It just sounded like science is actually just the understanding of “creation”.

Given the context of what I just explained, isn’t that exactly what science is? An understanding of reality/creation? (What else do you suggest science is?)

Just seems a bit confusing especially if your goal is to reduce mis-understanding [. . .] It just give a sense of “intelligent design” to science which I think you know is wrong.

Question… who do you feel will misunderstand? Who will be misled by my choice of words? What harmful misunderstanding might I be creating?

Here’s my attempt at answering these questions myself: Those with a non-theistic view will think “hrmph, that’s not the word I’d choose, but anyway…” Those with a theistic view will understand what I’m referring to, in the process of explaining what I’m trying to explain. I can’t picture my word choice leading anyone from a better understanding to a worse one.

The only thing I could think of as “ooh, that could result in a misunderstanding” is in the context of the New Atheist Inquisition. Their witch-hunters could mistake me for an ID supporter then burn me at the stake. Frankly, I don’t care much for witch hunts, they’re just like the fundies hunting pastors for their supposed “heresies”.

The solution I’m pursuing in that regard is a technical one, getting mechanisms in place to avoid conversations of the common people from being severely disrupted by the inquisition. Equality for all. Anyone interested in having discussions or debates with the inquisition from either side should be able to do so, but those that don’t, should also be able to do so.

Incidentally, that’s the thing that’s unfortunately delaying Chapter Three.

From your vantage point, what do you think about splitting it up to a post per chapter vs two chapters together? Quite moot I bet, except for concerns of structuring/dividing any discussion more neatly, and spamming general rss-feed subscribers with too many posts.

Just seems a bit confusing especially if your goal is to reduce mis-understanding

Definitions of creation on the Web:

* the human act of creating
* an artifact that has been brought into existence by someone
* (theology) God’s act of bringing the universe into existence

It just give a sense of “intelligent design” to science which I think you know is wrong.

I do agree that the “label” science has been bandied about, and yes you do get good and bad science.

I think the “scientific method” is a better way of describing the process of how we come to know all the wonderful things about the universe that we do.

You’re asking about my choice of the word “creation”, and you have reservations about it’s use because you feel it connects too much with the idea of a personified “creator”? I choose that word, included with a slash, for the same reason I’m shying away from simply using “science” without explanation of what I mean by it. “Creation” is the word that best describes what I’m talking about to the audience I’m talking to. “All of creation.” Given that frame, and the overall purpose of communication, I consider it the best way to communicate. I might pick a different word if I were talking to the opposite audience. It seems a potentially imperfect word from a post-theistic perspective, or even a “the answer to why there’s something rather than nothing” perspective. You end up more with an overall timeless principle or process than you do with “an originak cause” (which invokes infinite regression, of course).

Does that somewhat answer your question?

I care too much about understanding reality/creation as best I can

What do u mean by that statement, especially the part about “/creation”

I’m also taking Susan Blackmore’s “The Meme Machine” with me, also small, and it bothers me that I’ve only read a couple of its chapters, and that more than a year ago, probably.

http://www.kalahari.net/books/Bones-Rocks-and-Stars/632/29289077.aspx

That’s what I like about Europe, books are so cheap! (Not necessarily because they’re actually cheaper, but because everything else is much more expensive.)

If you’d like to get it, I will buy it off you when you’re done! I’d like to have another copy, and I like hard cover. When we’re done reading, I’ll be contemplating lending this book to people anyway, if not buying more for presents.

Can anyone point me in a direction?