This week’s Carnival of Space is being hosted by a website called Catholic Sensibility, who’s subtitle “faith in God, life on Earth, inspiration for the pilgrimage … the important things” seems somewhat out of place amongst the space postings. Looking back over the blog’s previous posts I see the author is into astronomy. It got me thinking that amongst the astronomy bloggers online, there must be a range of beliefs. I wonder if a debate could be arranged between these differing world views. It might make for interesting reading.
Anyone want to offer themselves up for a ‘big’ discussion? I’ll happily host a page proffering debate titles and then individuals can write a post on their own site to support or refute, which I can index with the motion. If enough of you are up for it, I’ll start the first debate on whether science and religion are compatible world views.
Vote with your comments!
May 23rd, 2008 at 11:16 am
Hey Rob, I’m willing to participate! The internet is a great place to share ideas. A debate would be excellent.
May 23rd, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Count me as among those interested. Simple discussion and exchange of ideas have far more attraction than debate. I have no interest in trying to “argue” my faith into acceptance. The same is true of attempted “refutation” of those whose faith differs from mine or who do not include God in their worldview.
As far as religion is concerned, it is a quality better attested to through action and personal concern. Among religious-minded people, there is room for discussion, sometimes vigorous discussion on particulars. But I don’t find that a central value to my expression of faith.
Science strikes me as both similar and dissimilar. The former, in that a scientist is “inculturated” into a society that involves a certain set of behaviors, customs, and accepted approaches. Both science and religion are based on a search for truth, but their tool kits for that endeavor are far different.
Many scientists operate in the rational, but they appreciate beauty, spirit, and things that can’t be quantified. Many religious operate in the spiritual, but they have more or less of an attraction to the analytical. All scientists and people of faith are human beings, so they all bring personal preferences, strengths and weaknesses to the expression of their respective cultures.
In a relentlessly adversarial setting, even subsets within scientists and believers are incompatible. It’s human nature, sadly. But for the open-minded, science and religion together may serve to enrich individuals who have a genuine desire for the truth.
Thanks, Rob, for the link, btw.
May 23rd, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Thanks for the comment Todd. In many ways you have already started the debate. I have created a post to centralise the debates around: http://orbitingfrog.com/blog/2008/05/23/the-great-debate-the-compatibility-of-science-and-religion/
May 23rd, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I’ll give it a shot as well, Rob. I think that, as human beings, our first duties are to the truth. It’s the only way to learn and make progress in this life. And it doesn’t matter so much whether those are scientific truths or historical truths or logical truths or personal truths. But without the truth, we have nothing of value to offer.