On the Eternal Battle between Science and Religion
August 12th, 2008 Filed Under saulism, science, writing
Math is science’s search for God. Science always begins, “We have constructed assumptions which predict results, but what is the basis for those assumptions?” So it delves deeper. It says, “If we assume these assumptions are ‘God’, then our search is effectively over, so we assume there is a more basic explanation.” At some point, even if there is a grand unified theory whereupon a SU(7) gauge space with these constraints and such and thus would in all probability of eternity spring forth universes…still, why is it SU(7) at all? What is special about that?
We already have so many pieces of the puzzle, but even if the puzzle is ever completely solved and all the scientists become specialized mathematicians, there will still be the question, “why anything at all?” On one side will be the ones who say it must be constructed, and on the other side will be the ones who say it doesn’t have to be, that every time so far we’ve thought it was impenetrable, someone has shown that we can see even deeper. This debate will never cease, and unless some incontrovertible evidence comes along, I don’t think it ever should.
Religions worship Gods, Science worships Math.
Stumble it!Foster’s Kiss Tattoo
January 18th, 2008 Filed Under ideas, saulism
I’m thinking about getting a tattoo of Foster’s Kiss over my heart, in recognition of my reception into the inner circle of self-religion. I’m saved–from antiquated dogma and superstitious intolerance. Thou art god. I am god!
“Did you know that all Fosterites are tattooed? Real Church members, I mean, the ones who are eternally saved forever and a day–like me? Oh, I don’t mean tattooed all over but–see that? Right over my heart? That’s Foster’s holy kiss. George worked it in so that it looks like part of the picture…so that nobody could guess. But it’s his kiss–and Foster put it there hisself!” She looked ecstatically proud.
They examined it. “It is a kiss mark,” Jill said wonderingly, “like somebody had kissed you there wearing lipstick. I thought it was part of the sunset.”
“Yes, indeedy, that’s how George fixed it. Because you don’t show Foster’s kiss to anyone who doesn’t wear Foster’s kiss–and I never have, up to now. But,” she insisted, “you’re going to wear one, both of you, someday–and when you do, I want to tattoo ‘em on.”
Jill said, “I don’t understand, Patty. How can he kiss us? After all, he’s–up in Heaven.”
“Yes, dearie, he is. Let me explain. Any priest or priestess can give you Foster’s kiss. It means God’s in your heart, God is part of you…forever.”
Mike was suddenly intent. “Thou art God!”
“Huh, Michael? Well–I’ve never heard it put that way. But that does express it…God is in you and of you and with you, and the Devil can’t get at you.”
“Yes,” agreed Mike. “You grok God.”
– Robert Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land
on ‘hurt’
November 22nd, 2006 Filed Under saulism
Our culture confuses and blends together the distinct elements of ‘hurt’: harm, pain, and suffering.
“He hurt Janet” can have several different meanings:
“He harmed Janet.”
‘Harm’ means damage, whether physical or psychological. Janet may not be able to function normally until the damage is healed.
“He caused Janet pain.”
‘Pain’ is simply a sensation, like hot or wet. Pain often means that harm is close to follow, or has already passed; but also often, pain is a side effect of [positive] change, like growth. Janet might even seek pain for [sexual] pleasure.
“He caused Janet much suffering.”
‘Suffering’ is the result of cognitive distress or dissonance. Suffering comes from attachment, which is inevitable, and in a civilized society is almost always the sufferer’s own. Janet may have manufactured a million little desires which repeatedly went unfulfilled, or maybe she was born with two opposing attachments that she pursued with equal fervor.
Janet unfortunately may not be able to avoid harm; she may even desire pain. But she should know that her suffering comes from within herself alone. She should not struggle to avoid suffering, but to cultivate an awareness of its inevitability and a comfort in its validation of her existence.
“The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.” — Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet
