Psychology 459 January 19, 2006

The Negative versus Positive Bias in Science

By:  Crystal Bulda

Lecture 1, Topic 1:  Dr. Leon James, Textbook of Theistic Psychology, Published on the Web: http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/theistic/ch1.htm

Instructions for this activity are found at:

www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy24/g24-oral1.htm

Instructor: Dr. Leon James

I.     Two orientations in science

A.  Negative Bias

1.  Deny that anything exists except that which is natural, and is constructed out of physical matter in time and space

2.  Denies existence of God and any relations of the existence of the spiritual world.

B.  Positive Bias

1.  God exists

2.  There two worlds

a. Natural and physical world

II.   Basic Premises of the Positive Bias in Science

A.  Dualism

              1.  Our mental world also known as the spiritual world is not measured in time and space.

              2.  Our thoughts and feelings are constructed out of non-material substances.

              3.  Mind is permanent or immortal

              4.  After our physical brain and body dies, we are “resuscitated” in

                    spiritual world.

              5.  Natural Science and Rational Science

                       a. Natural science is based on sensory observations and measurements of the physical environment.

                       b. Rational science is based on the knowledge extracted from Divine revelation.

                 B.  Theism

                              1.  Universe is created and maintained in order by God according to laws and procedures that God reveals.

                              2.  Gods rational equation

                                       a.  Divine Human

                                        b.  Divine Love as Divine Truth

                                        c.  Spiritual Sun if Truth

                                        d.  Divine Speech maintains order by laws of correspondence

                                        e.  Correspondence results in feeling, thinking, and sensations.

                                        f.  Sacred Scripture reveals knowledge from Gods plans for the universe.

                                       g.  Mental development from birth destines your afterlife.

                C.  Revelation

                            1.  Divine Speech reveals Gods purpose of Love.

                              2.  First become conscious of Divine Speech in our natural mind through prayers, songs, stones, lessons, and instructions to form abstract notions of God.

Related Links:

Web link #1:  www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/dualism

Dualism- I had picked this site because it has the definition of Dualism shown from another source.  The website explains the theological usage of the term, which may help to further understand this concept.  There are also links to other areas of science with their ways of using the term Dualism.

Web Link #2:  www.origins.org/menus/theism.html

Origins of Theism- This site allows you to view many different materials relevant to theism.  There are scholarly and popular resources concerning theism.  Many of the links on this website emphasize more in depth from the beginning of the universe to the basis of Theism.

Web Link #3:  www.hssonline.org/society/about/newsletter/older/gregory.html

Science and Religion in Western History- On this website, Fredrick Gregory emphasizes the relationship between science and religion.  With his efforts, this article may help to argue the relationship between natural science and rational science.  He describes how different known individuals have shown a relation with Natural science and Rational science.

My Homepage:  www.soc.hawaii.edu/leon/459s2006/bulda/bulda-home.htm

Class Homepage:  www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy24/classhome-g24.htm