (Idle past 6287 days)
    Posts: 19
    From: Kansas
    Joined: 01-07-2007


    Message 3 of 7 (375174)
    01-07-2007 7:27 PM
    Reply to: Message 2 by AdminPD
    01-07-2007 6:43 PM


    Re: Welcome To EvC
    Original post edited to be focused on a specific question.

    This message is a reply to:
     Message 2 by AdminPD, posted 01-07-2007 6:43 PM AdminPD has replied

    Replies to this message:
     Message 4 by AdminPD, posted 01-08-2007 6:50 AM Cocytus has not replied
     Message 5 by Cocytus, posted 01-08-2007 12:03 PM Cocytus has not replied

    AdminPD
    Inactive Administrator


    Message 4 of 7 (375267)
    01-08-2007 6:50 AM
    Reply to: Message 3 by Cocytus
    01-07-2007 7:27 PM


    Much Better
    Much better.
    After reading the revised post I think a better title would be "Religion and Knowledge", "Religion vs Knowledge", or "Religion Stifles Knowledge".
    You aren't really discussing evil as the majority would view it. You'll have people spending more time correcting your definition of evil and not the topic.
    I will promote the topic when you've decided on a new title. Let me know.

    This message is a reply to:
     Message 3 by Cocytus, posted 01-07-2007 7:27 PM Cocytus has not replied

    Cocytus
    Junior Member (Idle past 6287 days)
    Posts: 19
    From: Kansas
    Joined: 01-07-2007


    Message 5 of 7 (375344)
    01-08-2007 12:03 PM
    Reply to: Message 3 by Cocytus
    01-07-2007 7:27 PM


    Re: Welcome To EvC
    Title changed.

    This message is a reply to:
     Message 3 by Cocytus, posted 01-07-2007 7:27 PM Cocytus has not replied

    Replies to this message:
     Message 6 by AdminPhat, posted 01-08-2007 12:20 PM Cocytus has not replied

    AdminPhat
    Inactive Member


    Message 6 of 7 (375348)
    01-08-2007 12:20 PM
    Reply to: Message 5 by Cocytus
    01-08-2007 12:03 PM


    Re: Welcome To EvC
    P.D. if its ok with you, I'm gonna just promote him to miscelaneous topics C&E...
    Edited by AdminPhat, : No reason given.

    This message is a reply to:
     Message 5 by Cocytus, posted 01-08-2007 12:03 PM Cocytus has not replied

    AdminPhat
    Inactive Member


    Message 7 of 7 (375369)
    01-08-2007 1:13 PM


    Thread copied to the Christianity, Knowledge and Science thread in the Miscellaneous Topics in Creation/Evolution forum, this copy of the thread has been closed.

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