Filling in the Gaps (Earth, God, religion, science)

[Ceridwen018]

Originally Posted by Uncertaindrummer

I don't suppose YOU have an idea as to why, without a God, atoms came out of nowhere, then started MOVING for no good reason at all, and then eventually randomly came together to create life so complex that we in all our "genius" can't even figure out how it happened.

Uncertaindrummer posted this response in my other thread, "Stop the Madness", but my response would have been way off-topic, so I decided to make a new thread.

In this quote, Uncertaindrummer is using the ever classic, "Filling in the Gaps Argument". He is taking a scientific question without a clear answer, and "filling it in" with the all-purpose answer, "God did it".

Lets take a look at history: Back in the "long, long ago", people had a very primitive understanding, if any, of the natural world. In their minds, God created lightening, rain, tides, waves, and all other natural "phenomena." Over time, while people may still technically attribute these things to God, (because science and religion are compatible like that ), they have developed a deeper understanding. Instead of saying, "God is making it rain," for instance, one might say, "God is causing water to evaportate due to the thermal energy released from the earth. The thermal energy is a byproduct of the use of the sun's energy, and the water vapor that ensues will condense in the sky as clouds and eventually precipitate back to earth as it returns to its liquid state as water, and what we know as rain."

Likewise, although science does not yet have a "posterboy-esqu" theory for how the first matter came to be, (at least not a theory that I can effectively wrap my mind around), given the pattern of history, the probability that science will find the answer is quite high.

Until then, we can continue to fill in the gaps with whatever suits us best. I like the leprechaun theory, personally.

[michel]

Awwwww and I thought you were going to come out with some fantastic new theory and discovery!!!


It may be unscientific - but until someone manages to defeat the truism that "Matter can neither be created nor destroyed", I'm going to stick with "God did it."

Sorry if that disappoints you .

[Jaymes]

I thought that matter was destroyed during the process that gives atomic bombs such power? Or is that just me being confused again?

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by michel

... until someone manages to defeat the truism that "Matter can neither be created nor destroyed", ...

You do such a wonderful job exemplifying the laughable!

[michel]

Originally Posted by Deut. 32.8

You do such a wonderful job exemplifying the laughable!

Well, I have to give you an excuse to laugh Deut! - Instead of making your usual curt comments, don't you think it would be more productive to point me to a site that shows the above statement not to be true ? - I am willing to learn, but unless someone is prepared to help me, I am stuck with what I know.

[Fluffy]

In this quote, Uncertaindrummer is using the ever classic, "Filling in the Gaps Argument". He is taking a scientific question without a clear answer, and "filling it in" with the all-purpose answer, "God did it".

What is the difference between doing this and assuming scientific theory to be true? If one is to take a solipsistic attitude towards both examples that is.

[Ceridwen018]

What is the difference between doing this and assuming scientific theory to be true?

Because, Fluffy, we don't assume scientific theories to be true. We test them, and make sure we've got it right.

[Mr Spinkles]

Originally Posted by michel

It may be unscientific - but until someone manages to defeat the truism that "Matter can neither be created nor destroyed", I'm going to stick with "God did it."

Hang on a second there, michel: are you saying that, because you believe matter cannot be created, you believe God created matter?