Science operates in the natural, not the supernatural. In fact, I go so far as to state that there is no such thing as the supernatural or the paranormal.
Michael ShermerRead
Religious faith depends on a host of social, psychological and emotional factors that have little or nothing to do with probabilities, evidence and logic.
Interpretation
Religious faith is influenced by various social and emotional elements rather than rational thought.
This quote by Michael Shermer highlights that the foundations of religious belief are often rooted in personal experiences, social contexts, and emotional states, which may not align with logical reasoning or empirical evidence. It suggests that faith is a complex interplay of factors beyond mere rationality, emphasizing the subjective nature of belief systems.
In practice
This quote could be used in a debate on the nature of faith and reason in a philosophy class.
Science operates in the natural, not the supernatural. In fact, I go so far as to state that there is no such thing as the supernatural or the paranormal.
Smart people believe weird things because they are skilled at defending beliefs they arrived at for non-smart reasons.
Being deeply knowledgeable on one subject narrows one's focus and increases confidence, but it also blurs dissenting views until they are no longer visible, thereby transforming data collection into bias confirmation and morphing self-deception into self-assurance.
How can we find spiritual meaning in a scientific worldview? Spirituality is a way of being in the world, a sense of oneβs place in the cosmos, a relationship to that which extends beyond oneself. . . . Does scientific explanation of the world diminish its spiritual beauty? I think not. Science and spirituality are complementary, not conflicting; additive, not detractive. Anything that generates a sense of awe may be a source of spirituality. Science does this in spades. (158-159)
But because we live in an age of science, we have a preoccupation with corroborating our myths.
Iβm a skeptic not because I do not want to believe, but because I want to know.
Terror cannot be finished by one war.
Scenery is fine - but human nature is finer.
Think binary. When matter meets antimatter, both vanish, into pure energy. But both existed; I mean, there was a condition we'll call "existence." Think of one and minus one. Together they add up to zero, nothing, nada, niente, right? Picture them together, then picture them separating-peeling apart. ... Now you have something, you have two somethings, where once you had nothing.
Beneath the makeup and behind the smile I am just a girl who wishes for the world.
The principle of democracy is a recognition of the sovereign, inalienable rights of man as a gift from God, the Source of law.
When you do not realize that you are one with the river, or one with the universe, you have fear. Whether it is separated into drops or not, water is water. Our life and death are the same thing. When we realize this fact, we have no fear of death anymore.
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