Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: wallcrawlr

Faith cannot be separated from science. Faith is based on acceptance of evidence. All science is built on faith in the observations of others. I have faith that light has some properties of waves, because I can observe the interference pattern when it passes through parallel slits. I have faith that astronomers correctly understand the motion of celestial objects, because they can accurately predict eclipses, cometary appearances, etc. I have faith that combustion of hydrocarbons consumes O2 and produces CO2 & H2O, even though I can't physically observe the atoms switching places. I have faith that Alaska exists, even though I've never been there.


131 posted on 08/01/2005 12:46:07 PM PDT by Sloth (History's greatest monsters: Hitler, Stalin, Mao & Durbin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]


To: Sloth
I have faith that Alaska exists, even though I've never been there.

I have and its heavenly.

135 posted on 08/01/2005 12:48:14 PM PDT by wallcrawlr (http://www.bionicear.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 131 | View Replies ]

To: Sloth
Faith cannot be separated from science. Faith is based on acceptance of evidence. All science is built on faith in the observations of others.

That is a different type of faith than the one discussed in the article. Faith in a supreme being is a very different usage of the word than having faith that the toilet will flush when I press the handle.

Science relies on the usage of the word "faith" as laid out in definition #1 below. Creationists rely on the "faith" described in definition #2, #3, #4 or #5.

faith   Audio pronunciation of "faith" ( P )  Pronunciation Key  (fth)
n.

  1. Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.
  2. Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence. See Synonyms at belief. See Synonyms at trust.
  3. Loyalty to a person or thing; allegiance: keeping faith with one's supporters.
  4. often Faith Christianity. The theological virtue defined as secure belief in God and a trusting acceptance of God's will.
  5. The body of dogma of a religion: the Muslim faith.

140 posted on 08/01/2005 12:53:11 PM PDT by JeffAtlanta
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 131 | View Replies ]

To: Sloth

" ... science is built on faith in the observations of others."

Actually, science is built on *skepticism* about the ability to replicate the observations of others. It is this healthy skepticism that accounts for progress in refining, and occasionally overturning, scientific theories of the past.


176 posted on 08/01/2005 1:19:56 PM PDT by riverdawg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 131 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson