NYT Book Review: Interesting book from the Dali Lama on Science.

[NNadir]

I am an atheist, but I note with approval this quotation from the New York Times Review of the Dali Lama's book on science, 'The Universe in a Single Atom': Reason and Faith.

I quote from the review:

" But this book offers something wiser: a compassionate and clearheaded account by a religious leader who not only respects science but, for the most part, embraces it. 'If scientific analysis were conclusively to demonstrate certain claims in Buddhism to be false, then we must accept the findings of science and abandon those claims,' he writes. No one who wants to understand the world 'can ignore the basic insights of theories as key as evolution, relativity and quantum mechanics.'"

I could be a lot more tolerant of religion if most religions took this tone.

[Tace]

1. Got A Link?

I'm always interested in what the Dali Lama has to say.

[jefferson_dem]

2. Link here >>

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/18/books/review/18johnson.html

[NNadir]

3. Thanks for clearing up my neglect.

[jefferson_dem]

4. No problem. Thanks for referencing this one.

This makes MUCH sense --->

But this book offers something wiser: a compassionate and clearheaded account by a religious leader who not only respects science but, for the most part, embraces it. "If scientific analysis were conclusively to demonstrate certain claims in Buddhism to be false, then we must accept the findings of science and abandon those claims," he writes. No one who wants to understand the world "can ignore the basic insights of theories as key as evolution, relativity and quantum mechanics."

That is an extraordinary concession compared with the Christian apologias that dominate conferences devoted to reconciling science and religion. The "dialogues" implicitly begin with nonnegotiables - "Given that Jesus died on the cross and was bodily resurrected into heaven. . ." - then seek scientific justification for what is already assumed to be true.

[pnorman]

5. I got a digital version of that book yesterday.

https://secure.ereader.com/product/detail/20234?book=The_Universe_in_a_Single_Atom:_The_Convergence_of_Science_and_Spirituality

I haven't gotten into it yet, but I can not only read it on my desktop but also on my PDA (Sony TH-55). I'll go through that NYT review a little later.

pnorman

[Dudley_DUright]

6. A very wise man indeed

although I can't say I am enamored with attempts to draw parallels between eastern religions and quantum mechanics, like for example "The Tao of Physics". Not that the Dali Lama is advocating this.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1570625190/104-6044054-9940749?v=glance

[NNadir]

7. I'm not enamored with these things either.