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A good many people are so hard-headed about the distinction between immutable facts and reasonable conjecture, that they squeeze "science" into a fruitless, dead, narrow dogma.

Seems to me the truly great questions of human life are eternally revisited by the human mind. The history of human culture down the ages testifies to the validity of this observation. For when you think about it, the earliest formulation of atomic theory came about in the ancient world of the pre-Socratic Greeks, with Democritus and Leucippus. The first formulation of the first and second laws of thermodynamics also occurred in this era, courtesy of Heraclitus. That man has continually revisited such questions is unavoidable, for they are great "open" questions. Trying to shoehorn their answers into narrow doctrinal forms strikes me as an exercise in futility from the get-go, for the simple reason that doctrinal reduction implies that such questions are "closed."

Which is why it seems the best thing science (or any other knowwledge discipline) can do is to frame its questions carefully, qualify its evidence, and then "follow the trail wherever it may lead."

Certainly i agree with you that the fullest and freest dialogue regarding the great questions is the best help for the advancement of human knowledge. I also agree that the public schools are justified in providing opportunities for such dialogue, given First Amendment requirements and the fact of public financing. All views ought to be "ventilated," it seems to me. In this way we avoid mass indoctrination of the young, and encourage them in the development of those mental habits necessary to the full exercise of critical reason. FWIW

Great post at #1806, Fester. Thank you so much for writing it!

Inasmuch as ancient texts testify that the Creator took upon himself human flesh it is no surprise that the "natural" and the "supernatural" are meant to be intermingled. I count gravity as a phenomenon beyond full human comprehension yet definitely manifested to reason and senses.

The Law of Gravity might as well be the Resurrection of the Dead as far as our understanding of physical matters is concerned. The physical and the spiritual are no more meant to be separated from one another by "science" than they were meant to be separated by God when he created man, placed him in a garden, and walked with him.

This separation we endure for a short time - maybe 100 years max per person. Looking forward to bellying up to the bar with Matt, the IRS agent, for a little chat before sitting down with Methuselah to hear him out on how Noah behaved himself at age 205.

We're in for a fine party, thanks be to Christ Jesus.

Seems to me the truly great questions of human life are eternally revisited by the human mind. The history of human culture down the ages testifies to the validity of this observation. For when you think about it, the earliest formulation of atomic theory came about in the ancient world of the pre-Socratic Greeks, with Democritus and Leucippus. The first formulation of the first and second laws of thermodynamics also occurred in this era, courtesy of Heraclitus. That man has continually revisited such questions is unavoidable, for they are great "open" questions. Trying to shoehorn their answers into narrow doctrinal forms strikes me as an exercise in futility from the get-go, for the simple reason that doctrinal reduction implies that such questions are "closed."

So very true! Thank you so much for your insights!