Thursday, June 17, 2004
Who Draws The Line?
My biggest question about life is "when does science need to turn a blind eye to human faith?" I, as much as any non-atheist can, believe in science, and the need to understand things as they really are, not as we assume them to be. I have faith in facts and figures, and reproducible results. My ideal Bible is a book full of diagrams, equations, and proofs.
But when do we need to draw a line, and admit that there is a certain aspect to human life that cries out for a faith of some sort. Religion seems to be a natural expression of the human condition. It would seem that scientists, being the camp that understands best the sort of predeterminism our biology leaves us with, should respect the need for us to seek and reach out to the supernatural.
The reason I bring this up is because in British Columbia, scientists were en route to capture a killer whale who had strayed from his pod. The whale was not only friendly, but also loved making contact with ocean going vessels. This posed some danger to watercraft, as the whale was quite large, so the scientists hatched a plan to capture it, and relocate it with a pod.
This was not to be. The local natives, the Mowachaht-Muchalaht "indians", believed that the whale, named Luna, was actually the reincarnation of a beloved chief. The whale appeared around the same time that the chief passed away. They also find solace in the fact that the whale does not seem to want to leave the area, and it was quiet loving and friendly to humans.
As the scientists set out to capture the whale, the natives boarded primitive dugout canoes, and led the whale to sea. As they did, they pet the whale as if it was a dog. The whale rolled over so they could scratch its belly, and even let them clean his teeth. They led the whale 12 miles away from where the scientist's trap was to be sprung.
So I ask, who is the hero here? Is it the tribesmen, or is it science? One is thinking practically, and trying to use technology to avoid potential danger on the seas. The tribesmen were protecting tradition and what they pictured to be a kindred spirit.
Science works best when it debunks falsehood that leads people away from truth. It works when it shows us that we are being scammed, destructive, or wasteful. I honestly believe that there is a need for better scientific teaching in our schools, including factual presentation of evolutionary theory (it's solid points as well as its conjectures and holes).
But in this case, I find myself siding with the tribe. I can;t help but feel as if they are in the "right" as they try to help out a spirit, even if it isn;t scientifically plausible that the whale is indeed their departed chief.
And I don;t know why. Its a gut feeling that says a line has been crossed. I give a lot of thought to the notion of spirits, souls, and so on. How can science be sure that there isn;t something supernatural to this? It cannot, with any real certainty. Science is ill equipped to declare God or gods nonexistent.
So good for you Mowachaht-Muchalaht tribe. And deep down, I hope that it indeed was your cherished friend and leader. And where ever he is, I am sure he feels loved and blessed for you all to have gone to such trouble to protect and care for him.
See ya!
But when do we need to draw a line, and admit that there is a certain aspect to human life that cries out for a faith of some sort. Religion seems to be a natural expression of the human condition. It would seem that scientists, being the camp that understands best the sort of predeterminism our biology leaves us with, should respect the need for us to seek and reach out to the supernatural.
The reason I bring this up is because in British Columbia, scientists were en route to capture a killer whale who had strayed from his pod. The whale was not only friendly, but also loved making contact with ocean going vessels. This posed some danger to watercraft, as the whale was quite large, so the scientists hatched a plan to capture it, and relocate it with a pod.
This was not to be. The local natives, the Mowachaht-Muchalaht "indians", believed that the whale, named Luna, was actually the reincarnation of a beloved chief. The whale appeared around the same time that the chief passed away. They also find solace in the fact that the whale does not seem to want to leave the area, and it was quiet loving and friendly to humans.
As the scientists set out to capture the whale, the natives boarded primitive dugout canoes, and led the whale to sea. As they did, they pet the whale as if it was a dog. The whale rolled over so they could scratch its belly, and even let them clean his teeth. They led the whale 12 miles away from where the scientist's trap was to be sprung.
So I ask, who is the hero here? Is it the tribesmen, or is it science? One is thinking practically, and trying to use technology to avoid potential danger on the seas. The tribesmen were protecting tradition and what they pictured to be a kindred spirit.
Science works best when it debunks falsehood that leads people away from truth. It works when it shows us that we are being scammed, destructive, or wasteful. I honestly believe that there is a need for better scientific teaching in our schools, including factual presentation of evolutionary theory (it's solid points as well as its conjectures and holes).
But in this case, I find myself siding with the tribe. I can;t help but feel as if they are in the "right" as they try to help out a spirit, even if it isn;t scientifically plausible that the whale is indeed their departed chief.
And I don;t know why. Its a gut feeling that says a line has been crossed. I give a lot of thought to the notion of spirits, souls, and so on. How can science be sure that there isn;t something supernatural to this? It cannot, with any real certainty. Science is ill equipped to declare God or gods nonexistent.
So good for you Mowachaht-Muchalaht tribe. And deep down, I hope that it indeed was your cherished friend and leader. And where ever he is, I am sure he feels loved and blessed for you all to have gone to such trouble to protect and care for him.
See ya!
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