An Honest Quote
October 18, 2005
...by the truth-telling Barbara Forrest, excerpted at, of all places, Bill Dembski's Paean to Superstition
We have established scientifically some disquieting facts: (1) human beings have evolved from nonhuman life forms, meaning that (2) at one time we did not exist, and that (3) according to paleontological and astronomical evidence, at some time in the future we shall cease to exist.I'll keep my fingers crossed that we'll find the courage to face up to the truth contained in that honesty. However, I won't hold my breath.Furthermore, from a scientific standpoint, there is no discernible reason that we had to evolve in the first place, and there is no guarantee that we shall continue to evolve successfully; more hominid species have become extinct than have survived. The price of such knowledge has been the gnawing question of whether human existence has genuine meaning if it was constructed with cranes rather than supported by skyhooks, as Daniel Dennett says.
The problem of meaning is easily resolved for those who embrace a preconstructed system of meaning such as religion. However, religion cannot help us find meaning in any honest sense unless it can assimilate the truth about where human beings have come from, and the only real knowledge we have about where we came from we have acquired through science.
'Tis late. Must sleep. Will update soon.
Posted by Jody at October 18, 2005 01:50 AM
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Jody Wheeler finds a jewel of a quote from Barbara Forrest: We have established scientifically some disquieting facts: (1) human beings have evolved from nonhuman life forms, meaning that (2) at one time we did not exist, and that (3) according to pale... [Read More]
Tracked on October 18, 2005 06:53 AM
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