Are the gaps that god can slip into running out?

Question

Many theists fall into the catergory of believing in a "God of the gaps". That is, if you don't understand it, it must be the work of god.

The latest Scientific American has a wonderful article on the beginnings of life, based on far smaller and simpler building blocks than RNA. The developing "M" theory is set to give a far greater understanding of the beginning of the universe.

Is god about to start running out of gaps?

Answer 1

Oh no, never, there will always be gaps that you can hide in if you want badly enough to believe in god.

Knowledge is like a sphere. The volume is what you know. The surface is what you realize you don't know. So the more you know, the more you realize you don't know.

Edit--I'm not a big fan of string theory either, but I'm quite sure that Joe Polchinski is a hell of a lot smarter than you are.

Answer 2

The M theory is very interesting reading but it is still yet a theory. God will never run out of gaps because God and science can coexist. Just because it can be explained scientifically does not mean that God did not have a hand in it. Science is the foundation of learning and understanding but that does not minimize ones belief in the divine power of God. When I am asked about my belief in science and God I typically use the rainbow discussion I know scientifically that a rainbow is caused by dispersion of sunlight as it goes through raindrops. The light is first refracted as it enters the surface of the raindrop, reflected off the back of the drop, and again refracted as it leaves the drop. The overall effect is that the incoming light is reflected back over a wide range of angles, with the most intense light at an angle of 40°–42°. The angle is independent of the size of the drop, but does depend on its refractive index. I also know as a christian what rainbow means to my faith, a promise of a loving God. The two can coexist and those who do not believe are not of superior intellects and the same goes for believers it is a different belief and that is all. Remember when talking about scientific theory there is just as much proof to a theory as there is to religious beliefs that is why they are not scientific laws.

Answer 3

I don't believe there will ever be a lack of gaps. Even though the number of gaps is decreasing exponentially, with more knowledge comes more questions.

Medically the gaps are getting much fewer. What used to be called an act of god is now called things like cancer and AIDS.

There will always be gaps because we will never have absolute knowledge. We do not know what's happening on every square inch of the earth (only because it's not economical, not that we can't). Because of this there will always be events that cannot be explained definitively. Anywhere that something is no absolutely definitive leaves opportunity for a gap.

Answer 4

Actually, it is the DEISTS, like Albert Einstein (not the theists), who believe in a "god of the gaps".

Science will never eliminate religion, if that is what you are asking.

Answer 5

What is the point of having science if you know everything already?

It is always dynamic, always seeking, changing, building up, there is always something new, something unknown, to be investigated.

Such is the beauty of science.

Answer 6

All the Physicists are busy right now. A whole bunch of questions just came in. Can I take a message?

Answer 7

Yes i also think that it will never happen that we completely understand everything around us. Somethings will always be unexplained and there will always be gaps.

Answer 8

I don't care about God and I sure as hell don't care about
M-Theory

You know what it stands for (Moron theory)

Answer 9

i dont careeeeeeeeeee