Supernatural equals unreality? - Reader comments at The New York Sun

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War & Peace

Submitted by Mark Hausam, Nov 3, 2006 10:26

I found the last three paragraphs of this article particularly interesting and, truly, baffling. Shermer assumes that the supernatural equals the unreal, and comes across as unaware that that would be a disputable claim. Does he think that people who believe in the supernatural think it is unreal? Does he think theists believe God is unreal? From this article, and from what I've heard from Shermer in the past (and from other non-theists), there seems to be this impression that "supernatural" means "completely outside of any detectable or testable reality." That is not how theists have historically understood God. The arguments for God's existence--such as the famous arguments spelled out by Thomas Aquinas--assume that not only is God detectable; he is necessary to explain the universe. He is fundamentally Real, apart from which no other reality can be explained. He can be indirectly "observed" by the same process of reasoning that leads scientists to assert the existence of dark matter or planets orbiting distant stars, through his effects. It is Shermer's insuperable dichotomy between the "natural" and the the "supernatural" that is truly unreal. The existence of God is a scientific theory. The question we should be asking is not how to distinguish "science" from "religion," but rather "What is the nature of this universe we live in? What is really there and what isn't?" We should be on a quest for truth, not categorization. And it would help everybody get along in this search better if non-theists would stop being naive about "religious" beliefs--talking about them authoritatively without really understanding them at all--and start taking them seriously as ideas about the way things are to be understood and examined carefully like any theory. I know there are lots of confused theists who appeal to blind faith and aren't interested in reality. But that is not all of us. There are plenty of us who are interested in reality and believe what we believe because we think we have good reason to think it IS reality. We would simply like all serious views (especially those with such a strong intellectual history as the existence of God and God's interaction in nature) to be understood and taken seriously as real ideas worth considering.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
Religion and science share a few characteristics that ought to make anyone with a toe-hold in either science or religion... [MORE]	Julius Barber	Nov 8, 2006 18:00
Anyone who has spent any of time talking to folks whose basic language is god-speak knows that there are two... [MORE]	Bob Zimmermann	Nov 4, 2006 19:50
The only reason why humans need a god is the fear of death, which includes the refusal of a definite... [MORE]	Roberto Hollnagel	Nov 4, 2006 16:39
Let's say that we look at our reality with an open mind, not with any agenda. It's a miraculous adventure... [MORE]	cause and effect	Nov 3, 2006 20:55
Intelligent Design usually involves some aspect of life and its development. I wish to present a fact of chemistry / physics... [MORE]	Ed Bonds	Nov 3, 2006 19:49
Shermer's an interesting character. I'm not sure he's consistently right, but he's got something charming to him, so I listen.... [MORE]	K. Smith	Nov 3, 2006 16:54
This article summarizes consdierable material that is already in print, but does so in an illuminating way. I would only... [MORE]	Stanley Krippner	Nov 3, 2006 12:25
Religion stems from a deep need of people to have the feeling they are being taken care off. The need... [MORE]	Yohanan Brada	Nov 3, 2006 10:54
Michael Shermer has a remarkable ability to take on an idea and flex it like a Rubik's cube to show... [MORE]	Frank P. Araujo	Nov 3, 2006 10:27
I found the last three paragraphs of this article particularly interesting and, truly, baffling. Shermer assumes that the supernatural equals...	Mark Hausam	Nov 3, 2006 10:26
see title [MORE]	bob huff	Nov 3, 2006 10:04
Just like always, Dr. Shermer scientifically explains the steps of evolution by scientifically reasoning rather than mythical stories of creation... [MORE]	Sara Smith	Nov 3, 2006 07:51
The three counties south of Cincinnati called northern Kentucky have evolution/creation living side by side. Big Bone Lick State Park,... [MORE]	Mr. Andrew O. Lutes	Nov 3, 2006 07:11
As a strong atheist, anti-theist,I am proud of Dr.Shermer now being a fellow atheist and will read his new book... [MORE]	morgan-lynn lamberth	Nov 3, 2006 06:41
I'm glad that your passionate in your views, but do you really think the agruments proposed by Stenger or Rossown... [MORE]	Michael Geiser	Nov 3, 2006 09:32
As usual, the theists response is that the argument isn't to their liking; therefore there is an error in it. Simple... [MORE]	Bill Henry	Nov 4, 2006 12:32
Morgan-Lynn Lamberth wrote, "As a strong atheist, anti-theist,I am proud of Dr.Shermer now being a fellow atheist ..." Dr. Shermer did... [MORE]	George Slusher	Nov 4, 2006 12:34
Bill: You mistakenly lump me in as a "theist". And what's with you going all "Ad Hominem" on me there Kemo... [MORE]	Michael Geiser	Nov 6, 2006 15:20
Don't know why you thought my response was aimed at you. I suspect I accidently checked a box or something. I... [MORE]	Bill Henry	Nov 6, 2006 17:06
Michael, choose all possble attributes , only to find that none work!Stenger is so right after all.One has to make... [MORE]	Morgan-Lynn Lamberth	Jan 31, 2007 19:52
The trouble I still have is in the logical consistancy of the argurement and not the passions behind them. From your... [MORE]	Michael Geiser	Feb 1, 2007 12:36
An excellent article, with some pithy observations, but one major error: Richard Dawkins' TV show was on Channel 4, not... [MORE]	Tony Kehoe	Nov 3, 2006 04:04

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