Russell:
> <<Atheism is about more than just "turning away from God". By describing it
> in this negative light, you automatically bias your argument in favor of
> your desired conclusion. And there are certainly plenty of books about the
> beauty of understanding the universe from a naturalistic perspective. One
> I can think of off the top of my head is "At Home in the Universe", by
> Stuart Kauffman.>>
Jim:
> I'll check it out. But I remember reading another ode to the natural--Cosmos,
> by the late Carl Sagan--and I found it, unfortunately, a paean of
> self-deception. I think it is impossible to be "at home" in a godless
> universe, if one really thinks it through. Sartre, for example, thought it
> through, and saw the inevitable consequences. That's why I think there is
> always a bit of self-deception (or inconsistency) in feeling at home in a
> purely naturalistic universe.
I think that Dr. Sagan had a sense for the majesty of the universe
that is understandable (I think it majestic, too.) even if coming to a
different conclusion about its origins than I. Sartre's perception of
life isn't much different from the natural religion voice of
Ecclesiastes--the guy who wrote all but the last part of the book. I
doubt if there are many people who haven't at one time felt alienation
from the world. What do both of these observations mean? That is harder.
I can't help thinking that materialism reduces either of these feeling to
the level of deterministic biochemistry--just the way one happens to feel
at the moment. How would a materialist say that the feelings are
"appropriate" or "inappropriate"--that is worthy or unworthy of what is
being apprehended? Or would it all be just nonsense? These sorts of
feelings make up much of my non-rational (non-logical) life.
I'm probably going to have to unsubscribe from this reflector by early
next week, but I've enjoyed the discussions a lot.
Gene
-- ____________________________________________________________Gene D. Godbold, Ph.D. Lab: 804 924-5167Research Associate Desk: 804 243-2764Div. Infectious Disease/Dept. Medicine Home: 804 973-6913and Dept. Microbiology Fax: 804 924-7500MR4 Bldg, Room 2115 email: anselm@virginia.edu300 Park Place Charlottesville, VA 22908 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""