Secularism(-sts) and Philosophy

Would I be out of line to pose a philosophical question on a secular message board ?

After all Voltaire was a philospher and a secularist, so I'll give it a shot.

Is science just as dangerous as religion ?

I ask this because of the history of science(alchemy) has its roots deep in religion. Which poses another question;

Is science the tool of religion, has it always been ?

Is there a middle-way ?

What was (is?) the difference between Eastern philosophy and Western philosophy ?


I apologize for the onslaught of Q's, but if you could pick one and just go for it:)
Thank you, your loyal observer~~brad

I think what you're trying to get at is philosophy versus application.

Science as a philosophy makes no assumptions, holds nothing sacred and is thus better than religion over the long term.

Religion, mythology, or any spirituality as a philosophy can only make assumptions, holds lots of things as sacred (and thus beyond questioning), and tosses reason on its ear whenever its convenient.

Science as an application has a greater potential for damage than religion, but religion has a far better chance of being used as a validation for causing damage than it will ever have of preventing it.

The idea of a "middle ground" between the two is a farce, both in philosophy and in application. The rational cannot co-exist with the irrational outside of a purely fictional context.

I'm sorry to hear that Niles, wish I knew what brought on this sudden advoidence of the topics ? It's not only separation of church and state that has to do with secularism, but rather everything that really influences and affects everything.
I liken it to Physiology and how there are just so many Specialists, and the assembly line, the idea of fractionalizing every topical attribute that effects our society is in its self, a philosophy. This reminds me of the pre face to the second edition to "the Story of Philosophy by ~Will Durant"- quote from the top of the third paragraph "All that remained was the scientific specialist, who knew " more and more about less and less", and the philosophical speculator, who knew less and less about more and more. The specialist put on blinders in order to shut out from his vision all the world but one little spot, to which he glued his nose. Perspective was lost. "Facts" replaced understanding; and knowledge, split into a thousand isolated fragments, no longer generated wisdom........



If I offended you in any way, I fully apologize, and respect but am saddend by your disision to end discusions.


Brad