Have we have become more negative since the age of science?

Question

Science views the world and us in it in a very mechanistic way. Life is defifined as a process, the functioning of the human as a complex mechanism existing with in the highly organised, complex system of the planets biospheres and ecosystems. To science man is a pre programmed mechanism whose experiences, thoughts, desire, feelings and intelligence is predetermined by genetic programming that limits your ability to respond in any given environment. There is no such thing as freedom of will, just the illusion, which is also genetically predetermined. Who and how you love is not your choice but determined by inherent chemisty.

Religion and spirituality on the other hand sees man as a being whose reach goes far beyond the physical and who was created as an act of love by a loving and caring God who strives to encourage all it's creation to aim for an eternal paradise. Religon sees man as having a choice to decide to be good or not, to choose heaven or hell, to believe in God or no

You people talk as if you know absolutely nothing about the way your body functions, don't you realise your likes and dislikes, emotions etc, etc are biologically, biochemichally predetermined, and to the lady who querried that she fell in love with her husband because of genetics, YES, YES , YES, you are a mechanism, nothing more, according to science. It's funny how people embrace science but when it comes to the crunch can't accept what it's saying. I think any nurse would be able to tell you lot how much of your behaviour and nature is dependant on biochemical functionioning, which goes awry in illness causing bizaar affects on a persons personality, likes, dislikes, thoughts, behaviour etc. I would have thought most people new this by now.

Answer 1

It's clear you don't know a great deal about science.

Answer 2

What sort of people would want to show learning the reality of our universe as negative? Are you a little sad and afraid that the world is no longer flat? that the center of the universe isnt the earth, with the sun and planets revolving around it?

Besides, take a look at the reality of your existence. You are a living creature that needs to take the flesh of other living beings and place them in your mouth and swallow them in order to survive. You cannot continue to exist without absorbing fuel from the life of others. Do you really want to be created in the image of your creator? Who does god consume?

Is there a soul? If someone is suddenly decapitated, are there 2 souls. Does the soul stay in the head, or with the body for the next few seconds that both are alive? How does the soul separate itself from the body? How does it become transported to Heaven/Hell/wherever? Is the process magic? And why does it hinge on the event of death. why cant our soul visit heaven/hell at any time?

Where is heaven? Is it on earth? Can you see the sun from heaven? Does heaven have an atmosphere?

I'm sorry, many religious beliefs seem like things made up by people with a limited view of reality. I also have a limited view of reality, but at least I don't go around spreading lies like I more in touch with a spiritual world than others....

Answer 3

Not sure I catch your meaning .

If I look though a telescope and see the earth is not the centre of the universe. Or unravel the secrets of DNA and see the wonder of our existence ... that should make me a More negative person?

If that has happened to you , then , in my opinion , you are barking up the wrong tree.

My answer is NO ! No, we have NOT become more negative since the age of science! Only you have.

I recommend the documentary ‘ What the **** do we know about anything ‘ . It frightened me. And also introduced me to the functions of the Hypothalamus the organ than regulates our likes and dislikes, emotions etc, etc .

Answer 4

No I think we are more positive. Maybe our likes, dislikes and emotions are the result of biochemical and biophysical reactions in our bodies and brains but this does not make them any less real or valid. Certainly we all have a spiritual factor in our make-up and this may well be an area that science does not yet understand but scientist will keep trying to fill such gaps in our knowledge. They may never succeed but they must try.

Answer 5

I don't believe there was some 'Golden Age' compared to which our own is somehow 'lesser' or 'darker'.

People are free to think as they wish. As evidenced by this board, there are many optimistic, positive people around. In fact, many of the views that the world is a terrible place that I have seen have come from people whose values and beliefs originated in Bronze age Palestine.

And if you want an example of something both scientific and positive I recommend 'Pale Blue Dot' narrated by Carl Sagan. Poetic and strangely inspiring I find.
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Answer 6

Your view of science is too narrow. it makes assumptions about the views, goals, and ideas of scientists/scientific practices. for some, what you say is true, however many great scientists through all of history have viewed science as an extention of religion. Notably, Einstein said he was in the business of understanding God so that he might be closer to God. that is not by any means the exception when it comes to scientists personal reasoning.
The view that science and religion need be in conflict with one another, and are in-compatable is simplistic. its more a product of fear and tension than reason. while some on each side of that argument will refute and dismiss the others claims, it is only because they have personally dismissed the other side and have acheived some sucess in convincing the rest of us that it is "us verse them" because that view equates to more power, control, wealth, importance...for them. Many scientists have been driven by a want to understand their creator, and many holy-people have found science to be a helpful tool, and themselves contributed to new technology.

Answer 7

Has this world become more happier or safe, since the knowledge of science, no'' its the opposite,,
Attitudes have changed, people are more stressed, children have no respect, marriage and family's have collapsed, .
drugs are the quick fix replacement of God, suicide is more predominant'
But even now' the scientist are only scratching the surface,.
they dismiss the existence of God but have no answers
.for the explanation of the creation of matter and atoms
before the so called big bang
,

Answer 8

Religion discourages the individual's use of reason and leaves them vulnerable to exploitation.
Religion is, and always has been a scourge on society and a obstacle for civilisation.
The only goal of science is to find the truth. If science can find the reasons we, as a species, behave as we do, then I see that as a good thing.

Answer 9

Well, I kind of do think we are becoming more negative, todays society is now a material world, with many problems, poverty, war, hunger and power.
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Science does have kind of made us a little negative, but I don't think our genes control us, they just define us, and our genes don't determine our actions, other conditions and actions do. Genes just tell us how we look like....and my mole on my nose :)

Then tell me, how do you experience emotions, the sadness, madness and happiness of life?
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In my view for religion, I see two things, and please do not flame me on this:

Religion was created for the long ago fear of death, for people fearing no afterlife, why does nearly every religion have a mention on the after and its importance?

And so made others "comfortable" and/or '"secured"

But most religions do promote good interaction, like a cover up.
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And theres my answer

Answer 10

Sorry, this is a pathetic attempt at a straw-man argument! You begin with a definition of science that is completely distorted and then give a rose-tinted view of spirituality!

Science is a liberating and inspirational tool for exploring the truth of the universe we inhabit, nothing more, nothing less.

Religion is dogmatic, divisive and harmful, based on non-truth and counter-fact. How can you say it sees man as having a choice and keep a straight face, when the basic message of most religions, especially those based on the bible myths, is worship jehovah or die and suffer for ever??

Answer 11

I agree with you 100%! The more knowledge we've acquired, as a species, the more negative we've become. Can you imagine our ancestores hiding in caves from the rain and lightning, wandering the savana endlessly scavaging for rotting carcusses, and spending a day or two rubbing sticks together to make fire. Those were the days! Good times, good times...