Re: Hard Sci-fi?

In message <1210641229.938329@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>, Michael Ash 
<mike@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> writes


>Plus there are plenty of examples of atheistic (or just plain bizzare,
>what do you call Nazi Germany in this context?) societies displaying all
>of the bad aspects of religion in this context, as far as ostracizing
>intelligent people who happen to hold the "wrong" beliefs, forcing
>scientists to follow the state's Official Truth instead of objective
>reality, etc.
>
>The really odd thing is that the prime example of such atheistic
>anti-science behavior was also the first country to put a man in space.
>
Any sufficiently advanced political ideology is indistinguishable from 
religion - almost.

There are lots of parallels between politically and religiously 
motivated societies. The cold war period was characterised by huge 
technological advances for both sides, because that's what united the 
people. Religion in some Islamist cultures is also leading to scientific 
and technological advances. Whatever else it was 9/11 was a significant 
technological advance over pointing a pistol at the pilot and demanding 
to be flown to Cuba/Tel Aviv/Timbuktu.



-- 
Bernard Peek
London, UK. DBA, Manager, Trainer & Author.