General Science Discussion Thread!

[DragonFreak]

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but what are creationists thoughts on Dinosaurs? Do they simply deny their existence?

I believe the words of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and when aliens were making the planet Earth, they manufactured and placed the skeletons in the Earth's crust for our amusement.

 

[Baby Mario Bloops]

That doesn't logically connect, though. Faith's existence, again, is to explain local phenoma and to set standards for society.

Logic and Faith don't really ever go hand-to-hand.

Are there not things that science cannot explain? String Theory and Contiential shift theory for example? If it was true, then it wouldn't be called "Theory" correct? Heck, there are things smaller than atoms, and there is no real proof that it does exist. The thing is that there are mathematical formulas that explains that there are these things that fills gaps in figuring things out.

Faith is simply knowing that even though there is no evidence - something you cannot see, physically feel, smell, touch, taste - that it doesn't mean that it does not exist.

 

[Mario4Ever]

If it was true, then it wouldn't be called "Theory" correct?

Incorrect. "A scientific theory is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on knowledge that has been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experimentation."

 

[Xiahou Dun]

I think faith rose from explanations. Ancients see patterns, they attribute them to deities, and then they go further to believe in these deities to help them guide through their lives and guide people as well by letting them believe in deities.

There are some faiths, however, that have no deity, such as Buddhism, but the basic idea is believing in something to advance oneself.

I'll leave it up to people to decide if there is an all-powerful force governing the universe or not. They can believe and explain whatever they can; it doesn't offend or concern me. In a public school setting, however, explaining how the world works from a religious view should not be taught alongside scientific explanations as if they're both science or religion. And again, since this thread is about science, you can't treat these two subjects as part of the same branch.

That doesn't logically connect, though. Faith's existence, again, is to explain local phenoma and to set standards for society.

Logic and Faith don't really ever go hand-to-hand.

Are there not things that science cannot explain? String Theory and Contiential shift theory for example? If it was true, then it wouldn't be called "Theory" correct? Heck, there are things smaller than atoms, and there is no real proof that it does exist. The thing is that there are mathematical formulas that explains that there are these things that fills gaps in figuring things out.

Faith is simply knowing that even though there is no evidence - something you cannot see, physically feel, smell, touch, taste - that it doesn't mean that it does not exist.

There is a difference between the common usage of "theory" and scientific usage of "theory", which is why I somewhat cringe when people often confuse the two. A theory is "a well-confirmed type of explanation of nature, made in a way consistent with scientific method, and fulfilling the criteria required by modern science. " Gravity, for instance, is a "just" theory.

 

[Anton]

There's so much in this thread that could be explained; so much knowledge that could be learned if only people knew the proper definitions of words. This is just one example and that's all I care to get into but

If it was true, then it wouldn't be called "Theory" correct?

Like really? Did you not take any science course at all or did you just take the Science-Lite courses that are allowed thanks to Intelligent Design being forced into schools even though it's unconstitutional? Scientific Theories have a different meaning than the layman's 'theory'.

As for everyone in this topic, it would be really nifty you you could all at least research the bullshit you're fucking saying, that way I won't have to be ashamed to be associated with you in some way.



Pretty much the last 2 posts, what they said, but typed much faster than I.

 

[Baby Mario Bloops]

Those theories may have strong evidence and logically explanation, but it does not mean that it is set-in-stone the real thing. Do we truly know if there was such a thing as Pangea? There is very strong evidence and plenty of logical explanations for it to have happened, but is it 100% the real thing? We don't know.

EDIT - It's not polite to swear at people just because you might not agree with them. Aren't we supposed to have a civil debate?

 

[Dr. Javelin]

I think faith rose from explanations. Ancients see patterns, they attribute them to deities, and then they go further to believe in these deities to help them guide through their lives and guide people as well by letting them believe in deities.

no, i just explained that christianity doesn't follow that pattern

...

and i can't even use the "love is something you have to have faith in" example, because you apparently don't love anyone

blast. how am i supposed to explain what faith is to you?

If it was true, then it wouldn't be called "Theory" correct?

this is a bad argument and please never use it again

ever

 

[Anton]

Those theories may have strong evidence and logically explanation, but it does not mean that it is set-in-stone the real thing. Do we truly know if there was such a thing as Pangea? There is very strong evidence and plenty of logical explanations for it to have happened, but is it 100% the real thing? We don't know.

EDIT - It's not polite to swear at people just because you might not agree with them. Aren't we supposed to have a civil debate?

Because it's not 100% accurate in every way, shape, and form, that must mean we should cast an enormous shadow of doubt over it and allow such things as "well we don't know what it really is since we can't prove or disprove it except what the bible says so let's just go with that" as having more merit and weight.

Let's all go back to 3rd grade.

Also I'm swearing because I can, not because it's at you. And my "you"s in my previous post were in the generalized "you", not specifically YOU.

 

[Baby Mario Bloops]

I was just giving an example. My point was that while we may have any scientific explanations and lots of logical reasonings behind things, there are still gaps and mysteries within many scientific theories and concepts that leave it questionable as to what may be missing. A lot of mysterious things happen, such as the bubble that becomes light when popped underwater using soundwaves. We don't really have a scientific explanation for that.

Thus, a lot of things in Science are only mathematical statements as to what may be those missing pieces of the puzzles. I mean, I'm sure that we've never really seen what an Atom looks like, or the asymmetry of matter vs. antimatter and how they came to be, or the whole big bang theory.

 

[Dr. Javelin]

on the matter of things we don't understand yet, and to MOVE THIS DISCUSSION AWAY FROM FLAME TERRITORY

i sincerely hope that someone manages to resolve the divide between gravitational energy and electromagnetic energy. because the idea of directly turning gravity into electricity or electricity into gravity is just awesome