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Bridging the science-religion gap is possible — some stunning new insights
October 16th, 2011 by Richard Collins

Robert A. Burton, M. D. has advanced compelling arguments for radically rethinking the age old science versus religion fight. Burton in the closing chapter of his book, On Being Certain Believing you Are Right Even When You Are Not fingers the glaring error both sides make. Recently gained scientific knowledge shows how humans are biologically constrained to ever know certainty, yet our evolution sets us up to want, nay crave, certainty.
On the science side, Burton argues that evolution must only be granted provisional assent to certainty. Perhaps one day new facts will radically revise what we now think is certain. On the other side, the visceral feelings of the religious that gives them a sense of purpose and meaning must not be lightly negated. Burton says the visceral sensation, often noted by mystics, has real adaptive benefits and equals the power of rationality with respect to benefiting humans. Placebos have power.
Burton writes, “Objectivity and reason must be seen within a larger picture of our biological needs and constraints.”
“The goal of this dialogue should be to maximize personal hope and a sense of meaning while minimizing the untoward effects of unjustifiable personal attitudes and social policies. We should force ourselves to distinguish between separate physiological categories of faith — the basic visceral drive for meaning that has real purpose versus the unsubstantiated cognitive acceptance of an idea. Compassion, empathy and humility can only arise out of recognizing that out common desires are differently expressed.”
“If possible, both science and religion should try to adopt and stick with the idea of provisional facts. Once all facts become works-in-progress, absolutism would be dethroned. No matter how great the “evidence” the literal interpretation of the Bible or Koran would no longer be the only possibility. By exploring and making common knowledge of how the brain balances off contradictory aspects of its biology we might gradually turn absolutism into an untenable stance of ignorance.”
“Imagine how different dialogue might be with future generations raised on the idea that there are biological constraints on our ability to know what we know. To me, that is our only hope.”
Science has a leg up in this respect because scientists and rationalists fundamentally accept that all knowledge is susceptible to change and all knowledge must be rigorously challenged. Religion is just the opposite, because their foundational beliefs are asserted to come directly from a supreme being who is all powerful and created the universe and everything in the entire universe. Yet, clear headed humans not swayed by indoctrination can easily spot the giant cracks in this belief. Burton says in as much as belief in god is a placebo for billions of people, we need to recognize that it has power. He does not defend all the ramifications that flow from belief in the supernatural.
Open mindedness is a key component of critical thinking, which is something freethinkers have accepted for centuries. The trick is getting our social systems firmly behind this concept so that our schools, homes, and institutions start turning out people that can think independently and live their lives autonomously  as they personally choose to live them and not the way others demand they live.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuyUz2XLp1E The four horseman have a discussion.

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To All Religious Teenagers
July 10th, 2011 by Richard Collins

Reblog from YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RkbDUc9HBA&NR=1

Hit REPLAY to watch To All Religious Teenagers

Would you believe in Giraffism if only one person believed in it? Of course not!