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Philologos
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28 May 2011, 6:13 pm

Feynman again:

Western civilization, it seems to me, stands by two great heritages. One is the scientific spirit of adventure — the adventure into the unknown, an unknown which must be recognized as being unknown in order to be explored; the demand that the unanswerable mysteries of the universe remain unanswered; the attitude that all is uncertain; to summarize it — the humility of the intellect. The other great heritage is Christian ethics — the basis of action on love, the brotherhood of all men, the value of the individual — the humility of the spirit.
These two heritages are logically, thoroughly consistent. But logic is not all; one needs one's heart to follow an idea. If people are going back to religion, what are they going back to? Is the modern church a place to give comfort to a man who doubts God — more, one who disbelieves in God? Is the modern church a place to give comfort and encouragement to the value of such doubts? So far, have we not drawn strength and comfort to maintain the one or the other of these consistent heritages in a way which attacks the values of the other? Is this unavoidable? How can we draw inspiration to support these two pillars of western civilization so that they may stand together in full vigor, mutually unafraid? Is this not the central problem of our time?



leejosepho
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28 May 2011, 8:12 pm

Philologos wrote:
Feynman again:

Western civilization, it seems to me, stands by two great heritages.
One is the scientific spirit of adventure ...
The other great heritage is Christian ethics ...
...
How can we draw inspiration to support these two pillars of western civilization so that they may stand together in full vigor, mutually unafraid?

Those days are over -- pluralism is now the order of the day.

Philologos wrote:
Is this not the central problem of our time?

Yes, for those who have had (or who may yet have) their faith placed in Christendom, it is.


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MarketAndChurch
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28 May 2011, 8:33 pm

Logic and reason or science is never good on its own. The Nazi's used logic and reason to kill ret*ds. They don't contribute to society and they are a drain on resources. What is their logical and reasonable value? Nothing. It is valuing life and that all people who are alive have liberty from a transcendent right-giver that grants them value.

Sometimes, in this world we've constructed, some things are too important to leave to logic and reason alone. Logic and reason must always have to be in service of higher values and morals, usually from a transcendent source, in the case of the west Christianity, or America's which is Judeo-Christian(there's a difference). China and Nazi Germany aren't afraid to push the envelope of science whereas we have certain ethical standards to uphold in the service of higher values and ideals.

So our two heritages can be independent or in qualms with each other so long as the two exist. When one doesn't even acknowledge the other's existence, theocratic or secular nightmares often ensue.


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jrjones9933
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28 May 2011, 9:23 pm

I think we'll need a better educational system, and include philosophy and the study of various religions and athiesm at the high school level.


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