Theology and Science (extra footage)

[Neueregel]

God does not exist. Or better he is dead. Modern science killed him/

[senoctar]

I say look back at that point in the past when we believed we were created only to see our mistakes, but for solutions look at the present when we know we were not created, but we arose from basic chemicals to by the process of abiogenesis. And also look to the future when we will know a lot more about that.

[ScotsmanRS]

This treatment of humans as somehow "separate from" and "superior to" nature is bizarre.

As for global warming, I think I'd much rather that stays in the science departments of universities. Unless, of course, we'd rather hear: "It doesn't think; therefore it isn't." (I'm sure someone will want to scream "fallacy" instead of realising there's a joke in there.)

[therealgeeza]

all your books are belong to us

[MEGAS1LORD1DEVIN]

5/5

[VeritasEtLibertas82]

The video adds are really obnoxious -- I don't mind the little windows that pop up.

[coil311]

I don't see what theology has anything really to do with global climate change. Humanity needs solutions, not faith (belief without evidence.) I will consult with respectable peer-reviewed non-dogmatic scientists to solve humanity's problems, not a pastor or imam with stories.

If I remember correctly, the Bible (Genesis) was used for centuries to condone the conquest of nature, in particular the American continent and justify humanity's dominance over everything living and terrestrial.

Thanks.

[w00td00t]

I don't understand how we could be superior to nature. We came from nature didn't we? So when did we stop being nature?

[zomgerln]

So I was running this video in the background while doing other stuff and all was well until I heard the part about the world apparently being created, then I became disappointed. He was making such good points up to that and he had to ruin it all.

[Hewpie]

@zomgerln But but but how else was the world "created"? It wasn't manufactured, and it didn't spontaneously appear from nothing - I think you'll probably find that the world was in fact created... from gravitationally contracting supernova dust et cetera.

I created a fantastic cheese on toast just now without having to invoke any supernatural deities...

BTW what were you doing in the background when you were listening to this?

[zomgerln]

@Hewpie yeah, I mean, it's impossible for something relatively simple such as an early universe to leap out of a über singularity and as time goes become more this becomes something incredibly advanced 13 billion years later but entirely possible for something infinitely complex like god to just jumpcut into reality.

uh, it was five months ago, but porn is a safe bet.

[Hewpie]

@zomgerln Um well, getting from a zero-dimensional spot to four-dimensional space-time with lots of hectic stuff going on can probably be done without some goddy character striding in and taking all the credit.

Provided there's an entropy gradient along the time axis and the right ingredients things of all manner of complexity can happen, including stars, planets, life, fish, frogs, mammals, monkeys and Silvia Saint.

Just off now for an existentialist crisis in the pub over a pint of ale...

[cocas1000]

Please leave theology for the believers...it as nothing to do whith science!!

[culwin]

@cocas1000 But why even do science - or anything at all? Unless you're a nihilist with no philosophy of anything, then theology is part of everything you do. The literal belief in a "god" is not really necessary for theology to have meaning; even most atheists believe in something - there has to be a reason beyond a utilitarian one why a scientist does what he/she does.

[ScotsmanRS]

"even most atheists believe in something" I have no idea what that statement is supposed to mean. Do you mean something supernatural? If so, I think you'll find that statement is wrong. Otherwise, I am at a loss as to what you mean.

[culwin]

@ScotsmanRS what I mean is that just because you don't believe that a god exists, it doesn't mean you don't have morality, and don't believe in good or evil, right and wrong. There is much more to religion and theology than simply believing in a god. Otherwise that would be the end of it "god exists, the end". Like I said before, atheism is much different than nihilism and theology has overlaps with philosophy, science, history, etc.

[Lavabug]

I think the solution for the environmental crisis, the future of genetic engineering, and even nuclear proliferation is interdisciplinary education/collaboration. The humanities professionals who run countries (lawmakers, politicians, etc.) should be educated in and kept up to date with the natural sciences to be able to make more informed decisions.

[nottinghamscience]

@Lavabug

A good sensible comment...

