Vanilla

Well a big thank you. I have spent a happy 43 minutes listening to that fantastic discussion on the possibility (probability?) of multiple universes. Staggering to the imagination; it offers a plausible explanation for the big bang and fits in with my personal hypothesis – that everything recycles; meaning that universes form, collapse and reform all the time.That nothing is ever lost it is simply reformed (recycled).

Also the idea of numerous universes gives room for the formation of a huge diversity among universes, one with physical laws like ours, in which carbon-based life-forms (like ours) can evolve and others where different physical laws apply resulting in, well, pretty much anything.

I should, perhaps, have qualified my thoughts on our universe as ‘the observable universe’. While we can theorise on many possibilities, we only know for sure that which we can observe. I also wanted to try and convey to the gentle reader of OLO (who may not be aware) just how incredibly big our observable universe is. A little bit at a time.

What I am endeavouring to do is offer a perspective whereby planet earth is viewed objectively into comparison with the known universe, then follow this with where religion fits into this. Religion being so completely anthropomorphically based and geocentric, it looks inconsequential when compared to just the ‘observable’ universe, let alone a multi-verse.

I prefer the K.I.S.S. principle; by keeping my argument as simple and straight forward as possible, maybe, people who haven’t thought about this idea before, can do so now.

Cheers

Vanilla, I loved that discussion and will listen to it a 2nd time tomorow. My kids would've loved the subject 'astronomy' had it been available as a complete subject at school.

Since there is a critical science-engineering-technology (SET) skills shortage in Australia despite a range of initiatives e.g. National Science Week it’s important that science education is as appealing as possible at Australian schools. A very interesting report to read if you’re interested in science education is the
“Australian School Science Education National Action Plan 2008 – 2012” http://www.dest.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/94684C4C-7997-4970-ACAC-5E46F87118D3/18317/Volume1final_28August2008.pdf

School science education dept should promote scientific literacy by highlighting its importance because students don’t realise that science is useful in everybody’s daily life and in fact a basic need for effective citizenship. For example, scientifically literate people are those who are interested in and make informed decisions about their environment, the world and their own health, and are able to investigate claims made by others. Scientific literacy begins with early childhood explorations and continues forever.

The science curriculum must include the pre-schooler as well as the year 12’s.
I just had a visit from a Jehovah’s Witness couple with their two gorgeous little children (about 2 and 4 years old) who were obviously tired and bored from being dragged from door-to-door in the almost 30°C heat for god knows how long. I’m always hoping that these children will gain something…anything worthwhile by having to follow their parents around only to be rejected by, I estimate, 99.99% of households.
A bush walk or stroll along the beach or a ballgame in the backyard would be more entertaining, more healthy and more educational for young children.

I really love how the Australian Bureau of Meteorology ‘Indigenous Weather Knowledge’ tells us that observations by Indigenous cultures contribute to our scientific understanding. Indeed, all the wonderful information provided by our indigenous people should be used to close the gap between the outcomes of schooling for Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. How sad is it that the knowledge they gained over such a long time is not incorporated in the curriculum

Fractelle, You asked if I'd "Taken any good snaps of god lately?" God being spirit I see God revealed in the reality of the universe of which you only have in picture form

"God being spirit I see God revealed in the reality of the universe of which you only have in picture form"
Posted by Philo

Oh dear, Fractelle et al, and here we were thinking that the reality of the universe is revealed by modern science… whattayaknow?

How about the endless thoughts of crap that people go on with and too the whole world. I have been screwed over and there's nothing I can do about it. It all comes back to overpopulation! Do you remember the ten rats in a box, obviously not. but Iam only one man. I hope you are prepared to make fools of your self's. I guess dogma is with us all.

Just 4 Robert.

Rob...... the 'attacks' I was particularly thinking of were from our beloved Ginx :) I think you must have seen them "odious brood of vipers" etc.

One more point. It's not 'teaching myth' as fact....

What we want is this:

1/ An admission that on the issue of human origins (and life origins) the matter is currently one of pure speculation. There is suggestive evidence this way or that, but it is by no means conclusive.

2/ AMONG the theories offered to explain the origins of life are:

-Intelligent Design.
-Pure chance and time along with an evolutionary development.

Now..is that too much to ask ? :)

Regarding why I get rather animated on the issue of increasing Muslim power here.(miniscule as it may at this time be)

You would need to have an awareness of what is happening in Muslim controlled countries to Christians. Being that you are currently out of the fold, it's unlikely that you are privy to such information.

HINDU persecution of Christians. I could be as animated about Hindu's also. In december 2007 95 churches were destroyed and 730 homes of Christians in Kanhdamal district of Orissa state, by Hindu Extremists.
How many Hindu's have we 'persecuted' here in Australia ? I think it's 'zero'.

PAKISTAN http://www.barnabasfund.org/News/archives/article.php?ID_news_items=285

See what happens in countries controlled by Muslims. It's a pattern old son.