1. Religion and Philosophy
| True Religion | Apostate Religion | Philosophy |
| Ordinances (prayer) | Ritual | Epistemology |
| True understanding | Speculative theology | Metaphysics |
| Righteousness via faith in Christ | Socially enforced moral codes | Ethics |
2. Science was born with philosophy as the child of epistemology and metaphysics, in the attempt to understand the truth about both the seen and the unseen aspects of the world; that as a basis for becoming wise (sophia).
3. Every science except early astronomy has emerged from philosophy as a separate discipline when its methods of inquiry and standards of expression have become relatively fixed.
4. Science is the art of producing descriptive assertions about the universe which meet current criteria and which are acceptable to one’s scientific peers.
These assertions function on four levels:
- a. Fact: A theory-laden interpretation of a phenomenon.
Example: This is the bone of an ox. - b. Law: A theory-laden generalization upon facts.
Example: Ox bones have this characteristic structure. - c. Theory: A factitious image created to explain laws and facts.
Example: Environmental stress selected this ox-bone structure for survival. - d. Principle: A basic postulate which guides theory construction.
Example: Form follows function.
5. Current criteria of scientific factition: (Roughly in historical order)
- a. Must be rational (self-consistent).
- b. Must be consistent with a body of “public” phenomena (empiricism).
- c. New factitions must be more general or more correct than those they replace.
- d. Every factition must be monistic (naturalistic).
- e. Every factition must assume uniformity.
6. Science should not be confused with technology. Technology is the art of achieving desired physical results.
7. Science is universally respected today (if not revered) because of the technological power which is associated with it.
8. It is an honor to be called a “scientist” (knower) today, and a put-down to be called a “technologist” (doer). That is because we live in a world with a decidedly Platonist bent.
9. Does (1) the power of technology come from science, or does (2) the power of science come from technology? The Platonist world we live in says (1) is true, but (2) is probably closer to the real truth.
10. Conclusions:
Science is a linguistic scaffolding which facilitates technology.
Science and technology yield a sophia of the flesh, the success of raw physical power.
There is a spiritual power, but it is seldom heard from because its use depends upon repentance. The use of science and technology depends upon physical resources only (until the Lord decides that enough wickedness is enough). The wicked turn to science to accomplish their goals; the righteous turn also to priesthood power to accomplish their goals.
If Latter-day Saints pursue only physical power and do not develop a spiritual power which is superior to the physical power of the science and technology of the day, they have abandoned the cause of Christ and will be destroyed both physically and spiritually.