Why (Almost All) Cosmologists are Atheists

[LeeC]

Hi all,

OK, so why the title of this thread?

Why I thought it might get some attention and when this lecture (which has now come and gone which is mentioned below) has come and gone people can read a rather good essay by Sean Carroll on "Why (Almost All) Cosmologists are Atheists"

I read it a few months ago, just googled it now.

http://preposterousuniverse.com/writings/nd-paper/

Abstract
Science and religion both make claims about the fundamental workings of the universe. Although these claims are not a priori incompatible (we could imagine being brought to religious belief through scientific investigation), I will argue that in practice they diverge. If we believe that the methods of science can be used to discriminate between fundamental pictures of reality, we are led to a strictly materialist conception of the universe. While the details of modern cosmology are not a necessary part of this argument, they provide interesting clues as to how an ultimate picture may be constructed.

++++++++++++++++ Old stuff ++++++++++++++++++
I have just been told about a public lecture in Melbourne this Friday which I really wish I could attend. (Now in the past - you had your chance, left here for history to view)

http://www.ph.unimelb.edu.au/~theory/cospa2009/Home.html

Professor Sean Carroll (Caltech) will be giving a free Public Lecture in Melbourne on the final day of the conference.


Title: The Origin of the Universe and the Arrow of Time.

Venue: Elizabeth Murdoch Theatre

Date and time: 6.30 pm Friday 20 November

Now I know this isn't atheist minded or anything, but still... information worth sharing I hope.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Lee