Science = look forward . . . . Religion = look backward

[Zzyzx]

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Science = look forward . . . . Religion = look backward

Science is constantly, actively seeking to learn new things and to expand human knowledge

Religion consistently rehashes ancient opinions and stories without adding new information.

Why prefer to look backward for 'inspiration' and 'wisdom'? Is modern knowledge inferior to that of ancient storytellers?

[Wootah]

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Science = look forward . . . . Religion = look backward

Science is constantly, actively seeking to learn new things and to expand human knowledge

Religion consistently rehashes ancient opinions and stories without adding new information.

Why prefer to look backward for 'inspiration' and 'wisdom'? Is modern knowledge inferior to that of ancient storytellers?

It appears you are as willing to succumb as any to stories if you believe what you wrote. Second, the study of history or experience is important and many sciences rely on history and the historical record. Indeed to understand how the universe began is a study in history. Looking backward is valuable.

Look at you. You live well without many of sciences inventions. Surely that is wisdom from looking backwards.

[Elijah John]

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Science = look forward . . . . Religion = look backward

Science is constantly, actively seeking to learn new things and to expand human knowledge

Religion consistently rehashes ancient opinions and stories without adding new information.

Why prefer to look backward for 'inspiration' and 'wisdom'? Is modern knowledge inferior to that of ancient storytellers?

Z, that is an interesting observation, but I think it is a false dichotomy. Science and religion attempt to answer different questions. Science answers the "how" of existence, religion (like philosophy) attempts to answer the "whys".

Also, looking backwards sometimes is very constructive. In literature, we have the classics. (music too, for that matter) Many think music reached it's zenith with Mozart...is enjoying his music today "looking back"? Yes, but is that a bad thing?

Religion too, is like music and literature in that regard. In these cases, one taps into timeless Wisdom by "looking backwards".

[Clownboat]

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Science = look forward . . . . Religion = look backward

Science is constantly, actively seeking to learn new things and to expand human knowledge

Religion consistently rehashes ancient opinions and stories without adding new information.

Why prefer to look backward for 'inspiration' and 'wisdom'? Is modern knowledge inferior to that of ancient storytellers?

Why?
Because if your capable of applying faith to things, then pick a religion. At that point you can assume you have the answers and you don't have to do any actual study.

Why study the age of the earth for example if you have a book that you believe gives you the answers?

If a person wants answers, they can either go get them, or pick a religion and have them provided. No further work is then needed.

So modern knowledge is not inferior, it's just harder to get then believing ancient tales.

[Clownboat]

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Science = look forward . . . . Religion = look backward

Science is constantly, actively seeking to learn new things and to expand human knowledge

Religion consistently rehashes ancient opinions and stories without adding new information.

Why prefer to look backward for 'inspiration' and 'wisdom'? Is modern knowledge inferior to that of ancient storytellers?

Z, that is an interesting observation, but I think it is a false dichotomy. Science and religion attempt to answer different questions. Science answers the "how" of existence, religion (like philosophy) attempts to answer the "whys".

Also, looking backwards sometimes is very constructive. In literature, we have the classics. (music too, for that matter) Many think music reached it's zenith with Mozart...is enjoying his music today "looking back"? Yes, but is that a bad thing?

Religion too, is like music and literature in that regard. In these cases, one taps into timeless Wisdom by "looking backwards".

You're not the typical believer though. (And it is refreshing).

Also, both science and religion provide 'hows' as to how we humans got here and most Christians don't read Genesis as philosophy. Those Christians seem to treat ancient stories with more credibility then modern knowledge.

[bluethread]

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Science = look forward . . . . Religion = look backward

Archeology is looking forward? Astronomy is looking forward? I seem to recall being told that when we look at the stars, we are traveling back in time.

Science is constantly, actively seeking to learn new things and to expand human knowledge

Religion consistently rehashes ancient opinions and stories without adding new information.

I thought the scientific method was based on repeatedly replicating a procedure to make sure that it still works the way it is believed to have worked in the past. Sounds like a lot of rehashing to me.

Why prefer to look backward for 'inspiration' and 'wisdom'? Is modern knowledge inferior to that of ancient storytellers?

Much "modern knowledge" is based on the knowledge of ancient story tellers, other "modern knowledge" is speculation based on statistics and generalization. There are many ways of gaining 'inspiration' and 'wisdom'. I prefer the "all of the above" approach.

[bluethread]

You're not the typical believer though. (And it is refreshing).

Also, both science and religion provide 'hows' as to how we humans got here and most Christians don't read Genesis as philosophy. Those Christians seem to treat ancient stories with more credibility then modern knowledge.

So, EJ is not a true Scotsman? No reason to call off the dogs King Longshanks, we know that all of those others need to be brought to the service of the crown.

[Tired of the Nonsense]

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Science = look forward . . . . Religion = look backward

Science is constantly, actively seeking to learn new things and to expand human knowledge

Religion consistently rehashes ancient opinions and stories without adding new information.

Why prefer to look backward for 'inspiration' and 'wisdom'? Is modern knowledge inferior to that of ancient storytellers?

Z, that is an interesting observation, but I think it is a false dichotomy. Science and religion attempt to answer different questions. Science answers the "how" of existence, religion (like philosophy) attempts to answer the "whys".

Also, looking backwards sometimes is very constructive. In literature, we have the classics. (music too, for that matter) Many think music reached it's zenith with Mozart...is enjoying his music today "looking back"? Yes, but is that a bad thing?

Religion too, is like music and literature in that regard. In these cases, one taps into timeless Wisdom by "looking backwards".

Religion makes declarations of facts and then declares the matter settled for all time. It's called dogma. Science builds on the information it gathers, which it uses to further its investigations and thereby continuously adding to and building knowledge. Both science and religion attempt to answer the questions of existence. How is Z's comment a "false dichotomy?"

"Timeless wisdom" which has proven itself to be unrelated to anything valid and true over the centuries is not "wisdom" of any sort. On the other hand, wisdom which encourages people to live together in peace and harmony is older than the Bible.

"That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole Torah; the rest is explanation; go and learn." Hillel the Elder (c. 1st century BC)

"Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself." — Confucius (c. 500 BC)

"Avoid doing what you would blame others for doing." – Thales (c. 624 BC – c. 546 BC)

"Now this is the command: Do to the doer to make him do." (Egyptian proverb c. 2,000 BC)

[Elijah John]

[Replying to post 7 by Tired of the Nonsense]

Hillel is Bible (and Talmud) based Wisdom. The other examples you cited are timelessl ancient sources. They, in their universality and antiquity, also support the notion of timeless Wisdom.

"Looking back" in these cases is also beneficial and not exclusive to Biblical, Christian and Jewish Wisdom.

[Tired of the Nonsense]

[Replying to post 7 by Tired of the Nonsense]

Hillel is Bible (and Talmud) based Wisdom. The other examples you cited are timelessl ancient sources. They, in their universality and antiquity, also support the notion of timeless Wisdom.

"Looking back" in these cases is also beneficial and not exclusive to Biblical, Christian and Jewish Wisdom.

I agree wholeheartedly. Without the basic concept of the golden rule no society would survive long without falling into anarchy. The concept of the golden rule is the foundation for all morality.

I happen to moderate the "Supports The Golden Rule" usergroup and would like to extend an invitation for you to join. Membership implies no further obligations. And you are free to quit if even that burden becomes to heavy.