Limitations of science

On a recent post about science, one of the persons commenting brought up some reasonable points about science. But demonstrating bias highlights other problems in modern American discourse – i.e., the false conclusiveness we give to science, and the false distinction we ascribe to it. Science demands repeatable observation to correct bias, but it can’t correct these problems beyond itself. While... [Read more]

Os Guiness on science, faith, and the culture war

Thanks to another blog, I saw the short video above by Os Guiness speaking for the Biologos Foundation. What is the Biologos Foundations? Well, their webpage says: The BioLogos Foundation explores, promotes and celebrates the integration of science and Christian faith. It not only has well known philosophers such as Os Guiness, but also world-class conservative theologians such as N.T. Wright. I... [Read more]

Scientific research and Alice in Wonderland

When I was young, one of the favorite arguments against Christians was to argue that Christianity was simply a psychological crutch to help one deal with life. Of course, there was an obvious counter-answer. One simply responds to the critic that he/she rejects Jesus because they have psychological hang-ups that prevent them from being able to trust an authority figure. Can you see the circular nature... [Read more]

But the bias of scientists is a known factor

Let’s keep going a bit with the scientific method. Scientists have a strong tendency to extrapolate from the known to the unknown. Actually, we all have a tendency to do that, which is why in theology there is a branch called speculative theology. The known is based on repeatable experiments or observations, while the unknown is an extrapolation of the theories that explain the known observations.... [Read more]

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Scientists are biased

It may surprise you that I would post a title as provocative as “Scientists are biased,” except that it is the standard belief of people who work in scientific research. Oh no, they would never word it that way, because in today’s parlance it means that the person (or study) being accused of bias is not reliable and not to be trusted. Nevertheless, the whole scientific method and... [Read more]

What does it mean to think Christianly? — part 01

Those of you who read this blog know that some of my favorite modern authors are G.K. Chesterton, J.R.R. Tolkien, and C.S. Lewis. There is a reason why they are some of my favorites. All three of them majored in the concept of thinking Christianly. Now, that is not a term that is in the dictionary. For me it means that there are equal parts to the idea of thinking like a Christian: thinking theologically,... [Read more]

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On Darwin and Deism

Much blood has been spilled over Darwin. Debates rage about whether he was a Christian or not. By that I do not mean judgments about his theology or philosophy, but rather whether Darwin thought of himself as a Christian. Quotes are cited back and forth as to whether he “repented” or not of his stance on natural selection. In fact there is a famous false story about his deathbead conversion... [Read more]

Sometimes we just simply use bad logic

Recently I posted a comment on someone else’s blog and, in part, received the comment on my comment listed below: With all due respect, the Radical Reformers’ desire to do away with the liturgical aspects of worship probably had more to do with the fact that those using the liturgy were also persecuting the Anabaptists all over Europe during the Reformation. Both R.C. and Protestant persecuted... [Read more]

conditions

On the Orthodox and economic theories

Father Orthoduck wishes to point out that Fr. Ernesto was completely unaware that there have been two discussions on the very subject on Ancient Faith Radio, the section called The Illumined Heart. Look under April 17, 2009 for the first part of the discussion. Look under the June 26, 2009 podcast for the second part of the discussion. Fr. Ernesto was not aware that the second part of the discussion... [Read more]

The Old Testament God was a socialist; the New Testament God is a capitalist, part 05

Well, some final thoughts, I think. As Orthodox Christians we can never run our personal economic system purely on what maximizes the market neither on what gives the most profit to owners and investors. Part of the point of citing the Sabbath Year and the Jubilee Year was to point out that even though the policies of those years were not free market policies, yet God decided that the care of the poor,... [Read more]

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