Why science is the ultimate "worship"

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-01-02 09:55am

I've been thinking lately about silly christian views about science being surpassed by god etc etc. Now, me personally I sort of deify nature, but heres a novel concept: If all of the universe was created by god, wouldn't the pursuit of factual scientific knowledge of the universe (rather then fairy tales) be the ultimate in worship? What more could you do to glorify your god, then to find out how everything he's made works, and to use this knowledge in your everyday life, therefore infusing your very existance with not just god-given science (ones existance thanks to the sun not exploding) but also with man-made devices and concepts that utilise your gods creation?

A long time ago in the middle east (shockingly enough) science was one of the major things being taught in schools and mosques. Islam was, back then, atleast partially open to the diea that the pursuit of science is the pursuit of knowledge of god, and such. Arabs were ones the foremost mathematicians and physicists during the middle ages. How far the mighty have fallen.

Post by **Lagmonster** » 2003-01-02 10:47am

kojikun wrote:If all of the universe was created by god, wouldn't the pursuit of factual scientific knowledge of the universe (rather then fairy tales) be the ultimate in worship?

Ow! Ow! Ow! My head hurts with the weight of lunacy. Not to undermine your statement, but there's a gentleman I knew when I worked for the government who was CONVINCED that everything he did, he did for the glory of God. Advanced immunology? In God's name. Medical papers? In God's name. Gotta take a whiz? He probably did that in God's name too.

He used to argue with me endlessly about it. It would eventually boil down to him insisting that no matter what we did, to him we were doing it with God's creation, were studying God's universe, were using God's pencils, because God allowed us to. Nothing I could say would change his mind. He actually found it hilarious that I would insist that gods didn't exist, while at the same time desired to probe into learning more about what he called the 'miracles of God's creation'. He would laugh and say, "If you don't believe in God, why are you so interested in how He makes things work?"

Admittedly, I was not as proficient a debater back then as I am now, and instead of rebutting intelligently often left that off silently wondering if I could get away with tossing him into the incinerator with the rest of the diseased animal parts.

Majin Gojira · Post by **Majin Gojira** » 2003-01-02 11:05am

For a while in the middle ages, Islam had that exact idea, brining forth algebra into the world. What the hell happened? Maybe something like this...

Homer: "Flanders I was a working on making a balanced budget when I accedently proved that God doesn't exists"

Flanders: "Well, Will just see about...No, no that looks ok....Ah wait...no, that's right too. Well, can't let this baby get out."

Sir Sirius · Post by **Sir Sirius** » 2003-01-02 12:13pm

Majin Gojira wrote:For a while in the middle ages, Islam had that exact idea, brining forth algebra into the world. What the hell happened?

Pope Urban II and the Crusades.

BTW Urban II real name was Odo de Lagery, those evil Trek bastards (B&B) are insulting Muslims and Arabs by naming a character in DS9 after the man who started the Crusades. They even made Odo in to a law enforcement officer with strong morals, what kind of message does that send to the Muslims?

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-01-02 12:42pm

There's a difference between analysis and worship. If the universe is the God of scientists and engineers, then we like to take apart our God and experiment on him. Not too much like a typical religion, if you ask me.

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2003-01-02 01:17pm

That and I don't believe any scientist worth his salt believes in that things just happen, because of (insert whatever)

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-01-02 05:46pm

well granted i didnt mean worship literally, but you'd think that someone would get it into their heads that science is the ultimate in theology if they are, indeed, religious. I guess people would rather study the words of a book theyve have crammed down their throats. Oh well :p

ArmorPierce · Post by **ArmorPierce** » 2003-01-03 07:00pm

yeah, after the crusades muslims/arabs became very suspicious of the outside world.

jaeger115 · Post by **jaeger115** » 2003-01-03 07:46pm

I was in AP world history last year. After Sept 11, we explored why the Arab world was so advanced, then declined to a piss-poor street. The answer that we found was that Islam itself actually propelled the advancement of the Arab world, by inventing astrolabes to figure out which direction Mecca is in, and promoting trade because Muhammad called for the spread of Islam through war and trade.

Shadow WarChief · Post by **Shadow WarChief** » 2003-01-04 04:20pm

jaeger115 wrote:I was in AP world history last year. After Sept 11, we explored why the Arab world was so advanced, then declined to a piss-poor street. The answer that we found was that Islam itself actually propelled the advancement of the Arab world, by inventing astrolabes to figure out which direction Mecca is in, and promoting trade because Muhammad called for the spread of Islam through war and trade.

Ok you've got the how they got to the top part down. Now what about what knocked them from the pedestal all the way down to the bottom of the food chain?

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Why science is the ultimate "worship"

Why science is the ultimate "worship"

Re: Why science is the ultimate "worship"