Newberg Abandons Concepts
Separating Science From Belief
G. Wesley Bennett
From: "G Wesley"
To: "Positive Atheism" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
Subject: Why God Won't Go Away
Date: Wednesday, May 09, 2001 1:18 AM
Just finished reading Newberg's Why God Won't Go Away and thought I would provide my interpretation of what the publication merits.
He starts out [as you know] providing a convincing argument for the biological [neurological] basis for a belief in god. About two-thirds of the way through he attempts to demonstrate the legitimacy of our personal experiences and uses the argument that our experience [perceptions] lends legitimacy to the truth of a concept, ultimately attempting to make the claim that belief in god is a legitimate belief by virtue of our experiences.
For me this argument is in fact a traitorous act on the part of a "medical scientist". He completely abandons the concepts that separate "science" from "belief". Science is a process by which our beliefs are ultimately demonstrated true or false. Mr. Newberg seems to believe that mere experience makes something true. Reading through the end of his presentation, I was left with the distinct impression that he was "paid" by some religious advocacy [such as the Templeton Group] to blur the lines between fact and fantasy.
G. Wesley Bennett
From: "Positive Atheism Magazine" <editor@positiveatheism.org>
To: "G Wesley"
Subject: Re: Why God Won't Go Away
Date: Wednesday, May 09, 2001 5:39 PM
Our April issue covered all this and more -- down to the Templeton suggestion -- although I appreciate the very succinct wording you used to address the issues with this book. If you are on our mailing list, you should be getting your copy today or tomorrow.
Cliff Walker
"Positive Atheism" Magazine
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people with no reason to believe
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