Isn't all religion a matter of opinion?

Caringheart wrote: Do we really? We know how to explain how these things happen... but who makes, or made, the laws that make them happen?

You want to play the child's game of asking "why?" after every explanation, until the teacher or the parent gives up in frustration and just says "I don't know" or "Because I said so!"

Yes, we really do know why the sky is blue.  It's due to Rayleigh scattering of light in the atmosphere.  Why does Rayleigh scattering occur?  It's because air molecules have magnetic properties and can resonate with the photons of light, and this resonance is strongest for short wavelengths at the blue end of the spectrum.  Why do air molecules have magnetic properties?  Because (starting to sweat a bit here) atoms are made up of negatively charged electrons orbiting a positively charged nucleus.  Why are electrons negatively charged?  Well, umm, for that you need to understand the Standard Model of particle physics.  What is the Standard Model?  I don't know!  Go do your homework!

I don't mind when children play that game.  It's good for them to ask questions, and important for them (and us) to understand that we don't know everything and never will.  There will always be another "why?" question, and that's what makes science so exciting.

However, I do mind when theologians play the game, because for them it's the "God of the gaps" game.  Anything that science can't (yet) explain is automatically attributed to God -- as if that were some kind of explanation.  But it's not.  "Because God said so!" is no more rational than "because I said so!"  

God is not an explanation for anything.  It is a placeholder for a missing explanation.  Worse, it is an attempt to shut down rational discussion and a warning not to ask further questions.  A child who persists with "Why does God say so?" or "Why does God exist?" or even "Why should we care what God says?" is apt to be sent to his room without supper.

Sorry for the rant, and I hope you don't take it personally; but I have to say that I am annoyed when theologians pretend that religion is a source of wisdom.  Religion adds nothing to our understanding of the universe.  It only gives a name to our ignorance.  That name is God.

Ron Webb wrote: You want to play the child's game of asking "why?" after every explanation, until the teacher or the parent gives up in frustration and just says "I don't know" or "Because I said so!" Yes, we really do know why the sky is blue.  It's due to Rayleigh scattering of light in the atmosphere.  Why does Rayleigh scattering occur?  It's because air molecules have magnetic properties and can resonate with the photons of light, and this resonance is strongest for short wavelengths at the blue end of the spectrum.  Why do air molecules have magnetic properties?  Because (starting to sweat a bit here) atoms are made up of negatively charged electrons orbiting a positively charged nucleus.  Why are electrons negatively charged?  Well, umm, for that you need to understand the Standard Model of particle physics.  What is the Standard Model?  I don't know!  Go do your homework!

Hi Ron,

hehehe - I enjoyed your reply.
It's not because "God said so", but simply because someone had to create these things.    There had to be some beginning, some concept, some design, some artist, doing the creating.  No work of art ever created itself. 

Ron Webb wrote: I don't mind when children play that game.  It's good for them to ask questions, and important for them (and us) to understand that we don't know everything and never will.  There will always be another "why?" question, and that's what makes science so exciting. However, I do mind when theologians play the game, because for them it's the "God of the gaps" game.  Anything that science can't (yet) explain is automatically attributed to God -- as if that were some kind of explanation.  But it's not.  "Because God said so!" is no more rational than "because I said so!"   God is not an explanation for anything.  It is a placeholder for a missing explanation.

Yes, it is true.... there are things we do not know... will never know unless and until we meet the Maker. 

I agree with both things you said here, adding that...

¹² For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

but also;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead

Ron Webb wrote: Worse, it is an attempt to shut down rational discussion and a warning not to ask further questions.  A child who persists with "Why does God say so?" or "Why does God exist?" or even "Why should we care what God says?" is apt to be sent to his room without supper.

Here, I disagree.  I don't think it is an 'attempt to shut down discussion'.  In fact, I feel it only serves to stimulate discussion, and seeking for the Truth.
Yes, I have frustrated people with these questions all my life... even myself...  never got sent to my room without supper though. 

Ron Webb wrote: Sorry for the rant, and I hope you don't take it personally; but I have to say that I am annoyed when theologians pretend that religion is a source of wisdom.  Religion adds nothing to our understanding of the universe.  It only gives a name to our ignorance.  That name is God.

Here again I have to disagree.
It is a source of Wisdom, but only as long as we are careful to discern. 



Edited by Caringheart - 01 October 2014 at 1:11pm

Let's summarize the facts:

Christians and Muslim argue(d) on the basis of their preferred book that the world was created in 6 Days - Wrong
Both thought that the earth was at the center of the Universe: Wrong
Both thought that man (and women) were made (by God) out of funny materials: Wrong
Both think/thought that Noah's Ark existed: Wrong

And as soon as the conflicts becomes obvious, interpretations get shifted into the "metaphoric" regime.

Keep on shifting!

Airmano



Edited by airmano - 01 October 2014 at 4:03pm

Caringheart wrote: It's not because "God said so", but simply because someone had to create these things.  Smile  There had to be some beginning, some concept, some design, some artist, doing the creating.  No work of art ever created itself.

Why must there be a beginning?  And even if there were, how does the God hypothesis help?  Doesn't it just add an extra layer of complexity and shift the question from "what created the universe?" to "what created God?"

Here, I disagree.  I don't think it is an 'attempt to shut down discussion'.  In fact, I feel it only serves to stimulate discussion, and seeking for the Truth.

Well, for instance, millions of people refuse even to look at the evidence for evolution, let alone have it taught in their schools, because the Bible or the Quran already gives them the "answer".

Here again I have to disagree. It is a source of Wisdom, but only as long as we are careful to discern.

All I can say is that I grew up as a Christian , but I never learned anything from religion that I couldn't have figured out with a few minutes of meditation or a chat with my Dad.