[Alacarte]

It was after the Protestant Reformation that 'freedom' to pursue truth intrinsically changed in Europe. The seculars have been riding the back of that change ever since.

Thanks for the post gobucks, it was interesting. I haven't thought much about the things the reformation beginning the revolution huh... something to think about.

No matter the means, in the end you seem to agree that recent progress is a direct result of secularism, that is, scientific freedom from religion. In the text you posted it even said: "In the shifts in the world from the mid 15th century to the end of the 18th century, it is possible to trace the divergence of science from religion and the opening up of the new world." This is strongly implying what I said, that this divergence is responsible for modern science.

Do you agree?

[gobucks]

Your tag line says there is no knowledge that is not power.

My 9th grade science teacher posted this in my class many times. many years later, older, harassed looking, he confided in me that he was beginning to hate being a high school teacher. "The kids cuss at me now, and one even threatened to beat me up. The administration is no longer protecting us from undisciplined kids".

It was an eye opening conversation. Alacarte, I will offer that historically, certain religious institutions have been quite guilty of persecuting those who seek knowledge. But to elevate secularism only makes sense under one circumstance: overall, people are happier.

Aderol, Paxil, Zoloft, Prozac, Concerta, etc, etd,...
lots of brain drugs out there doing .... what? Making secular scientists who work at secular drug companies pretty wealthy. Maybe they are the ones who are happier. maybe they have also been incented to deny alternate pathways to happiness have been available for investigation for a long time.

Wisdom is real. Do you agree?