Thursday, July 16, 2009

Science, religion, God

Below is a comment I made on this article in The Irish Times -- http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2009/0716/1224250761194.html.

I find a discrepancy between reading Dawkins (when I read "The God Delusion" I found myself agreeing with most of it) and watching or listening to the man (I find him a little too aggressive and he may need to lighten up).

Personally, I am a religious atheist, with a splash of paganism! Or as a friend once said when he was asked what religion he belonged to, "I'm an atheist, thank God."

Seriously though, I wouldn't call myself an atheist for two reasons: 1. I don't like defining myself by what I am not; 2. I can't say for certain that God doesn't exist (especially when you start considering all the possible definitions of God). Is there an all-knowing supreme being who sits in judgement in heaven? I don't know but I doubt it greatly. Do I believe in the inter-connectivity of all things in the universe, living, dead or neither? Of course I do. Is that God? I dunnu -- that's up to you.

I love that question posed earlier -- "what is the scientific proof that only what is empirically verifiable is true?" Right now, and probably for all time, there is no such scientific proof but that is not to say that some time in the future, we won't come up with one.

Science came about from trying to figure stuff out. So did religion. A good scientist admits that he/she doesn't know all the answers and admits that it may be impossible to ever do so -- there will always be another question. A good religious person admits he/she may well be wrong -- to do otherwise is to lose your humility; the cornerstone of faith. Bad science believes in the power of rationality alone and sees faith as the enemy. Bad religion believes in the power of faith alone and forgets the importance of doubt and asking questions. These two fundamental mindsets sit at either end of the spectrum. All of us sit somewhere in between, usually favouring one pole to the other. We all use faith and instinct and rational thinking at the same time.

I am starting to realise that true science and true religion are the very same thing. Religion does not need a god.

Thursday, July 09, 2009

Playspace is back, baby!

Playspace comes to Galway -- running every second Wednesday from 7 to 9pm at the Galway Social Space. Our next session is Wednesday coming, 15 July...

Ionia Ní­ Chróinín will facilitate -- she will give us "a basic introduction to voice work from breathing to floor work to simple projection."

As ever, Playspace is open to all so don't be afraid to bring a friend and please spread the word to anyone who may be interested. As ever, Playspace is free but any contributions to the Social Space are appreciated.

If you have any questions, email me, johnthebad@gmail.com or call me, 087 287 9131.