<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Exchange Server">
<!-- converted from rtf -->
<style><!-- .EmailQuote { margin-left: 1pt; padding-left: 4pt; border-left: #800000 2px solid; } --></style>
</head>
<body>
<font face="Arial, sans-serif" size="3">
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; ">I sent the email below to the author after seeing her interviewed on TV (see second review here: <a href="http://torahmusings.com/2011/10/audio-roundup-5/comment-page-1/#comment-42399"><font color="#0000FF"><u>http://torahmusings.com/2011/10/audio-roundup-5/comment-page-1/#comment-42399</u></font></a>
. Am interested in any discussion, other than about my run on sentences (be nice-it's still not yet hoshana rabbah :-))</div>
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; ">GT<br>
Joel Rich</div>
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; ">=====================</div>
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; ">Dear Dr. Randall:</div>
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; ">I finished part one of Knocking on Heaven's Door, which I believe has the material on religion that you referenced. </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; ">I wanted to put a few thoughts on paper, perhaps inarticulately, to give you some sense of my reaction. I would enjoy the opportunity to discuss it with you because I think the topic lends itself more to interactive
discussion rather than to correspondence but fully understand that you are a very busy person (especially with the neutrino "thing" :-)) and do appreciate the fact that you even took the time to respond to my original e-mail so I don't have an expectation of
a response. </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; ">On page 56, you discussed external (e.g. God) influences that would have to be transmitted by a mechanism. I am curious whether you are a determinist, which to me means, do you believe that when science fully
understands the chemistry and biology of the brain that one would be able to tell for each individual exactly what they will do at every particular time? If that turns out to be the case, then I think we are in agreement that religion and science would be in
conflict as religion certainly believes in an individual having free will.</div>
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; ">As to your original thoughts on the logical contradiction (bottom page 57), I am sure that there are many religious sects that do believe that science and religion are at odds and "choose" religion. For example,
within Orthodoxy (Jewish) [where I inhabit some subsection], there are those that believe it is heresy to believe that the world is anything other than 5,772 years old (tomorrow actually) or that the world was created in 7 literal days (notwithstanding the
fact that the sun wasn't created on the first day in the bible).</div>
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; ">However, there are those rationalists who believe that science and religion do not conflict (and I use the word rationalist with a sort of grin because I imagine you are thinking to yourself how can you be
rational and religious and I agree that even the most rational religious person must take some leap of faith rather than just leave things as an open question [e.g. where did the big bang come from?]). However, as I understand it, our goal is to reduce that
leap of faith to the extent possible. Maimonides is famous for saying that he believes in creation ex-nihilo but should science prove that this was not the case, he would reinterpret scripture to be consistent with the scientific evidence (i.e., there is only
one truth and reason and revelation will converge to it).</div>
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; ">I guess the real question that you raise is who's in charge? I don't see why one would necessarily believe that there must be a contradiction here. Why couldn't the creator of the universe create the universe
in such a way that the scientific rules you study are the rules the creator embedded in the universe. </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; ">I'd also point out that Rabbi J.B. Soloveitchik understood Genesis 1:28 ("and subdue it") as a religious requirement to harness the forces of nature for the betterment of all mankind. </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; ">Obviously, there's a lot to say, but I fear my earlier flatlander remarks may apply here.</div>
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; ">A closing thought:</div>
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; ">Hamlet Act I, Scene 5</div>
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; ">And therefore as a stranger give it welcome.</div>
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; ">There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,</div>
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; ">Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.</div>
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; "> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; "> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; ">But in our case I'm guessing:</div>
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; ">I'll tell ya about the magic</div>
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; ">It'll free your soul</div>
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; ">but it's like trying to tell a stranger 'bout rock n roll.</div>
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; "> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; "> </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; ">Keep up the good work!</div>
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; ">Regards,</div>
<div style="margin-top: 5pt; margin-bottom: 5pt; ">Joel Rich</div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
</font>
<br><br><table bgcolor=white style="color:black"><tr><td>THIS MESSAGE IS INTENDED ONLY FOR THE USE OF THE <br>
ADDRESSEE. IT MAY CONTAIN PRIVILEGED OR CONFIDENTIAL <br>
INFORMATION THAT IS EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE. Dissemination, <br>
distribution or copying of this message by anyone other than the addressee is <br>
strictly prohibited. If you received this message in error, please notify us <br>
immediately by replying: "Received in error" and delete the message. <br>
Thank you.<br>
</td></tr></table></body>
</html>