Science is like the WTBTS...(always coming out with New Light)

by journey-on 67 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  journey-on

  Science has tried over the centuries to explain human existence, cosmology, and the nature of Life.

  At any given time in history, any number of theories have been postulated and the masses accepted them

  as fact because some great scientist came up with it and was able to baffle us/them with mathematical

  equations to "prove" it so. Then, lo and behold!!...decades or centuries pass, and these "facts" are proven

  wrong, or at the very least, inadequate, by "NEW LIGHT".

  I've been looking up information on just how wrong science has been in the past....even the recent past, and

  it has occurred to me: Why is it we can accept New Light as an excuse when it comes to science, but

  cannot accept it when it comes to matters of theology?
• 

  Gopher

  Science is supposed to learn and make progress through trial-and-error. When something new is learned in laboratories or through mass experiments, it is vetted to find if it is repeatable or not. Thus new learnings come.

  Religion is different by nature. There are textbooks, and the expectation is that the religion and its followers follow the textbook. Those books hold the fundamental laws of the religion.

  Religion that strays from the books -- well, is that really religion or is it a man-made interpretation?

  And religions like the JW's that come up with "new light" -- that's just based on the necessity to keep the organization alive, and NOT on any new and actual discovery.
• 

  sir82

  Why is it we can accept New Light as an excuse when it comes to science, but cannot accept it when it comes to matters of theology?

  Which scientists have told you that if you do not accept their theory, your family members will be coerced to never speak to you again?

  Which scientists have threatened you with eternal annihilation, and buzzards eating your tongue and eyeballs, if you do not accept their theory?

  Which scientists have blamed you, the reader, for the incorrectness of their ideas?

  There is no problem with "new light" in itself; the problem is, the WTS blackmails you into believing whatever the "current light" light is, under threat of expulsion & banishment from your family and social structure.
• 

  LtCmd.Lore

  Science has made absolutely no promises, other than an increase in knowledge.

  And yet it has given us everything in just a few hundred years! Cars, planes, computers, medicine, longer lifespans, better food. It has sent people to the moon, it allows you and me to be talking right now even though we are hundreds of miles apart. It lets us play games, watch movies, listen to music at the touch of a button. It has literally restored sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf. It has made lame men walk.

  This is all BECAUSE science is changing, that is the fundamental strength of the scientific method. Every change in science brings some new technology or benefit.

  Religion on the other hand has promised EVERTHING and delivered none of it.

  It promises to make you live forever, and it hasn't. It promises to restore sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf and make lame men walk...... It hasn't done any of this.

  Every change religion makes, is a last ditch effort to avoid extinction, or some trick to bring more benefit to its leaders. Every change in religion brings some new hardship or problem, and takes you farther and farther away from your goal.

  Lore - What.Would.Satan.Do?
• 

  Awakened07

  Why is it we can accept New Light as an excuse when it comes to science, but cannot accept it when it comes to matters of theology?

  I think I may have to get back to this after some more thought, but initially, one 'short' answer I think would be that there is no way science could know all there is to know about the universe all in one go, and no one is saying that is the case. So the nature of science is that we observe facts about nature, and do our best at forming hypothesis which then may turn into tested theories for how those facts work (like gravity). Theories are seldom tossed out wholesale (ever?), but if new knowledge is found that either contradicts a theory or is not explained by the theory, adjustments must be made. Science works "from the bottom up".

  Theology on the other hand rests on the belief in a Supreme Maker who has revealed the secrets of life etc. to mankind. As such, theology should have "all the answers", or at least correct answers every time, at least if this deity exists and does reveal things through revelation. Theology should work "from the Top down". 'New light' in theology cannot be tested for veracity (except for religious history, where new archaeological findings for instance may support a better understanding of events, but since we're talking about 'new light' here, I'm thinking more of "spiritual truths"), because it only rests on a new idea with no outside source of veracity, based on the same religious texts that have been used all along.
• 

  journey-on

  Which scientists have told you that if you do not accept their theory, your family members will be coerced to never speak to you again?

  But there have been cases where scientists that disagree with the mainstream view of the current science have been stripped

  of their position and openly ridiculed amongst their colleagues. Same thing, different venue.
• 

  VM44

  Read about the Scientific Method (or Methods). Your question will then be answered.

  The Watchtower DOES NOT follow the scientific method and only selectively examines information which supports the current Light they are promoting.

  They are, in general, intellectually dishonest, and proud of it!
• 

  LtCmd.Lore

  Which scientists have told you that if you do not accept their theory, your family members will be coerced to never speak to you again?

  But there have been cases where scientists that disagree with the mainstream view of the current science have been stripped

  of their position and openly ridiculed amongst their colleagues. Same thing, different venue.

  First of all, this is NOT the same. Being fired is a lot different from being shunned by your family. And not being allowed to talk to people.

  Second of all, the only time a scientist would be fired for disagreeing, is if the guy wasn't following the scientific method. But if his theory fits all the available evidence, this would not happen.

  This is the same as ANY line of work. If you don't do your job RIGHT you'll get fired.

  In science you're ENCOURAGED to challenge the mainstream view. But you have to actually have evidence. This is pretty unfortunate for pseudo-science like homeopathy or ID.
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  drew sagan

  Read about the Scientific Method (or Methods). Your question will then be answered.

  Ditto. The science of the present was built upon the science of the past. Not that it always contains elements of past error per se, but that recognizing errors (even errors long held to be true) is part of the process.
• 

  Leolaia

  Why is it we can accept New Light as an excuse when it comes to science, but

  cannot accept it when it comes to matters of theology?

  One has an objective methodology, the other does not.