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1 posted on 09/08/2020 11:24:53 AM PDT by CharlesOConnell
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To: CharlesOConnell

Yes. Absolutely.
Science is practiced as religion.
Technology is functionally magic.


2 posted on 09/08/2020 12:05:57 PM PDT by Louis Foxwell (A deep and terrible ignorance born of abject corruption is required to hate our president.)
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To: CharlesOConnell

I think you can pair them up any way you want. But rarely would you see science, technology and religion vs magic. Three to one combinations rarely work. Technology is a sub set of science but is magic a subset of religion? Or is it the other way round? They are also like tag team pairs in a wrestling match where science and technology are up against religion and magic. And the tag team pair can fight among themselves as well. In which case, for example, religion might call out to science to help him against magic.

But I think all these terms can support each other so that there is no rivalry. For example, science rivaled religion at one point in history. Now science is coming to religion’s defense by giving evidence for a God or a Creator: 1) big bang theory, 2) intelligent design argument, 3) the universe is too young to have its high level of order arise out of accident and randomness. So I think anyway to arrange them is possible.


3 posted on 09/08/2020 12:19:59 PM PDT by BEJ
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To: CharlesOConnell

I’m a big Kreeft fan. Got a couple of his apologetics books on my shelf. Haven’t listened to his podcast lately— thanks for this.


4 posted on 09/08/2020 12:21:39 PM PDT by backwoods-engineer (But what do I know? I'm just a backwoods engineer.)
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To: CharlesOConnell

Thanks for posting this! Looking forward to listening.


5 posted on 09/08/2020 12:49:08 PM PDT by bhive
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To: CharlesOConnell
I really don't get Kreeft's group of four. I understand the balls and equipment example he gave for kindergartners but not these four.

Structuralism might have Science and Religion in one box, and Scientific Method and Rites/Prayers in another, i.e. the organizing principles in one box and the methods in another.

You could also have Science and Religion in one box, and Technology and Moral Codes / Saved Souls in the other if you are looking at the products of the two realms.

And for a functionalist point of view you would just put Science in with technology, and Religion in with Moral Codes / Saved Souls.

I don't really see how magic enters in. It seems to be a slight to religion as I'm thinking the person who came up with the group of four probably wants to associate Science with technology leaving Religion stuck with magic.

There are two types of magic: real magic and legerdemain. If we are talking about real magic then we are either talking about miracles or the occult. If we are talking about legerdemain then we are really just talking about a well-honed skill.

Religion may lead to prayers which may lead to miracles. Occult religions may lead to spells which lead to dark magic. But in both cases these are the exception to the rule. Whether a person is involved in a "good" religion or an occult one, I would imagine that miracles and spells play a relatively minor role compared to the theology, regular rites and practices, and the workaday experiences of believers who find that most of their prayers and/or spells never seem to come to fruition.

8 posted on 09/08/2020 9:37:36 PM PDT by who_would_fardels_bear
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