Nonexistentland
04-12-2006, 16:39
Another post in another thread sparked my interest.
I've noticed that people seem to consider a lack of progress as being bad, or conversely, that progress is necessarily good.
Of course, this is usually in conjunction with such statements as "Religion is masochism" and "God is less than half of what I am, given that x = omniscience."
Many refer to the period after the fall of Rome as the "Dark Ages," specifically because of a supposed lack of scientific knowledge. However, this delineation has been reconsidered in light of evidence that, in fact, these times were more advanced than previously assumed, and thus reclassified as the "Low Middle Ages," the period following naturally being--the discovery of the cannabis leaf as an intoxicant notwithstanding--the "High Middle Ages." But why is a time of faith--ie, the Middle Ages--in that it is not as advanced as previously or now, is bad? What makes rampant, unchecked scientific progress necessarily good? Sooner or later I have no doubt that, in our scientific zealousness, we will eventually discover our own demise. But, all that said, I really have nothing against science. I'm just curious as to where we draw the line that scientific progress = good and progressive understanding of God = bad. Thoughts? Questions? Comments? Concerns? Death threats?
That would be cool though, to learn so much we destroy ourselves...like the snake eating its own tail...
I've noticed that people seem to consider a lack of progress as being bad, or conversely, that progress is necessarily good.
Of course, this is usually in conjunction with such statements as "Religion is masochism" and "God is less than half of what I am, given that x = omniscience."
Many refer to the period after the fall of Rome as the "Dark Ages," specifically because of a supposed lack of scientific knowledge. However, this delineation has been reconsidered in light of evidence that, in fact, these times were more advanced than previously assumed, and thus reclassified as the "Low Middle Ages," the period following naturally being--the discovery of the cannabis leaf as an intoxicant notwithstanding--the "High Middle Ages." But why is a time of faith--ie, the Middle Ages--in that it is not as advanced as previously or now, is bad? What makes rampant, unchecked scientific progress necessarily good? Sooner or later I have no doubt that, in our scientific zealousness, we will eventually discover our own demise. But, all that said, I really have nothing against science. I'm just curious as to where we draw the line that scientific progress = good and progressive understanding of God = bad. Thoughts? Questions? Comments? Concerns? Death threats?
That would be cool though, to learn so much we destroy ourselves...like the snake eating its own tail...