Darwin from a Hindu point of view (Introduction)

by David Turell @, Tuesday, April 26, 2011, 20:36 (4939 days ago)

What does Matt think of this book:-http://blservices.com/rethinking-darwin-Woth a read?

Darwin from a Hindu point of view

by dhw, Wednesday, April 27, 2011, 12:39 (4938 days ago) @ David Turell

DAVID: What does Matt think of this book:-http://blservices.com/rethinking-darwin-Worth a read?-I too would be very interested to hear Matt's response. The extract from the book itself seems to me an excellent summary of the problems we've been discussing ourselves: namely, that the theory as it stands does NOT explain innovation or speciation. -However, I must confess to being thoroughly put off by the website's reference to the work of Srila Prabhubada. This is simply a Vedic version of extreme creationism:-"Darwin's theory stating that no human being existed from the beginning but that humans evolved after many, many years is simply a nonsensical theory. [...] The Vedic histories [...] relate human histories that extend millions and millions of years into the past."-"It is due to our lack of knowledge that we cannot see things in their proper perspective", but apparently if we "receive the knowledge from the authoritative sources, that is perfect." The authoritative source is Vedic literature, and according to this, "the first living creature was Brahma".-The argument that Darwin's theory is wrong because ancient texts are right is hardly likely to advance the case of the ID-ers.

Darwin from a Hindu point of view

by xeno6696 @, Sonoran Desert, Friday, April 29, 2011, 04:15 (4936 days ago) @ dhw

Judging by David's book's authors, I'd put more stock in this guy.

--
\"Why is it, Master, that ascetics fight with ascetics?\"

\"It is, brahmin, because of attachment to views, adherence to views, fixation on views, addiction to views, obsession with views, holding firmly to views that ascetics fight with ascetics.\"

Darwin from a Hindu point of view

by David Turell @, Friday, April 29, 2011, 06:05 (4936 days ago) @ xeno6696

Judging by David's book's authors, I'd put more stock in this guy. -I wish I understood more of what he puts in each chapter synopsis. There are no reviews by anyone. Why is that, do you think?

Darwin from a Hindu point of view

by xeno6696 @, Sonoran Desert, Friday, April 29, 2011, 12:00 (4936 days ago) @ David Turell

Judging by David's book's authors, I'd put more stock in this guy. 
> 
> I wish I understood more of what he puts in each chapter synopsis. There are no reviews by anyone. Why is that, do you think?-My greater point is that Dembski is Baptist, Behe seems a Catholic (guess based on how he argues) and have about as much claim to be Hindu scholars as I do. I don't impress me. I shouldn't impress you. A book writtten by a hindu (even if not Brahmin) trumps anything an outsider has to say. -This has the makings for a good joke...-"A Catholic, a baptist, and a science writer walk into a bar..."

--
\"Why is it, Master, that ascetics fight with ascetics?\"

\"It is, brahmin, because of attachment to views, adherence to views, fixation on views, addiction to views, obsession with views, holding firmly to views that ascetics fight with ascetics.\"

Darwin from a Hindu point of view

by dhw, Saturday, April 30, 2011, 12:09 (4935 days ago) @ xeno6696

MATT: Judging by David's book's authors, I'd put more stock in this guy.
 
DAVID: I wish I understood more of what he puts in each chapter synopsis. There are no reviews by anyone. Why is that, do you think?-I found the chapter synopses an intriguing mixture, though I agree with David that they're not always very clear. "Creation of the universe is the creation of knowability by which we can know" doesn't exactly set the philosophical pulses racing, and for me any claims to know that God did this, that and the other are always an off-putter, whether extrapolated from the Bible, the Koran or the Veda. Perhaps that's prejudice on my part. On the other hand, I find that some of these summarized ideas do strike a chord in me. For instance, if there really is a God, I like the suggestion that his purpose in creating life is "pleasure" (not least for himself). The term may need defining as well as refining. I wouldn't be keen, for instance, to advocate rape as an expression of the divine will, but no doubt Ashish Dalela deals with this in the book itself.-Just as I would never dismiss the scientific arguments of ID-ers because of their religious beliefs, It might well be interesting to delve deeper into Dalela's notion of 4 levels of "properties" as well as 4 levels of information, and mind-body dualism is something we've already discussed at some length ourselves. Also in the light of our discussions on time, it's interesting to note the earlier references to it as linear and progressive (Chapter 4) followed by cyclical and iterative (Chapter 14). It least this suggests that Hinduism does not dispense altogether with the notion of time.-MATT: My greater point is that Dembski is Baptist, Behe seems a Catholic (guess based on how he argues) and have about as much claim to be Hindu scholars as I do. I don't impress me. I shouldn't impress you. A book written by a hindu (even if not Brahmin) trumps anything an outsider has to say. This has the makings for a good joke...
"A Catholic, a baptist, and a science writer walk into a bar..."-Trust you to set us a challenge! I'll try a little variation: A Catholic, a novelist and a Baptist walk into a bar. The Catholic showed them the way, the novelist says drinks are on the house, and the Baptist leads the celebrations.
Best I can do.

Darwin from a Hindu point of view

by xeno6696 @, Sonoran Desert, Friday, April 29, 2011, 04:11 (4936 days ago) @ David Turell

What does Matt think of this book:
> 
> http://blservices.com/rethinking-darwin
> 
> Woth a read?-Quote: "In Rethinking Darwin, Danish science writer Leif A. Jensen, in collaboration with leading Intelligent Design proponents such as Dr. Michael Behe, Dr. William Dembski, and Dr. Jonathan Wells..."-I don't see a single Indian name in that list of writers... More DI propaganda, more probably. None of those names are synonymous with Vedic thought.

--
\"Why is it, Master, that ascetics fight with ascetics?\"

\"It is, brahmin, because of attachment to views, adherence to views, fixation on views, addiction to views, obsession with views, holding firmly to views that ascetics fight with ascetics.\"

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