Knowledge, belief & agnosticism (Agnosticism)

by clayto , Saturday, March 15, 2008, 18:39 (5875 days ago) @ David Turell

Quote "In response to Clayto, the Big Bang involved extreme temperatures and a plasma state without atoms or molecules at first. Life could not have passed thru that transition. Big Bang/Big Crunch theories are disproven by the newly discovered increasingly rapid expansion of the universe thru 'dark energy'. There appears to be no way to prove a cyclical universe." - This seems to be a list of assertions that we know things we do not know. The claims are in tune with current scientific consensus but then so have any number of other assertions in the past and (I predict with some confidence though without certainty) in the future. eg. 'life could not have ---'. We don't actually know what life is, only some of its outward manifestations. 'theories are disproven' ---- current evidence suggests Big / Bang Crunch is not a likely explanation but that has not been proven (yet)and we do not know what dark energy is or its many implications (if indeed it does exist or is another 'ether') 'no way to prove a cyclical universe' ---- or disprove? yet? - I hope a current consensus, impressive though the evidence ad maths might be, is not being taken as revealed truth! - Quote "Experiences that dhw wants can come with deep meditation and the person thinks he has become 'one with the universe'. I admit that is at a different level than pure science." - The experience of 'becoming one with the universe' is a common mystical experience in variety of circumstances, cultures, religions. I have experienced it myself. It's commonality can be interpreted both as suggesting it is of little significance or it is of transcendent significance. - Quote: "although it could be argued that agnostics in the "pure" sense of the word have the inner conviction that it is impossible to know whether God exists." I disagree. I as a "pure" (!) agnostic say otherwise. I am agnostic about my agnosticism. I do not have an "inner conviction" it is impossible, I just strongly doubt the possibility of knowing. - clayto