[quote=Allan from Fallbrook]So Larry, why can’t spirituality and science co-exist? Some of the world’s greatest scientists and thinkers were spiritual (notice I didn’t say “religious”) and used their scientific explorations as a means to not only better understand their world, but also as a means to seek God.
No less a luminary than Einstein said: “I want to know God’s thoughts, the rest are mere details”.
What I find offensive is the notion that somehow one cannot be spiritual and yet still be possessed of a brain. What’s up with that?
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Never said they could not. In fact, the Monk Gregor Mendel discovered modern genetics. But, to assist in addressing your obvious confusion/consternation, religion/creationism is not science, they are two completely different animals. The difference is that science is based upon investigation/observation, forming hypothesis based upon testing/investigation, and then comparing or developing additional data in light of the hypothesis and refining or developing a new hypothesis as needed- this is the underlying basis of science. Faith, on the other hand requires no testing, just the mere belief in whatever and nothing more, which also requires overlooking the obvious inconvenient obsurdities (i.e, the earth is 6,000 years old, adam and eve started the human race, need I go on?).
The foundation of religion is based upon fear of the unknown such as death or an explanation of the unknown, such as weather. Science has brought humans out of the dark ages and many things that were not known when religion was formed are now known (no need to do a rain dance, etc.) But, if you want to worship a stone icon or a grilled cheese sandwich that has the image of the virgin Mary to get you through the day, knock yourself out, but please, it is absurd to conflate a scientist who personally believes in a religion or god with science.
