God doesn’t think he’s Lenny Susskind.

I think not.

let’s pray for treo 650.

I don’t believe that cosmic variance is really having a go at religion per se. I think the main issue is really the fact that there should be a marked disconnect between church and state. Nothing is wrong with philosophising about God, or many Gods, or the metaphysical implications of humanity’s place in the universe- in fact, I think fairly poorly of people who take issue with the idiosyncratic and harmless beliefs of people on these issues, which bear no relevance to science anyway.

However, when believers impose their will in another area- like mainstream politics, or even try to redefine science in terms of their nonscientific thought processes- that is when there is a problem. When people are unable to make sensible decisions on policy, education or otherwise, because they are hamstrung by people who believe something in particular, that is when there is a problem. When people try to force their ideas on other people in an illogical and manipulative fashion (eg intelligent design peeps over evolution in schools) that is where there is a problem- and of course it works the other way, too. Scientists should understand that there are certain questions about the universe and our place in it which are beyond the realm of scientific enquiry to explain, mainly because the questions are poorly defined, and let the religious philosophers do their philosophising!

I think you will find that, after much soulsearching, this attitude, or something fairly similar, is what most reasonable agnostics take after a while.

Anyway, I do hope that this doesn’t become a serious discussion! More quips needed please =)!

The cool thing about blogs is that you can cherry-pick what to read, so I suggest you skip the posts with an anti-religious flavour.

I started to have the impression that they are inventing new kind of discimination, that one has to be a non believer to be a scientist, or a candidate for one, this is so sad and make me really feel sick.

What is wrong with a scientist who believes in god? or a string theorist who believes in god?

I see some scientists are trying to push the limits of their theories to disprove the existance of god, instead of mereley focusing on scientific research (may be they are trying to do like those who use science to prove the existance of god). They mention that over and over to the point it became a belief that string theory and believing in god cannot coexist.

It is sad that the scientific community will lose lots of brilliant believers who love science, because of this tendancy by some icons in the scientific community who will mock religions or beliefs and make sure that anybody who believes in god will be forbidden from getting into PhD programs, let alone finding a tenure in academia. I find this issue pretty much similar to the discrimination against women in science, and other sorts of discriminations.

Like the saying, live and let live, i would say, disbelieve and let believe!!

peace