Re: [nukkad] Fwd: [wp] *Religion and Reason

["Mahesh chandra Gupta" <>]

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This is a wonderful, brilliant piece. I paraphrase it in brief as follows
[adding explanation and examples of my own], for better elucidation, to
myself and others

1. There is no finality to facts. Notions of fact exist at a particular time
depending upon the quantum and level of knwledge prevalent at that
particular time. When the quantum of knowledge increases, [it can't possibly
decrease], facts as perceived earlier are banished to oblivion, to be
replaced by new facts, and so on. Examples are causation of disease [germ
theory], movement of earth around the sun etc.

2.  As emphasised by Bertrand Russel, there are two types of knowledge:
knowledge of things and knowledge of truths. Things can be directly
observed. Truths can not be directly observed [such as gravity, magnetism];
they have to be understood by indirect observation, i e., they have to be
inferred. But both these types of knowledge, one directly observable and the
other not directly observable, are equally valid.

3. The concept of direct observation itself may undergo change in next 50
years, as science learns more about the senses beyond the 5 senses [the so
called ESP --- Extra sensory perception; CIBA Foundation held a symposium
and published a monograph by this very title in the sixties]. There is some
evidence that elephants can communicate through infrared waves emitted from
their forehead; that whales communicate through ultrasonic waves; that some
humans are receptive to magnetic waves; that some persons have property of
divining water; that some persons have power of telepathy and clarvoyance;
etc. These phenomenon, if scientifically well documented, can not be wished
away for want of explanatory mechanism. Such mechanisms would unfold as and
when newer sensory phenomena get established through further scienific
research. But there is a catch. Some real phenomena may never be
scientifically proven, because the very proces of observational measurement
alters the phenomenon itself! That is the limit of science where, in the
face of documented facts, science has to yeild to faith.

Reincarnation is currently in a stage where the phenomenon is documented,
but the mechanism is not.

MC Gupta
July 20

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kishor Valia" <Valia@btinternet.com>
To: <nukkad-list@mumbai-central.com>
Cc: "Mahesh chandra Gupta" <healthlaw@now-india.net.in>
Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2001 12:58 PM
Subject: [nukkad] Fwd: [wp] *Religion and Reason


> >Religion and Reason
> >by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
> >
> >Advanced study has shown that there is more to life than meets the eye;
all
> >the great realities of life lie beyond our comprehension.
> >In ancient times, water was just water. Then with the 19th century came
the
> >invention of the microscope. When water was placed under it, the
startling
> >discovery was made that it contained countless live bacteria.

> >According to Bertrand Russell there are two forms of knowledge: knowledge
of
> >things and knowledge of truths. Only things can be directly observed:
truths
> >can only be understood by indirect observation. Or in other words,
> >inference.


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