Science, not a Threat to God?

Acording to many modern scientist and theologists, God is not threatened by the extensive reliance on technology in the modern age. The reason for this is that while science attempts to answer questions and come up with theories about the created world, God is the creator and as such not part of the field of science. God can neither be known by Science nor can he be threatened by it. Not all scienctists are atheist.

However, if this is the case and God's extistence and position is not threatened by science, why have there been hundreds of years of conflict between the church and every new scientific advancement?

The Lie

In his book the Republic, Plato states through Socrates that in his city the youth should not be told of many things. Stories that tell of disobeydience or treachery and music that might corrupt them would be banned. The consequences of this, are said to be the enlightenment of the youth and the ending of many hostilities which might arise. Two questions come to mind. Would such a Lie be possible to maintain? Would it indeed be a good and thing and end evil?

The Illusion of the Cave

Perhaps the greatest known philisophical metaphor known to man. Plato compares men to those who inside of a cave watch the shadows made by those things which are outside. In this metaphor the philosopher is one who has been able to turn around and see the real beauty of the world, but when he returns in order to help his fellow man, he cannot tell them what he has seen because they will think he is crazy.

Napoleon the Tyrant or the Great

Many during the late 18th and early 19th centuries believed Napoleon to be either a tyrant or the greatest man of their times. Indeed, in France Napoleon was almost universally loved and adored by almost every class. It is in the neighboring countries of Europe that his greatest was called into question. Those nobles who had been banished by both the French Revolution or Napoleon and those who felt the might of his army blamed the emperor for all the evil that befell them.

For us today Napoleon was a tyrant. He undermined and destroyed the French Revolution, and conquered all of Europe pulling the European nations into his Empire. Let us not forget that Napoleon in the end was defeated and that the history books we have now are those written by his enemies. No account given by such people could be considered the truth without due consideration. Napoleon by even his enemies was considered a master of war, a brilliant politician, and a imposing figure despite his small size. How much more could Napoleon have been than what was told of him?

Relativism and Rhetoric

Yesterday our lecturer put forward the hypothesis that rhetoric and relativism are realated and complimentary fields or in his own words they go "Hand in hand." However, the arguement which he uses to prove this relation is flawed. He suggests that since sophists are students of rhetoric and believe in relativism that his point is proved. The logical error appears when he attempts to categorize all students of rhetoric as sophists. There are many powerful rhetoricians who were absolutists.

In reality, rhetoric is a tool and not a point of view. Any group or person with an opinion can use rhetoric to convince others to his point of view. This is the fundamental use of rhetoric and as such can be used for both good and bad ends.