October 19, 2005

A Few Words On The Origin Of Life From The Dalai Lama

We keep hearing about how Christians are trying to impose "their view" on everyone else in the current discussion/controversey over including discussion of Intelligent Design in the classroom.

Interestingly enough, the Dalai Lama -- no right-wing Christian -- has some words on the subject that the open-minded might find enlightening.

In his new book, The Universe in a Single Atom, the Dalai Lama warns readers about the consequences of seeing people as “the products of pure chance in the random combination of genes.” This materialistic account is “an invitation to nihilism and spiritual poverty.” Correct.

He writes that “the view that all aspects of reality can be reduced to matter and its various particles is . . . as much a metaphysical position as the view that an organizing intelligence created and controls reality.” What’s more, he insists that both “are legitimate interpretations of science.”

So, my dear evolutionist friends, look whose words clearly support the presentation of Intelligent Design -- the most respected Buddhist leader and champion of human rights alive today.

Posted by: Greg at 04:18 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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1 He's right, of course, but the people trying to have intelligent design taught in a science classroom are completely wrong. What is behind science is a legitimate area for inquiry, but it ain't science.

Posted by: Dan at Thu Oct 20 10:43:46 2005 (y9xzG)

2 Interesting that a religious leader's argument is being used to support what is in essence a religious idea. The Dali Lama is not a scientist. His ideas represent a misunderstanding of the basic purpose of science - much the same way creationists do in their tedious attempts to add ID to science curriculum.

Posted by: Ivory at Thu Oct 20 13:04:41 2005 (3j8v+)

3 You miss my point -- and the point being made by ID opponents.

1) Many ID opponents like to say that ID is nothing but fundamentalist Creationism. The Dalai lama's position makes that argument less compelling, as it is clear that the idea goes beyond the bounds of a single sect.

2) The position he takes is one that strikes at the very root of science as it exists today -- whether or not the right question is being asked by those who push the dogma of evolution.

Posted by: Rhymes With Right at Thu Oct 20 13:51:14 2005 (wfdL5)

4 There aren't that many ID opponents, RWR. There are, however, a whole lot of us who don't think ID belongs in a science classroom. It's an interesting thought, but it's not science. Feel free to believe it just as much as you like - I'll defend your right to believe it and talk about it outside the classroom. But the fact that you and a religious guy from the East think that religion goes a little deeper than science isn't headline news, nor does it have anything to do with why we don't want religion being taught in our schools.

Posted by: Dan at Thu Oct 20 17:50:31 2005 (aSKj6)

5 Does that mean also it's wrong to teach about religion in terms of historical perspective on how the history of the United States began, the U.S. Constitution, the founding fathers...etc..?

Posted by: mcconnell at Sun Oct 23 07:43:15 2005 (CQ3Yp)

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