Neil deGrasse Tyson wrote an outstanding article called "The Perimeter of Ignorance" about how great scientists throughout history have only invoked God once they reached the limits of their knowledge. The interesting thing is, as the limits of knowledge expand, the next great scientist goes that much further before he invokes God.
It's a fantastic read. But I find myself asking: Is this too sophisticated for the Y!A community? Will they get it? Will they even try?
http://research.amnh.org/~tyson/18magazines_perimeter.php
2007-08-15 14:54:30 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
jason: You know as well as I do the amount of ignorance around here.
2007-08-15 15:01:49 · update #1
Some will get it. It is interesting, and it's true. That's how it is..."Goddidit" is what comes into effect once people reach the limits of their understanding of things. Unfortunately, there are too many people around who have very limited knowledge of things, (willfully so, and are very proud of that fact)and then you get monuments to ignorance such as the "Creation Museum."
Thank goodness we have had people throughout history who aren't content to settle for "Goddidit", and were able to just say "I (we) don't know yet." Without them, we'd still be living in clay huts with a life expectancy of about 40.
2007-08-15 15:08:59 · answer #1 · answered by Jess H 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
i will answer your Q's as actually as i will LOL. ;-) a million)No, in simple terms the different. that could be a brilliant-*** ripoff! 2)No, a lot of human beings bypass on that nutrients plan. Do grains have lotsa carbs or somethin? 3)injury of day is the different of daybreak, i think of. 4)on condition that they've been confiscated, or the guards are utilising them. 5)no longer formally. 6)I dunno what a glee club does, yet i'm guessing no longer. 7)No. 8)Ham do no longer act. 9)i do no longer see a difference. 10)Say what? 11)it can be a frightening xperience! 12)I dunno why. 13)sure. 14)No. 15)this is purely a metaphor! sixteen)same answer as above. 17)notwithstanding volume you may've paid, had the present no longer been unfastened. 18)None. 19)relies upon on how an prolonged way you "stretch" it LOL! 20)No, because of the fact it shouldn't exchange right into a tie. 21)the two way, it burns. 22)the two way, you're filling it out. 23)you will discover lighting fixtures exterior! 24)they are the two metaphors for a small threat. 25)I have not have been given any clue LOL.
2016-12-13 08:51:37 · answer #2 · answered by chilton 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I like how the last paragraph of the article states that if you believe in God, you will not even try to see how stuff works or pursue knowledge. That you will say God made it this way and be done with it. This is a joke, you can believe in God and pursue knowledge on how the universe works. To say you have to dismiss God for knowledge is foolish. Why wouldn't someone want to see how something operated that God created. God created us with the mind to do this. If He did not want us pursuing knowledge, then we would not have the mind to do so. Anyways, it just amazes me that so many people think if someone believes in God they are dumb or will not look to the world around them and ask questions. When in reality the one who does not believe is the foolish one, but that is another topic. God bless.
2007-08-15 15:11:28 · answer #3 · answered by 4Christ 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
You cannot build a program of discovery on the assumption that nobody is smart enough to figure out the answer to a problem.
So instead of slapping the forehead and saying Goddammit - I don't understand, they just say Goddidit, and move on.
2007-08-15 15:13:36 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
As I watch science progress in its neverending quest for unification theory, the question that seems to become louder and clearer with each step closer and every question answered is "Who did this?" And I found that to be an awesome revelation. The more they dig, the more it is evident that this is not some random existence, signifying nothing. The universe is intricate, violent, beautiful, and enigmatic to its smallest invisible particles and it all seems to work out without our being able to explain it away.
2007-08-15 15:04:42 · answer #5 · answered by Salsa Shark 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Maybe you're basing your assessment of the intelligence of Y!A users on your experience in other forums. But the majority of regulars here in R&S are very intelligent, educated and articulate. I find your question insulting.
2007-08-15 15:15:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well I see a wide range of people on this site so I don't think it's fair to assume that no one will get it. It seems pretty straight forward to me.
2007-08-15 15:04:06 · answer #7 · answered by Staci O 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Great article. Thanks for the link.
If your question is, is the article too sophisticated for theists, the answer for many is, either they won't read it, or, if they do, they'll think it's the work of the "devil."
2007-08-15 15:23:27 · answer #8 · answered by YY4Me 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, it is way too sophisticated for them. Thanks for pointing out that article.
They'd a liked it if'n yud included some purty pickshurs of Adam N' Eve walkin' about wit da dinosaws.
2007-08-15 15:02:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Nothing new... just the old "god of the gaps"
2007-08-16 04:11:18 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