At what point should we look for a non-materialistic explanation?

After all, isn't some mysterious aspects of QM and string theory non-materialistic in nature, inspiring some groups to believe this and others to believe that, relative to a given group's consensus, i.e. belief?

Teapots&unicorns writes:It is 'belief' in the same way that you 'believe' in gravity. you cannot 100% know anything for sure.

When speaking of a theory, we usually put 'believe' at the front like "believe in plate tectonics" or "believe in evolution." It's mainly just a way of saying that you support one explanation over another- the facts are there, but the reasons are debatable. (Of course, the better the theory, the more specific the points)

As per your reference of QM and string theory, no, they are not belief in the sense of 'faith.' Most of the things predicted by QM have been observed,.......

.....of course there is going to be a some confusion;.......

lyx2no writes:Of course. I even did one better. I took a look at what half a doezen sites had to say about the crossing. All but one semed to have really close ties with fundamentalist causes and were about as critical as one would expect a mother to be of refrigerator art. One, truthorfiction, was less kind. They didn't seem impressed. Me either. If I were a researcher I wouldn't want to waste what little time and money I had on disproving something that hasn't actually been established. Don't you think it's kind of odd that your boys don't get on to establishing it.

Huntard writes:Buzsaw writes:
That the most blessed, civilized, free, industrious and prosperous of those cultures have been Biblical based...Like those of the middle ages... Oh snap!

Huntard writes: Buz: ..and the most non-civilized, non-free and non-prosperous have been either other religions or secularist.Huntard: Like the modern western world... Oh snap!

Huntard writes:You don't even know your own country's history? America was never based on any biblical values.

All western governments currently in power are secularist.

Larni writes:That's cool. Could you specify at what level of magnitude that non-materialistic factors come into play?

This whole structure of understanding has now been turned on its head. A project called ENCODE recently reported an intensive study of the transcripts (copies of RNA produced from the DNA) of just 1% of the human genome.1,2 Their findings include the following inferences:About 93% of the genome is transcribed (not 3%, as expected). Further study with more wide-ranging methods may raise this figure to 100%. Because much energy and coordination is required for transcription this means that probably the whole genome is used by the cell and there is no such thing as ‘junk DNA’.
Exons are not gene-specific but are modules that can be joined to many different RNA transcripts. One exon (i.e. one part of one gene) can be used in combination with up to 33 different genes located on 14 different chromosomes. This means that one exon can specify one part shared in common by many different proteins.
There is no ‘beads on a string’ linear arrangement of genes, but rather an interleaved structure of overlapping segments, with typically 5, 7, 9 or more transcripts coming from the one ‘gene’.
Not just one strand, but both strands (sense and anti-sense) of the DNA are fully transcribed.
Transcription proceeds not just one way but both backwards and forwards.
Transcription factors can be tens or hundreds of thousands of base-pairs away from the gene that they control, even on different chromosomes.
There is not just one START site, but many, in each particular gene region.
There is not just one transcription triggering (switching) system for each region, but many.
The authors conclude:These results are so astonishing, so shocking, that it is going to take an awful lot more work to untangle what is really going on in cells.‘An interleaved genomic organization poses important mechanistic challenges for the cell. One involves the [use of] the same DNA molecules for multiple functions. The overlap of functionally important sequence motifs must be resolved in time and space for this organization to work properly. Another challenge is the need to compartmentalize RNA or mask RNAs that could potentially form long double-stranded regions, to prevent RNA-RNA interactions that could prompt apoptosis [programmed cell death].’
This concern for the safety of so many RNA molecules being produced in such a small space is well-founded. RNA is a long single-strand molecule not unlike a long piece of sticky-tapeit will stick to any nearby surface, including itself! Unless properly coordinated, it will all scrunch up into a sticky mess.These results are so astonishing, so shocking, that it is going to take an awful lot more work to untangle what is really going on in cells. And the molecular taxonomists, who have been drawing up evolutionary histories (‘phylogenies’) for everything, are going to have to undo all their years of ‘junk DNA’-based historical reconstructions and wait for the full implications to emerge before they try again. One of the supposedly ‘knock-down’ arguments that humans have a common ancestor with chimpanzees is shared ‘non-functional’ DNA coding. That argument just got thrown out the window.

1. The boys who have researched are limited due to funding and due to restrictions from the Saudis who have a vested interest in debunking the Biblical record in favor of their Koran. Your boys who have the scientific clout and funding should make a concerted effort to research the region. But alas, for the most part they, like most of you here at EvC, have already written off the Biblical record as fable and fiction. Thus you wave off anything and everything to do with it.

What happened to one chariot wheel? I don't know, but that doesn't X out all of the more sophisticated scientific research done after Wyatt's death in the region by Lennart Moller and others who regarded the evidence enough to expend their time and $$ into the project.

You're exacting upon this what you are not willing to exact on mainline science.

witty and sensible input

PaulK writes:Wyatt misunderstanding the Bible is not evidence that he is in any way correct !

Since the actual evidence indicates that the story is much exaggerated (at the very least !) even if what you said were true it would not be significant evidence.

Which is not much shallower than the rest of it...

PaulK writes: Buz: The wheel and axle shaped formations happened to be the only such formations known in the Gulf region.
These formations were photographed on both sides of the shallow area, most being wheel shape. The researchers were marine scientists who had research craft and equipment to do professional work.Paul: Even if it is true that they are found nowhere else (and that has not been verified) it is still not significant evidence of the Exodus.

Buzsaw writes:LOL! Those middle age atrocities perpetrated by the ruthless popes and bishops of Vaticanism were totally contrary to the NT Biblical scriptures of Jesus and his apostles who advocated non-violence, even to the point of loving one's enemies.

What other religions than Biblical and what secularist cultures enjoy more freedom, prosperity and civility than what the modern western world still affords?

Granted, now that the Biblical principles are being undermined the western world is loosing all of that.

Folks here in the west are certainly not flocking to relocate in Muslim or secularistic communist regimes, for example.

Who doesn't know what, Huntard?? You are not aware that our founders required the Bible and Watt's hymnal in all public schools, that Thomas Jefferson had church services held in the halls of congress, dispatching the Marine band for the music?

You are unaware of all of the inscriptions on the buildings and walls of Washington DC? You are unaware that George Washington allocated funds to evangelize the Indians in Biblical doctrines? On and on I could go.

Agreed, and alas, the more secularist they/we get the more they/we decline. The half has not been told as we descend to a very hard upandcoming landing!

One of the supposedly ‘knock-down’ arguments that humans have a common ancestor with chimpanzees is shared ‘non-functional’ DNA coding. That argument just got thrown out the window.

Larni writes:Please could you explain why this DNA information should mean we should stop using the scientific method and embrace non-materialistic methods of exploring the world?

If you think there are large holes in any theory, then you develop a new theory which explains to better degree what we see. You don't go running off, crying - see, see, we need a non-materialistic explanation.

At what point should we look for a non-materialistic explanation?

Buz writes:My position is that science should stop avoiding the non-materialistic evidence research that just might reveal that there is indeed a higher dimension of intelligence working in the universe than the materialistic explanation of things observed.