Theology and Science (extra footage)

Theologian Simon Oliver discussing the connections between theology and science. This is extra footage from a video recorded for the "What's the Point?" series... The main video is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmj77Wb7o6g

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• science
• theology

[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)?

[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....

[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

[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...

[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 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?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.)

[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.

[therealgeeza]

all your books are belong to us