Recent Threads / True Mental Health...

[W. A. Wildhack III]

Ironically/coincidentally/providentially (your choice!), the quote of the
day on my iGoogle home page today is this from Bertrand Russell:

 

If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will
scrutinize it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will
refuse to believe it. If, on the other hand, he is offered something which
affords a reason for acting in accordance to his instincts, he will accept
it even on the slightest evidence. The origin of myths is explained in this
way.

 

That would seem consistent with David Masci's new piece from the Pew Forum
on Religion and American Life dealing with "How the Public Resolves
Conflicts Between Faith and Science" (available at
http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=243).  At a glance, it looks like Pew's
research backs up Russell's assertions to some extent (except maybe for the
comment about myths at the end of the quote), though it also suggests that
even overwhelming evidence may not be enough for some folks.  Oh, well.

 

Anyway, maybe it's time to move on from parsing
proselytize/evangelize/whatever and get back to "Law & Religion issues for
Law Academics."

 

Bill Wildhack

Member, Florida Bar and bar of the U.S. District Court for the Middle
District of Florida
Minister of Word and Sacrament, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Commander, Chaplain Corps, U.S. Navy Reserve 

 
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