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From: jiml@cavell.UUCP (Jim Laycock)
Newsgroups: talk.religion
Subject: Lucifer is the patron saint of science and philosophy
Message-ID: <873@cavell.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 3-Sep-86 21:00:10 EDT
Article-I.D.: cavell.873
Posted: Wed Sep  3 21:00:10 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 9-Sep-86 05:39:38 EDT
Reply-To: jiml@cavell.UUCP (Jim Laycock)
Organization: U. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
Lines: 52

<**It was a one-eyed one-horned flying purple line eater**>
 
What follows is a reconstruction of a discussion I was involved in
recently.  I do not consider myself a biblical scholar, nor is my
interest in this matter any more than academic (ie. I'm an atheist),
but I was curious as to what sort of response the following claim
would evoke:
 
Claim:
Lucifer is (or should be) the patron saint of science and technology
 
Argument:
Lucifer is credited in the Bible for the following 3 acts:

	1. Rebelling against God and being cast into Hell.
	2. Tempting Adam and Eve with the forbidden fruit (knowledge).
	3. Confronting Christ on the issue of faith vs. uncertainty.

In [1], Lucifer can be said to have rebelled against the dictatorship of
God.  His act of dissention was motivated by interests/opinions which
conflicted with those of God.  Historically, this is the stuff of which
great men are made (American founding fathers, Lenin,...).  The list is
huge.

[2] Lucifer can be superficially compared to the titan Prometheus for his
act of giving knowledge (fire) to mankind.  Satan's gift was much more
potent, however, for it included free will (the capacity to recognize
and choose to perform both Evil and Good acts) and rational thought.

[3] His third act is of questionable import.  Personally, I acknowledge
that no knowledge is certain and I look disparagingly upon those who
place a greater value in 'faith' than in rational thought.  I'm afraid
I'd side with Lucifer on this debate as well.

So if these are Lucifer's three major acts in the Bible, why is it that
he's received so much bad press?  Scientists and philosophers should
praise him (were they to believe in him) for the tremendous gifts
he has provided us.  Look well around you, for you work in a temple
erected for the pursuit of knowledge and the employment of scientific
inquiry--Satan's most wonderful gifts to mankind.

-- 
These opinions are true           /\____/\     __
regardless of what anyone        |   ____ \___/  \
else might think.                 \_/    \__     /
                                            \___/
  Jim Laycock
  decvax!bellcore!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!alberta!cavell!jiml
    OR
  alberta!Jim_Laycock@UQV-MTS
 
  Philosophy major, University of Alberta (last year (I hope!))