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Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru
This makes much sense. I like this. The important difference, however, is that there is a lack of focus on the supernatural or what cannot be seen. Science focuses on what could be and then seeks to validate it. It's as though the predominantly scientific-minded (via, to some degree, atheism) picked up the torch of knowledge (and, therefore, the authority to postulate it as well) from the predominantly religious-minded. What each were seeking is essentially the same, it's just that the latter have been "blessed" with the tools to better see and discover this knowledge, and, moreover, to record and archive it.
I think a movement toward atheism is a natural and necessary process that the mind needs to undergo in order to continue making sense of the universe. And I think you've described atheism wonderfully, filtherton.
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Science should focus on what could be and its validation, but science only really enters into the picture when validation is somehow a possibility. I think that speaking strictly from a scientific perspective, there is no such thing as "the supernatural" because everything is natural. Even if there existed such a class of phenomena, the unverifiability of an idea doesn't necessarily mean it lies in the realm of the supernatural, if that were the case we'd be talking about theoretical physicists with the same level of reverence that we reserve for ghost hunters (no doubt that some folks do). If god, or ghosts exist, then it would only mean that our understanding of the natural laws as they are currently formulated are deficient.
This being the case, science and theology aren't necessarily at odds, provided the theology in question is adaptable to advancements in scientific knowledge. This also means that atheism isn't necessarily some sort of advanced process, just another way of looking at things.
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Originally Posted by Ustwo
Using all available information based on observation to answer a question as best we can.
I can get more formal if you think it will help.
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Thank you.
This definition doesn't necessarily preclude using critical thought as a means of coming to the conclusion that god exists.