And in reverse, should scientists be kept up to date with the thinking of humanities professionals (whether they agree or not)?

[Lavabug]

@nottinghamscience

Sure, though that sounds rather vague so I'm not sure what it implies. I still think society knows and has more respect towards the humanities and arts than sciences though, it would be nice to see a balance.

[culwin]

Great video.

But what if this guy is a robot sent from the future to prevent us from genetically manipulating ourselves so that robots can reign supreme?

[nottinghamscience]

@culwin: I didn't think of that!!!!

You've made me suspicious now....

[UniversumExNihilo]

It seems like the speaker has a problem distinguishing uniqueness and power. While the human structure is as unique as an ameba, there is no uncommon process that drives it. Humans are not special in nature. It seems like Oliver thinks the fact that humans are powerful somehow makes them unique. This is illogical, in my opinion.

But, it always comes down to what a person wants. A human is special if it wants to be. If the individual does not decide what is special, then who? It doesn't matter.

[HomeDistiller]

i disagree we are unique in the fact that we do have the power to affect the world on the global scale and that we can think about these things in the first place, but we cant for get that we are also a part of nature and need to support it instead of using our worldwide power for ourselves.. WE are now God, WE have to power to repair or destroy our life on earth

[UniversumExNihilo]

You define unique as what you want it to be, while showing no logical steps between your assertion and conclusion. You also assert that us being part of nature obligates us to support it, again, with no logical steps. I consider anything that is unexpected to be unique. I admitted that the human structure, arguably, may be, but that is also irrelevant when everything else is like that. There is no process in humanity that is unexpected in nature. From this I conclude that humanity is not unique.

[UniversumExNihilo]

Why does the arbitrary label of humanity being unique even matter to you? Do unique things posses some sort of beneficial physical attribute that usual things do not?

Ill bring up my same point. It does not matter, as it is the individual that decides what is unique.

[Kargoneth]

Theology... blech

[wasdom01]

The American revolutionary Thomas Paine wrote, "The study of theology, as it stands in Christian churches, is the study of nothing; it is founded on nothing; it rests on no principles; it proceeds by no authorities; it has no data; it can demonstrate nothing; and it admits of no conclusion. Not anything can be studied as a science, without our being in possession of the principles upon which it is founded; and as this is the case with Christian theology, it is therefore the study of nothing."

[Nashy119]

At the start I think he said that humans were the only cultured animals, but he might of been talking about an old idea or the human culture specifically.

But at the end he suggests that we use ancient scripts to imagine what we can do for the future. Unless there's hidden secrets that we haven't read, I think it's a bit pointless. Going back to match modern ideas to the texts, or repeating ideas that are now just common sense, I think it's a waste of time.

[HomeDistiller]

i dont think thats what he means. he is suggesting that we accept ourself as PART of nature and not the only thing that matters in nature, and realize that WE have the powers of the old gods to heal or destroy the earth.. well thats how i read it anyway

[peterbriers]

@Nashy119 I think that that's a dangerous statement...

It's that attitude -only looking forwards for the sake of progression- that disconnected us from nature and ourselves. There IS a lot of knowledge in old scriptures, but you have to understand it's not written the way we do now...

IMO, They can be seen as the earliest of encyclopaedia. It's the knowledge of many generations, of people who looked differently towards the world.

It would be foolish not to study that.

[UniversumExNihilo]

There is very little knowledge in old scriptures. It contains the views of the people of the time. They looked at the sky, and saw a dome. They looked at the horizon, and saw a flat earth. They looked at other people, and saw an enemy. There are thousands of books in the world. If you read one book a month for an average lifespan of 75 years, you can read only 900 books. You have to know what the right books to read are, and to dwell on the oldest scripts is most foolish.

[peterbriers]

@UniversumExNihilo

First: That's a serious simplification of the old works, and u know it! Otherwise, go & read the Bhagavad Gita or the Analects of Confucius. You don't resort to those works for strict scientific answers... You read them to answer the more philosophical questions in life. The choice of books you read is totally up to you. Second, different people find different things enlighting. Who are you to say which ones are the best?

