DOGMA AND TRUTH Herbert Spencer said that 'Science is the classified common knowledge of t

DOGMA AND TRUTH
---------------

   Herbert Spencer said that "Science is the classified common knowledge of
the common people."  Then we note from Hubbard that "All that which is simply
assumed, believed, conjectured, taken on dogmatic statement, or read out of
printed books is unscientific, no matter how plausible." This brings to mind
the idea that what we know is based on some factual phenomenon, while "belief"
has no factual basis, is never verifiable in reality, and rests on conjecture,
and pronouncements of so-called "authorities".

   For some, philosophy is an avocation.  We must be careful of those who
make a business of philosophy because it can become as institutionalized as
religion.  Such degrades both religion and philosophy.

   We need to understand in this context that a religious organization is
different from "religion."  The former is built on a feeling that is static,
or fear frozen stiff.  The fear is excommunication.  Such is superstition and
it is employed much like a police state.  Natural religion is the whole of
ones being, expressing itself in terms of daily living removed from what is
hearsay and belief in the supernatural.

   Science is a definite, accurate, organized knowledge concerning the things
which are in the environment.  From this knowledge flows philosophy as an
explanation of science.  To be scientific, anything must be capable of analysis
and demonstration through weight, color, number, quantities, time and other
measurable characteristics.  These characteristics can be interpreted to the
senses through a variety of tangible instruments including, of course, the
ears, eyes, nose, taste, touch, etc.  Science is an omnivorous study for the
truth in all things.

   Theology, on the other hand, is an archaic and obsolete philosophy.  The
churchmen brag that their religion is infallible and eternal.  They fear
exposure of what they propose to scrutiny or demands for evidence in the
truthfulness of their proposals.  They can demonstrate no truth other than to
say that one must believe and obey.  Such is only a brand of voodooism and is
allied to alchemy, astrology, augury, and allopathic medicine.  The things of
science are known and understood, while theology is merely believed.

   Religion is superstition and little more than a scrambled omelet of make
believe.  Yet it serves as the basis of religion as presented by the
theologians.  It has no scientific basis and is bolstered by fear and lies.
People are held in slavery of all kinds in the name of religion.  Behind every
large church in feudal times was a bastille for imprisoning those who
questioned, or who were identified as incomplete believers.  Priests needed
such prisons.  Punishments for abdication of responsibilities, or variance
in belief are wielded out from "guardians" of religious orders to maintain the
congregation in state of perpetual homeostasis.

   Some churchmen want to pass laws to make people believe.  Legislatures are
urged to pass laws to make prayer mandatory in our schools.  The churchmen will
sprinkle holy water or in other ways bless the legislators who do so.

   Do you believe in the supernatural?  How about fairies, angels, resurrection
from the dead, immaculate conception, heaven, hell, the bogey man, lucky
stones, holy water, ascending to heaven, ghosts, miracles, and hundreds more?
To do so is to compromise your objectivity in scientific reasoning.  QED.

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!{ihnp4!hpda!seismo!utah-cs!uplherc}!sp7040!dale
dale@sp7040.UUCP (Dale Clark)

                     RECOVERED FROM RELIGION FOR GOOD.