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Anthropology, archeology, and population genetics seem to be contra religion these days.
Although objectivity is essential to empiricism, modern applications of science, complete with some theories considered orthodox and others heretical, tends to reflect a religious dogma more than an unbiased search for truth that “science” is supposed to exemplify.
Could this be in part because at stake are pride, power, and paychecks (from a plethora of promotional platforms, but first research grants)? It’s ironic and sad, but such is the world in which we live. Paradigm bias retards progress.
In my opinion, every scientific discovery is ultimately still theory–I don’t care what man has termed “law” if man has discovered and termed it such. Many useful scientific models may, and do, exist, but not all models are created equal. Each model is perpetually subject to undiscovered and even ignored variables. And the worst offenders are models created cart-before-the-horse style: math first, observation second.
One egregious example is understanding cosmology only with gravity, ostracizing electromagnetism, which is a far more powerful force than gravity. By observation and by experiment, one aspect of electromagnetism, plasma, specifically Birkeland currents, fills in many gaps left by gravity-based models. Research incorporated into the Electric Universe theory, which isn’t the only theory based on plasma cosmology, and specifically the Thunderbolts Project, seems to be at the forefront of these discoveries.
But the theological icing on the cake is that scriptures that speak of light, stars, and planets, such as D&C 88, make much more sense in an electromagnetic context than they do in a gravity context. And then there’s the dovetailing with the diagram of the heavens as ancients saw them from Earth that the Prophet Joseph drew for Philo Dibble, but of which is beyond the probing of empiricism.
As the brethren counsel, we must accept truth wherever we find it. But these days, who has an open mind enough to look outside of the institutions and sophistry of men claiming authority and think for themselves?
If any reader was in doubt: The Electric Universe theory is definitely fringe science.
And arguments for it based on the Doctrine and Covenants are definitely fringe religion.
Thanks for your reply, Kent. I concur with your view, as would every one of the faithful, mainstream scientists who authored chapters for the proceedings of the first Science and Mormonism symposium, Cosmos, Earth, and Man.
Calling the Electric Universe theory fringe science is giving it too much credit. One of the great unexplained mysteries of the universe is why the Electric Universe theory became popular among a certain group of LDS fundamentalists.
Bravo.