07 JUN 2012 by ideonexus

 Unweave a Rainbow

Do not all charms fly At the mere touch of cold philosophy? There was an awful rainbow once in heaven: We know her woof, her texture; she is given In the dull catalogue of common things. Philosophy will clip an Angel's wings, Conquer all mysteries by rule and line, Empty the haunted air, and gnomed mine Unweave a rainbow.
Folksonomies: science wonder
Folksonomies: science wonder
  1  notes

Poem about how science robs life of wonder.

31 MAY 2012 by ideonexus

 Atheistic in Experimentation; Therefore, Atheist in Daily...

My practice as a scientist is atheistic. That is to say, when I set up an experiment I assume that no god, angel or devil is going to interfere with its course; and this assumption has been justified by such success as I have achieved in my professional career. I should therefore be intellectually dishonest if I were not also atheistic in the affairs of the world.
Folksonomies: science religion atheism
Folksonomies: science religion atheism
  1  notes

Scientific virtue.

30 MAY 2012 by ideonexus

 Perspectives on the Physician

When Death lurks at the door, the physician is considered as a God. When danger has been overcome, the physician is looked upon as an angel. When the patient begins to convalesce, the physician becomes a mere human. When the physician asks for his fees, he is considered as the devil himself.
Folksonomies: culture medicine
Folksonomies: culture medicine
   notes

Quoting Hendrick Goltzius In Harper's Magazine (1931-32), 164, 512

10 AUG 2011 by ideonexus

 A Deceptive God

Balthamos said quietly, “The Authority, God, the Creator, the Lord, Yahweh, El, Adonai, the King, the Father, the Almighty, those were all names he gave himself. He was never the creator. He was an angel like ourselves, the first angel, true, the most powerful, but he was formed of Dust as we are, and Dust is only a name for what happens when matter begins to understand itself. Matter loves matter. It seeks to know more about itself, and Dust is formed. The first angels condensed out of Dus...
Folksonomies: atheism god deities deception
Folksonomies: atheism god deities deception
  1  notes

Usually a fake god is described as someone with special powers, but Pullman's god is merely an angel that preceded other angels into existence and lied to them about their origins, when, in fact, we are all products of the natural world.