Which would you prefer?

Question

There is a box in front of you that cannot be opened.

Scientists have studied it for years, using all manner of tools, and using proven techniques to determine what exactly is in the box. Over the years, scientists have discovered new things about the box, and have changed their theories about the contents of the box accordingly.

However, one of the earliest scientists to study it, Fred, decreed that the box contained a magic golden egg. And it is this egg that makes gravity work. Now this defies all logic, and goes against everything science has ever taught us about gravity. But Fred said his theory was right, and there's no changing his mind. A lot of people today still say Fred is right, because all the other scientists keep changing their findings. Fred has stuck by his magic egg theory the whole time, though, so he must be right.

Does that make sense to you?

Just curious...

Edit- for the god-idiots saying this doesn't compare... can you explain why not, or are you just crap-throwing monkeys? Put your diapers on and stand up for your beliefs. I dare you...

Answer 1

Fred's view of science isn't any concern of mine. However, this is just a piece of the pie as you know of the issue.

If Fred's believe that the magic golden egg spoke to him and gave him standards of morality, and Fred wanted to use these moral rules to impose on me, then this is where I would have a problem.

I would have the same issue with Charles Darwin saying I have this wonderful theory called evolution and because I have all the new science I should impose my morality on you.

Democracy should elect leaders to put good laws into place.

So is gay marriage something the population wants to make illegal? Clearly this is an overwhelming view. 48 states have same gender marriage illegal.

Abortion? Unfortunately for those of us who are prochoice, the pro life crowd outnumbers us.

Can one be an atheist and have the moral view that gays shouldn't be allowed to marry? Sure. I do. I don't think government should let anyone marry. I think the churchs should marry whoever they want and government should protect the rights of those churches. But the government shouldnt give marriage liscense. Maybe civil union liscense.

Can an atheist be prolife? Yes.

So this leads us to your question, Should Fred's Golden Egg theory of gravity be in science classrooms instead of classical newtonian physics or the 20th century? or the new 21rst century theories?

This is paralleling the intelligent design theory.

Science is a tool to explore the natural world. Was Fred's believe that there is a golden egg based on science or did he open a book up that said thats a golden egg.

Science has no empirical evidence of an intelligent designer. Let's assume that the reality for the sake of arguement is that there is. The question becomes who? This is the subject of religion. Using science I can't determine the identity of the intelligent designer.
So intelligent design is a religious topic of discussion.

Should public school kids have religious courses? Absolutely, comparative religion for 17 year old kids would benefit them.

This is the Christian creation story. This is the Jewish creation story. This is the Hindu belief. This is what the Greeks and Romans believed 2000 years ago.

But using science I don't think Fred is able to determine that there is a magic golden egg. So in religious studies Fred Golden Egg should be brought up as Fred's believe for why there is gravity. The Newtonian theory has some expiriments we could do with repeatable results. This is science because it is subject to expiriments and verifable results.

Answer 2

Well Fred might have been wrong about whats in the box it does not prove there is nothing in the box. What does not make sense to me is people who believe in Fairy tales, The Easter bunny or people who believe a cake can magically bake itself without a chef. or a complex Universe can just magically appear without a creator. Why do people use people like Fred as an argument Fred has nothing to do with the egg in the box or the box blaming the egg cause Fred is a dope is a dopey thing to do.

Answer 3

It strikes me as a psychological infantilism. All the other great mythical things from our childhood were rejected upon our maturity: the Easter Bunny, The Tooth Fairy, even Santa Claus (talk about biting the hand that feeds ;). For some strange reason, humans can't let go of a paternalistic deity that has caused more harm than good throughout its monotheistic history.

Every day I wonder if people are really this immature and stupid? Or are they just ashamed of having been so egregiously misled all these years they want to continue the air of belief to avoid having so much magical golden egg on their faces?

Answer 4

Fred is telling the TRUTH, because I want to believe in magic golden gravity eggs.

Answer 5

Why do all atheists answers questions with more questions.Atheists are extremely predictable.You need to hope scientists get tired of being scientists,cause the more they search the less ground an atheist has to stand on which is only sinking sand to begin with.Thank God I have a solid rock to stand on.That my friend is the word of God.The bible tells us that people who think just as you do will be left behind to face Gods judgment.That will be the reality check of all checks.Oh yeah 'bout the box.Nah,why bother.

Answer 6

Somewhere in the ancient past a leader of a great empire stole the egg and subsequently lost it. It was replaced with a brick. The box wasn't really all that complicated to open, however everyone that approached it were blinded by their preconceptions of what was inside and misled their followers as to it's nature.

Answer 7

Fred doesn't adjust well to change, and also has an inferiority complex that does not allow him to admit he may have been incorrect, or misinformed about the contents of the box.

Answer 8

Belief is certainty in a box of uncertainties.

We are actually the part of the box understanding the box.

Without a means to understand ourselves through conscious thought, there is no point in humanity and without a means for the box to understand itself, there is no point in the box.

Answer 9

I thought you wrote Freud. Is that a Freudian slip? Magic gravity eggs, invisible pink unicorns and flying spaghetti monsters unite!

Answer 10

Fred is ignoring the Flying Spaghetti Monster. He has not been touched by His Noodly Appendage!

greetings from NC, btw!