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To: fishtank
In fact, an RCC priest (and scientist) Fr. Stanley Jaki has stated in his books that science could have ONLY been birthed in a Christian context.

Yes. The thesis is that the reason that science arose in a Christian culture, and not in a culture like China which was clearly sophisticated, is this: science assumes that there are LAWS that exist that can be discovered. The assumption is that the universe is orderly, not random. Fundamental laws underlie it. But why make this assumption? Most cultures have not made this assumption. Christianity, however, postulates a single monotheistic God who created the universe and imposed his will upon it. Other cultures believed in multiple gods, quarreling, squabbling like some kind of inbred hillbilly incest fest (the Greek gods are typical of this breed). But the Judeo-Christian God imposed order and established laws by his will (this was the assumption). Therefore, scientists could discover those laws, so they went looking. And lo, they found them. Of course today many scientists are materialists and believe no God is necessary -- but at the dawn of science, when no one knew whether there were fundamental laws of nature or not -- the assumption that there were was itself an act of faith.

24 posted on 08/16/2003 5:13:32 PM PDT by dark_lord (The Statue of Liberty now holds a baseball bat and she's yelling 'You want a piece of me?')
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To: dark_lord
Well considering that Europe gets from China gunpowder, paper and many other "ideas" when Chinese have many gods, that blows idea out of water. Furthermore, Chinese believe in Celestial Beaurocracy that keep all things in order...that is what Confusionism is...each born to his place in the great Order.

If you notice, Christianity in countries such as Ethiopia, souther Sudan (both ancient Orthodox), southern Idia and other areas not produce sciences. Also, Renassaunce start AFTER fall of Constantinople and fleeing of its learned men to west.

28 posted on 08/16/2003 8:22:05 PM PDT by RussianConservative (Hristos: the Light of the World)
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To: dark_lord
Rather one argue that Europe was place for tech because of geography...many many states in war with limited land and resources, each try to improve to get over others but at same time much internal trade and exchange of ideas.
29 posted on 08/16/2003 8:23:20 PM PDT by RussianConservative (Hristos: the Light of the World)
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