Comments on: Science and Mormonism http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/11/science-and-mormonism/ Truth Will Prevail Wed, 23 May 2012 09:34:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Tatiana http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/11/science-and-mormonism/#comment-89655 Tatiana Tue, 16 Aug 2005 05:29:47 +0000 /?p=1622#comment-89655 I think computer science counts as science, yes. We learn a whole lot about the nature of thought and understanding in artificial intelligence work. Also we learn about the properties of emergent systems from large networks. Cellular automata shed a lot of light on how nature manifests complexity from simple substrates, and so on. As an engineer and science geek who is a convert, it was very important to me when I was investigating that the church did not show the sort of anti-intellectualism that seems too prevalent in many other sects. I was extremely impressed by the importance put on education, as well. I love the PEF, and try to contribute as much to it as I possibly can. I hope it eventually expands to serve everyone who needs it. And, yes, I believe miracles come about because Christ understands a lot more about the universe He designed than do we, and He's hooked into it more. Rebuking the storm is really no more miraculous than me telling my brain to tell my arm to move, by which I mean that both are miracles. Science has illuminated the pathway from the motor cortex of the brain to the muscles, but so far has not shed light on who I am and how I'm able to hook into this section of matter that I've co-opted to be a brain and body for myself, and cause it to do my bidding. I see the universe as obeying Christ's will in the same sense that my brain and body obey mine. LDS doctrines fit with and make sense of the other things we've learned about how the cosmos works. So, even though I'm coming to it from the opposite direction, starting with a scientific worldview and progressing to LDS ideas, it definitely meshed well. I can totally see how the opposite would be true as well, that an LDS worldview would foster an interest in science. I think computer science counts as science, yes. We learn a whole lot about the nature of thought and understanding in artificial intelligence work. Also we learn about the properties of emergent systems from large networks. Cellular automata shed a lot of light on how nature manifests complexity from simple substrates, and so on.

As an engineer and science geek who is a convert, it was very important to me when I was investigating that the church did not show the sort of anti-intellectualism that seems too prevalent in many other sects. I was extremely impressed by the importance put on education, as well. I love the PEF, and try to contribute as much to it as I possibly can. I hope it eventually expands to serve everyone who needs it.

And, yes, I believe miracles come about because Christ understands a lot more about the universe He designed than do we, and He’s hooked into it more. Rebuking the storm is really no more miraculous than me telling my brain to tell my arm to move, by which I mean that both are miracles. Science has illuminated the pathway from the motor cortex of the brain to the muscles, but so far has not shed light on who I am and how I’m able to hook into this section of matter that I’ve co-opted to be a brain and body for myself, and cause it to do my bidding. I see the universe as obeying Christ’s will in the same sense that my brain and body obey mine.

LDS doctrines fit with and make sense of the other things we’ve learned about how the cosmos works. So, even though I’m coming to it from the opposite direction, starting with a scientific worldview and progressing to LDS ideas, it definitely meshed well. I can totally see how the opposite would be true as well, that an LDS worldview would foster an interest in science.

]]> By: K1 http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/11/science-and-mormonism/#comment-89325 K1 Sun, 14 Aug 2005 15:07:08 +0000 /?p=1622#comment-89325 Just curious - do we consider computer science to be a science? I mean, what with machine learning, evolutionary/genetic programming, natural language processing ... Just curious – do we consider computer science to be a science? I mean, what with machine learning, evolutionary/genetic programming, natural language processing …

]]> By: . http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/11/science-and-mormonism/#comment-80757 . Fri, 24 Jun 2005 02:57:45 +0000 /?p=1622#comment-80757 . .

]]> By: John T. http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/11/science-and-mormonism/#comment-30531 John T. Thu, 25 Nov 2004 02:01:40 +0000 /?p=1622#comment-30531 I will comment on the nature of my spiritual experience....none, so far..... although I could tell my companion who drove me to see "Testament of one fold and one shepherd" had thought that would do the trick, as well as my viewing of "The Restoration" and "Finding Faith in Christ" by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. Maybe on Sunday, in Gospel Principles I will have one... I will comment on the nature of my spiritual experience….none, so far….. although I could tell my companion who drove me to see “Testament of one fold and one shepherd” had thought that would do the trick, as well as my viewing of “The Restoration” and “Finding Faith in Christ” by Intellectual Reserve, Inc.

