AK-Jeff, as I explained in your original thread, and as Hillary_Step pointed out, I was not making light of your post or having fun at your expense with my parody here. I was making a very serious point by using your reasoning. And I will state for the record that I have no self-esteem problems, so your evaluation of my motives is clearly off base.
In your 2nd post (5404; 18-Jul-07 13:20) you said:
: My original thread was an attempt to bridge the chasm that exists between those who worship science and those who do not.
This shows two levels of the problem I was trying to illustrate: (1) you confuse respect for the methods of science with worship of science; (2) there will never be other than a chasm between those who respect the methods of science and those who do not.
Most scientists, and non-scientists who apply the methods of science to determine their world-views, do not in any sense "worship" science. Such claims are often made by people who have little or no training in the sciences, or who for whatever reason do not understand how science works or reject it altogether. Such people invariably form their worldviews by nonrational or even irrational means. For example, geocentrists almost always base their views on the Bible, and reject the methods of science because of their belief in a literal interpretation of the Bible. Such people almost invariably claim that anyone who rejects geocentrism worships science. They confuse their own worship of some god with mere respect for how rational people deal with the world.
Geocentrism has no empirical support in today's world. Nor does flat earthism. Nor does young-earth creationism. Nor does belief in gods of any kind. Anyone who believes in gods despite the lack of empirical evidence does so because of faith, which is based on nonrational or even irrational criteria. People who believe in something in spite of complete lack of empirical evidence are by definition rejecting the methods of science, which are inherently empirical. Such people cannot logically claim to respect the methods of science. Hence there is a built-in chasm between these two classes of people.
Let me ask you some pointed questions.
Do you actually respect flat-earthers?
Do you actually respect geocentrists?
Do you actually respect people who believe in astrology?
Note that I'm not talking about respecting their beliefs, which I assume you're saavy enough to reject. I'm talking about respecting the people themselves.
However you answer, I'm sure you can see where I'm going with these questions.
AlanF