Limitations of Science

• Finally, science can’t help us with questions about the supernatural......

Is this coming from you Freethinker???

Can`t believe, are you turning into a turncoat? Has your understanding of Scientific Materialism abandoned you???

ballukhan:
I do not indulge in generalizations. Science is not panacea for human life as I stated in the paer but it is a very important ingredient. See the last paragraph of the paper. The Muslim world is in a mess today because it neglected devloping sicence and technology for too long.

Wishing you well.

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2 by freethinker on April 25, 2004 9:27am PT

I agree.

But should we not leave out the issue of ``supernatural`` (whatever that means!!) while discussing the gulf between ``ought and is``.?

ballukhan:
The point that I was making in my paper is that human life is a beautiful patchwork of so many different things. There should be a peacful smbiosis among all these objects and activities. ``Supernatural`` that you referred to is probably the oldest heritage of humankind . People used to wonder in ancient times, at the natural phenomena all around them and try to understand what caused them. At first, they conceived of gods, demi-gods, and other `supernatural` entities and believed that they were the cause of all such events. This explanation seemed quite appropriate at that primitive time because human intellect had not yet developed much. That is how belief in supernatural began.

Since science still does not explain every thing, many continue believing in supernatural. Personally, I don`t find it problematic; this is part of human evolution. Man has made quite something out of such beliefs; for instance, Rafi`s song ``O, duniya kay rakhwalay, sunn dard bharey meray naalay`` touches so many people`s hearts despite the point whether there is any duniya ka rakhwala, at least of the same kind that he sings to, or not. At an individual level, if you don`t want to believe in supernatural; it`s fine.

We, in the Muslim world, have over-emphasized the supernatural by almost totally excluding physical sciences and rational thought; that`s what perturbs me and where our real problems lie. Wishing you well,

Mohammad Gill

Supernatural, beliefs and the attendant shenanigans are merely unverifiable assumptions!

#3 by M.B.Z.Isphahani on April 25, 2004 11:30pm PT

Dear Sir,

I consider you as the most enlightened and original thinker after Plato on this board. Please accept my compliments. Your verses are very original and exhilirating:

``...Supernatural is plain science fiction film making or casinos game
machine making.The above is evil. .....``

You always sound like some cryptic awliyah, very much like an old zen master.

My salutations to you!!

Ballu

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Ham ko maaloom hae jannat ki haqiqat laekin,
Dil ke khush rakhne ko Ghalib yeh khyal achha hae

These words of Ghalib seeems to effervesce through my consciens [ as opposed to con-sense ] as I read most of `articles` of Mr.Gill. This article is no different. `Dazed` in peurile enthusiasm, these articles are excellent primer for school kids.
Kuddos to Mr. Gill for taking time for contributing to chowk`s younger audience education and interest. Where will I get such beautifull scientific articles doused in Ghalib`s verses that invite comments evoking Shakeel`s lyrics and reference to raag darbari kanhra:

o duniya ke rakhwale sune dard bhare mere nale
Aasha Nirasha ke do rangon se duniya toone sajayi
Naiya sang toofan banaya milan ke saath judaai
jaa dekh liya harjai
lut gayi mere pyar ki duniya ab to neer baha le`