Glenn asks:
> So I would ask anyone reading this,
> Why is it that we never read of this data in Christian books? Why?
Because Christians are especially susceptible to the practice of replacing
the results of good natural science (performed for the purpose of learning
more about the actual character of the Creation) with "folk science."
"Folk science" is a set of beliefs about the world -- beliefs whose primary
function is to provide the believer with comfort and reassurance that
another set of worldview beliefs, already in place, remains credible.
The source of folk science beliefs are numerous and varied: community
traditions; self-appointed "authorities" within the community; particular
readings of selected portions of a revered or sacred text; pseudo-science;
fringe science; selected results of good professional science; etc.
Folk science is not unique to Christians. Evolutionary Naturalism (a
naturalistic worldview presented as if it were warranted by the scientific
concept of evolution) can also be viewed as a folk science.
Folk science is attractive to any community that is more concerned to
protect and preserve the tenets of its received worldview (or other beliefs
commonly associated with it) than to use new knowledge to test or modify its
worldview.
Howard Van Till
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Thu Jun 01 2000 - 09:38:42 EDT