Maybe on Sunday, in Gospel Principles I will have one…

]]> By: Kim Siever http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/11/science-and-mormonism/#comment-30206 Kim Siever Mon, 22 Nov 2004 22:46:44 +0000 /?p=1622#comment-30206 My mistake, clark. I had read it differently. I seem to have a knack for that, actually. My mistake, clark. I had read it differently. I seem to have a knack for that, actually.

]]> By: clark http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/11/science-and-mormonism/#comment-30196 clark Mon, 22 Nov 2004 21:52:13 +0000 /?p=1622#comment-30196 Kim, if you assert it obeyed <i>because</i> God spoke and that is the argument then it is question begging in that the hidden premise and answer are more or less the same. i.e. the raised question of how the phenomena happened was answered but in a way that it didn't appear to simply be an assertion. Kim, if you assert it obeyed because God spoke and that is the argument then it is question begging in that the hidden premise and answer are more or less the same. i.e. the raised question of how the phenomena happened was answered but in a way that it didn’t appear to simply be an assertion.

]]> By: Kim Siever http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/11/science-and-mormonism/#comment-30154 Kim Siever Mon, 22 Nov 2004 19:52:38 +0000 /?p=1622#comment-30154 "that begs the question of how the phenomena happened" I think you mean, "that raises the question of how the phenomena happened". http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~brians/errors/begs.html http://skepdic.com/begging.html “that begs the question of how the phenomena happened”

I think you mean, “that raises the question of how the phenomena happened”.

http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~brians/errors/begs.html
http://skepdic.com/begging.html

]]> By: Clark Goble http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/11/science-and-mormonism/#comment-30139 Clark Goble Mon, 22 Nov 2004 19:31:47 +0000 /?p=1622#comment-30139 I'm not sure I can buy the views that try to demarcate science from religion by an appeal of the how and the why with neither entering into the other's domain. Further, while God spoke and things obeyed, that begs the question of how the phenomena happened. Was this metaphoric and Jesus was drawing on the power of God? Of course Lectures on Faith suggests that it is by words that matter obeys - thus leading many Mormons down the road of panpsychism in various forms. (The view that all matter is at least quasi-intelligent) I also am not convinced that science can have no say in values, beliefs or the like. As we learn more and more about neuropsychology I think science will begin to say far more about such matters. I’m not sure I can buy the views that try to demarcate science from religion by an appeal of the how and the why with neither entering into the other’s domain. Further, while God spoke and things obeyed, that begs the question of how the phenomena happened. Was this metaphoric and Jesus was drawing on the power of God? Of course Lectures on Faith suggests that it is by words that matter obeys – thus leading many Mormons down the road of panpsychism in various forms. (The view that all matter is at least quasi-intelligent)

I also am not convinced that science can have no say in values, beliefs or the like. As we learn more and more about neuropsychology I think science will begin to say far more about such matters.

]]> By: Adam Greenwood http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/11/science-and-mormonism/#comment-30131 Adam Greenwood Mon, 22 Nov 2004 19:11:03 +0000 /?p=1622#comment-30131 NB: My preceding remarks are general observations on a theme. I do not choose to venture an opinion, indeed I do not have one, on the state of John T.'s spiritual experience. NB:
My preceding remarks are general observations on a theme. I do not choose to venture an opinion, indeed I do not have one, on the state of John T.’s spiritual experience.

]]> By: Adam Greenwood http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/11/science-and-mormonism/#comment-30130 Adam Greenwood Mon, 22 Nov 2004 19:09:47 +0000 /?p=1622#comment-30130 "anything that does not confirm scripture is Satan’s Deception" This is pretty atypical, by the way. I would be stunned to find a Saint with those views. See here for a reaction like yours to the unfolding vistas of space: http://www.timesandseasons.org/archives/000948.html That said, I note that a mere sense of wonder and amazement is, in the Book of Mormon and the Bible, how people unwisely respond to miracles. Remarkable! Wow! and then they go about their business unchanged. Spiritual experience is inadequate unless it transforms one internally and leads to action. “anything that does not confirm scripture is Satan’s Deception”

This is pretty atypical, by the way. I would be stunned to find a Saint with those views. See here for a reaction like yours to the unfolding vistas of space:
http://www.timesandseasons.org/archives/000948.html

That said, I note that a mere sense of wonder and amazement is, in the Book of Mormon and the Bible, how people unwisely respond to miracles. Remarkable! Wow! and then they go about their business unchanged.

Spiritual experience is inadequate unless it transforms one internally and leads to action.

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