[u crank]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Religious dogma that one believes while keeping in private, keeping to oneself, is an obsession.

An opinion, valid, but just an opinion. Obsession may be the wrong word.

For me, science/scientific methodology, and spirituality, are no opposites at all, but share the same sceptical but open mindset. They are two ways towards the same goal, and sooner or later they merge and become just one way, even if you started by following just one of them . Put our heart into just one of them, and you win both.

Agree. Completely.

But science and religion are not only opposites - they are antagonists. Any attempt to find a compromise between them can only mean to erode reason, and scientific mindset - like any compromise between food and poison can only mean to die when eating.

Disagree, with certain reservations. Dogmatic religious beliefs are certainly antagonistic but the list of scientists who held/hold religious/spiritual beliefs is extensive. The two fields are not mutually exclusive but rather somewhat different disciplines. Any attempt to explain a scientific theory with purely religious dogma is a mistake. In my opinion. Spirituality on the other hand is a personal quest that basically sets all other opinions aside. Doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. It's too personal for that.

In the end, self-realisation can only be had at the the cost of transcending oneself, forgetting oneself, overlooking oneself. And that is the essence of wisdom, and deep insight.

Science cannot solve the ultimate mystery of nature. And that is because, in the last analysis, we ourselves are a part of the mystery that we are trying to solve.
-Max Planck

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

How anyone could stare out into the vastness of the night sky and insist on mankind being alone in the universe be it spiritually or physically - transcends arrogance. It combines arrogance and ignorance into some higher form of closed mindedness for which there are no words.

Well said. Couldn't agree more.