Thanks, Doug, for putting this up.
Stephen V
http://stephenvincent.net/blog/
> Edward O Wilson interviewed in Salon.com today:
>
> Would you be comfortable saying that science can have a sacred
> dimension?
>
> Sacred, yes, in the sense of spirituality. This would be based upon a
> deeper understanding of just how intricate and surprising the universe
> is. The story of the origin of life on this planet -- the time scale,
> the magnitude of it, the complexity of how it has been put together --
> all of that engenders in me even more awe than I ever felt as a devout
> Southern Baptist growing up.
>
> You grew up in a religious family?
>
> Oh yes, I grew up fundamentalist. I grew up as a Southern Baptist with
> strict adherence to the Bible, which I read as a youngster. As a child,
> I was warned by counselors and routine religious training that the
> truth was in the Bible. Redemption was only in Christ and the world is
> full of Satanic force. Satan himself perhaps -- but certainly his
> agents, witting and unwitting -- would try to make me drop my belief. I
> had that instilled in me. You have to understand how powerful the
> religious drive is -- the instinct which I consider tribalist but
> probably necessary -- in most societies for continuing day-to-day
> business.
>
> That's an interesting perspective. Basically, you're saying it's
> necessary but it's wrong.
>
> Well, you see, that's the dilemma of the 21st century. Possibly the
> greatest philosophical question of the 21st century is the resolution
> of religious faith with the growing realization of the very different
> nature of the material world. You could say that we evolved to accept
> one truth -- the religious instinct -- but then discovered another. And
> having discovered another, what are we to do? You might say it's just
> best to go ahead and accept the two worldviews and let them live side
> by side. I see no other solution. I believe they can use their
> different worldviews to solve some of the great problems -- for
> example, the environment. But generally speaking, the difficulty in
> saying they can live side by side is a sectarianism in the world today,
> and traditional religions can be exclusionary and used to justify
> violence and war. You just can't deny that this is a major problem.
>
>
> Douglas Barbour
> 11655 - 72 Avenue NW
> Edmonton Ab T6G 0B9
> (780) 436 3320
>
> Whatıs receivedıs given out
> in smaller measure. The speaker as hearer
> comprehends what he canıt
> say, a music of what sounds him.
>
> Wayne Clifford
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