Glen wrote: "My point is that some of it must conform to reality and we
must somehow be able to know that. If we can't know that what we know
conforms to reality at least in part, then we are simply at risk of
making it all up."
I understand your point, Glenn. But just as you cannot know that you are
not a "brain in a vat," you have to accept some uncertainty. It is my
position that the HS (at least in my own case) has been instrumental in
persuading me of the essential truth of my Christian convictions. Of
course, it is still possible "I made it all up." I think it was
Kirkegaard who coined the phrase "leap of faith" for the only rational
thing to do in the face of uncertainty.
Glenn also wrote, when I referred to JB Phillips' book, "And I would like
to ask upon what objective basis, Phillips claims to know this?"
Read the book.
In the last analysis, I suggest that "objective basis" can only play a
part (possibly a very small part) in the Christian commitment. But this
may vary a lot by individual.
Finally, I recommend another book to you, Glenn. It is MYTHS, MODELS and
PARADIGM, A Comparative Study in Science and Religion, by Ian G. Barbour.
ISBN 0-06-060388-7. Written in 1974, it may be difficult to find. If you
wish, I will loan you my (marked up) copy. Less than 200 pages
(paperback).
Barbour treats three themes:
1. The diverse functions of language
2. The role of models in both scientific and religious language
3. The role of paradigms.
Barbour concludes that scientific and religious language both offer a
knowledge (incomplete) of reality.
No go find us more oil! Preferably in the US. <G>
jb
www.burgy.50megs.com/voting.txt (How would Jesus vote?)
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Received on Sun Oct 10 14:27:25 2004
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