Naturalism is Shaping the Utilitarian Values of Our Society

This title is an incisive quote from our regular responder, Karl K. My personal and immediate response to this statement is, “Duh”. Naturalism, or the acceptance of the results and conclusions from the application of the Scientific Method, has created huge advances in the survival and comfort of all humanity. In the couple of centuries since the Enlightenment, more progress has been made toward that goal than in the previous 50 centuries under theistic ruling philosophies. There is great utility for society as a whole in following naturalistic views.

However, then Karl proceeds with the following non-sequitur:

Can I therefore assume that you would concede the point that if somebody has to die to solve some of the world’s problems it should be people like ERIK who preach religious dogma in a manner that offends you. In fact this would apply to anyone who says interpretive science needs to be knocked out of its prominent position in our secular society be they Christian, Muslim, Hindu, […]

Actually, evolutionary theories (one subset of naturalistic conclusions) prove that variety (a wide bell curve in every characteristic) is necessary to the long term survival of societies, as well as species. Only people with narrow world views advocate eliminating non-aggressive adversaries. Genocide is practiced by theists, not naturalists. Usually by theists of the newly-formed personality-cult sort as with Hitler, Stalin, and Pol Pot. These cult leaders claim to be scientific to the world, yet the first thing they do is purge actual scientists and …

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How to Build a Solar Car

This past Saturday afternoon, after doing my dance duty at the annual "Dancing in the Street" at Grand Center, across from Powell Symphony Hall, I wandered the booths of the adjacent "Green Homes and Renewable Energy Festival" going on in Grandel Square behind the stage. There were plenty of solar…

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Reputable End of the World Scenarios

A new book is in press, and will be released in a month. The author of the BadAstronomy blog, Phil Plait has written "Death From the Skies: These Are the Ways the World Will End!" That's him, exhibiting typical Ivory Tower Professorial reserve as he eyes his pre-release copy (click…

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Large Hadron Collider To End the World

There are plenty of innumerate groups who think that the LHC will destroy the world, as they have with each generation of nuclear test device before. Loud groups with mailing lists and placards. The Large Hadron Collider (in case you were unaware) is the Swiss upgrade to the unfinished Superconducting…

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Lawrence Lessig: John McCain gets an “F” in Internet technology

Lawrence Lessig tells it simply and straight: the past eight years have been horrible for Internet users in the  U.S.   Broadband access in the U.S. has dropped from #5 at the beginning of Bush's term to #22 now.  In many countries, you will pay half of what Americans pay for…

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