[UniversumExNihilo]

The word is generalization, and yes, I am making one. Writing of old eras very rarely wouldn't fit my description.

What kind of questions would those books actually answer? The writings in the centuries after those works furthered their ideas but challenging them and commentating over them. The books written long after them are far more thoughtful.

How can you substantiate that any philosophical work is "enlightening"? My point was that they are useless, not that they are not entertaining.

[nottinghamscience]

@EleVRs: A good idea!

[avecesdeunhilo]

I hope he is talking about the flying spaghetti monster.

So, Nottingham church, huh

[theburninator88]

i liked the discussion of how education is split and relating it back to global warming and how its a problem for everyone not just a scientific or cultural but trying to relate it back to ancient scriptures is ridiculous, this is a 21st century problem so we have to adapt with 21st century solutions, not ancient philosophic ideologies

[wasdom01]

My argument isn't with the person who posted this video, it's with the huge damage that theological dogma has done.

[fossil98]

HAHAHAHAHA

watch this video with transcribed audio subs

it says stuff about al-qaeda

[itsabomberscope]

many ancient thinkers who were religious used that as fuel to explore the wonder of the natural world. Im not sure it is the same today.

[RazielKain]

Sorry nottingham I have to one star this video

In my understand science is about learning and explaining natural phenomenons but argue about who produced it or why

Theology is useless, it never helped anyone or improved anything

[nottinghamscience]

@RazielKain Thanks for commenting...

We don't restrict ourselves to just the science process... We have dealt with issues relating to the funding, politics and personality of scientists too!

When I had this footage of "an outsider" commenting on science, I couldn't wait to share it with science fans....

I was ready for the negative comments (and single star ratings)....

But I still found it interesting, eloquent, unexpected and thought-provoking... Just what I love to share with you guys!

[skinnyjohnsen]

I rue to see the day when we use the Bible as a science book!

[RazielKain]

π=3!!!!!

[wasdom01]

BEWARE: Me thinks I smell the self indulgent and pointless prattle of a theologian. WRONG WAY, GO BACK Nottingham Science. Theology is useless at best and dangerous at worst. Truth doesn't always take 'the middle road' and theology isn't even concerned with truth, only self-justification. This video belongs either in Bibledex or the bin :(.

[drmkkk]

Cool video, a little unfocused, a bit too many topics - feels more like a "trailer" not a "movie". :)

[unarmed123]

why is this theologian trying to hijack this science channel...

[wasdom01]

Amen Brother/Sister! ;)

[nottinghamscience]

Hi @unarmed123

No-one is hi-jacking anything. I decide what goes on the channel.

I think open-minded science lovers would find it interesting to hear how a rational and intelligent theologian thinks his work can fit in with science.

I'm used to people leaving a torrent of negative comments when the word "God" appears... I just hope they are a vocal minority!?

I think the viewers I'm aiming at would say: "I do/don't believe... but still find it stimulating to hear what people think."

[wasdom01]

Guys, I absolutely would agree that a study of 'religion' or 'religious thought' is a valuable study. It can teach us about how other people see their place in the world and how our culture and society has evolved. However, I'm afraid that I am VERY anti-theology - as a specific study. Theololgy just muddies the waters of truth. I LOVE this channel and all the related channels, but theolgy...is...useless.

[Zubinen]

Open-minded science lovers? I think the few that are religious have issues with cognitive dissonance.

[nottinghamscience]

@Zubinen ha ha... think you misunderstood my meaning of open-minded.... it was not a euphemism for religious!

I guess I just love hearing what everyone has to say!

[Zubinen]

That's not what I meant. I meant that most open-minded science loving religious people probably have to deal with massive cognitive dissonance. Of the people that are open-minded science lovers, the ones who are religious are a small minority.

[wasdom01]

Have you seen the videos of Carol Tavris talking about cognitive dissonance on YouTube? Well worth a look :).

[unarmed123]

@nottinghamscience

Sorry if i sounded like your average you tube user.

I just don't particulary see how a theologians work can fit into science.