X-Message-Number: 26428 From: "" <> Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2005 06:03:17 -0400 Subject: True Right Science & Religious Harmony Science is not "more true" or "more right". There is no truth in science - only theory and empiricism. Theories aren't true. They aren't right. They're simply guesses that haven't been proven wrong by empiricism. Yet. So we should not describe ourselves as dealing with truth where religions deal with - pick an aspersion. It doesn't benefit us to do so. It creates needless danger because it can prompt political opposition from religious groups. And creating danger for yourself and your fellow cryonicists is not true or right. It's foolhardy and counter-productive. It won't publicize cryonics or the scientific basis on which some cryonicists make their choices. It will simply antagonize people who have a lot of money to pour into aggressively irrational reactions. Therefore: If you want to live forever, learn about religion, not for purposes of worship, but for purposes of diplomacy. Learn what makes religion endure. Learn why Tao Chia - philosophical taoism - is always cloaked in Tao Chiao - religious taoism. Learn why buddhists create devotional pictures to someone whom, if met in the road, they'd immediately kill. Learn how St Patrick conquered Ireland without raising his fist. Learn how Copernicus, Erasmus, Galileo, Leibniz and Newton cloaked their rationalism in language that could be published without raising the ire of the religous dogmatists around them. Learn how to create harmony between your rationalism and the irrationalism around you. Learn to be brave and gentle, not brave and bold. Believe, if you will, whatever you like. But hold your tongue until you can express yourself without endangering yourself. Or the others of us on which your future survival may depend. Hide in plain sight. Show others the way to rationalism without disputing them. Read and understand Dale Carnegie, Robert Heinlein, Robert Anton Wilson, - stop reacting and let your intent and mode of expressing that intent reinforce achieving your intent. Then you'll understand how to deal with religion and religionists. And then you can write harmoniously on the relationship between religion and cryonics here, or anywhere. FWIW. Peter Merel. mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=26428