What Religion is Book?

POSTED BY: Lukasaurus
UPDATED: Wednesday, May 21, 2025 16:38
VIEWED: 16439
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DUCESTECUM

Tuesday, April 20, 2004 4:28 PM

Surely you jest... lol

"And I'm thinkin' you weren't burdened with an overabundance of schooling"

ZOID

Tuesday, April 20, 2004 5:36 PM

SigmaNunki wrote:

Quote:
This just tells me what kind of person you really are.

No, it just tells you the kind of job I really do. I hold a job "in the public trust", which means I have a legal and moral responsibility for the safety of public transportation.

If I were you -- and thankfully, I'm not -- I'd check my attitude at the (airport) door. That's not a threat, that's the reality of post-9/11. Take your own advice, and trust that the people who actually do the job know its details better than you do. ...Or don't, as you wish.

You may now have the final word, or a string of them if you wish. I will continue to say what I want, when I want; but, I will not further respond to your posts on this or any other topic. I promise.

Have a nice life,

zoid
_________________________________________________

"River and me was best friends, back then. I named my first-born daughter after her. 'Course, you can't swing a dead cat 'round here on I-Day without hittin' a River..."

- Kaywinnit Tam, wife and mother of 6, A Child Shall Lead Them: A History of the Second War of Independence Wilkins, Richard

HEB

Tuesday, April 20, 2004 5:49 PM

Quote:

Nope. I was at Border's today

Aaaaah! Don't say that!

Sorry they've just built a Border's in my town and our poor little Waterstone's book shop (where I work) is having a job competing. The poor people at Border's have been very vilified at our store.

Ok sorry. I'm over it now.

Anyway.
Thanks for the recommendations Zoid.

If people don't mind can I offer up a Richard Feynman quote?:

'The principle of science, the definition, almost, is the following: 'The test of all knowledge is experiment'

I don't really know if that adds anything to the discussion or not but in my opinion that although scientists may subscribe to beliefs in a unified theory, for example, it does not necessarily mean that the belief in a unified theory is a faith that science itself has.

However perhaps the one assumption that 'the test of all knowledge is experiment' is enough of an assumption to be classed as a faith, or perhaps people do not condsider that to be an accurate definition of science. I don't know, I guess I haven't thought about it myself all that much. I'll have to get around to that.

Any book recommendations for someone about to start their undergraduate physics degree please SigmaNunki? (simple ish is good)

Also, if someone could tell me how to get this post into non-quote font, then that would be good.

Thanks.
heb

ps. (edited to say - I think I finally figured out how to get this in the right font. Perhaps really simple would be best SigmaNunki)

ZEKE023

Tuesday, April 20, 2004 6:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Delia:

Aren't there Buddist monks?

Yes. :) But Book calls himself a Christian (in the cut scenes from serenity. I always thought it was interesting that the cut that line from the final cut. In fact that whole conversation he has with Inara in the final cut of Serenity is kind of trite compared to the version that available on the internet.

FOURSKYS

Tuesday, April 20, 2004 7:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by heb:
Any book recommendations for someone about to start their undergraduate physics degree please SigmaNunki? (simple ish is good)

As someone who recently completed undergrad in physics (Well, Astrophysics, but it's close), and someone who's just starting their grad school career (2nd year in Grad student in Physics), I can highly recommend the Math Physics book that Sigmanunki recommended. The book by Boas has proved extrodinarily useful for me, throughout both undergrad and grad school. Easy to read, and quite a good reference.

Also, I'd like to comment a bit, if I can, on the whole "the metaphysics of physics" argument that's been going on. It seems that Zoid was trying to argue from the metaphysical standpoint, which is always something that scientists (like myself) like to debate, but something that is definitely not brought into physics literature. True progress in the sciences is made through refereed journals, where a commitee of your peers evaluate your results for their factual and lagical corectness. Whereas the popular science books are not corroborated by anyone. While the authors are certainly well respected members of the scientific community, that does not mean that those books, as a whole, represent the views of the whole community. If the philosphy behind the equations were to ever be sent to a scientific publication (The Astrophysical Joural, The Physical Review, etc.), the reviewers would most likely ask for its removal before its publication. The actual science most always tries to avoid the philosophy and the metaphysics. While the individual scientist might believe it, the community, as a whole, is designed to remove those beliefs.

Like I said, I'm a scientist, and I have fairly strong personal and religious beliefs, but when it comes to a scientific discussion, the facts are on the table, not the philosophy. There's a big difference, and its not always easy to differentiate between the two, but it is always important.

P.S. - SigmaNunki, if your wife has any published papers on EPR, or even some good reviews, I'd be very interested in taking a look at them. GR's always been one of my pet subjects, and EPR sounds really cool, but I don't know much of the theory behind it. If you wouldn't object to posting a link or a journal, I'd love to read something on the subject.

Thanks

SIGMANUNKI

Tuesday, April 20, 2004 9:04 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by heb:
I don't really know if that adds anything to the discussion or not but in my opinion that although scientists may subscribe to beliefs in a unified theory, for example, it does not necessarily mean that the belief in a unified theory is a faith that science itself has.

Thank you.

Quote:
Originally posted by heb:
Any book recommendations for someone about to start their undergraduate physics degree please SigmaNunki? (simple ish is good)

A lot of universities use this book for the first 2 years of study. You can get it as a huge back breaking hardcover or you can get it as a set of softcover books.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0030317169/ref=pd_sim_bo
oks_1/103-0993404-5570265?v=glance&s=books

Fundamental University Physics
by Marcelo Alonso, Edward J. Finn
Again, you can get it as a 3 volume set or as one big book. It is the one that the wife learned from and she says it is quite good.

You might also look up "The Feynman Lectures on Physics". There is a couple of editions of this one. It is quite famous. People say he just was able to explain things clearly. Rare among physics books. Haven't used them myself, but, they come with high regard. Haven't heard anything bad at all.

All these tend to start off with no calculus, but, will require it after a couple of chapters.

For calculus I have "Calculus: A complete course" by Robert A. Adams. It isn't really good for learning, but, according to a consulted math prof a good one to hang onto for reference if you end up in math or the sciences. So, I suffered through it.

My university used "Calculus" by James Stewart for the first two years.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/053439339X/qid=1082494012/sr=2-
1/ref=sr_2_1/103-0993404-5570265

I advise that you pop into the local university library so you can look through them and why not pop by the physics department and ask what book they use. So, if you are tight on funds, you won't waste ~ $100 - $150 on a book. That is assuming your local library doesn't have any of these.

University libraries typically (in Canada) don't allow the general public to take out book unless they pay a yearly fee (usually a large one at that). But, they can't regulate who comes and goes. So, you could also just walk in and study there if you can spare the time.

But, when it comes to picking out a book, it is somewhat of a personal choice. Page through a couple and see what you think. That physics department would be able to offer more options that I can

Quote:
Originally posted by heb:
Also, if someone could tell me how to get this post into non-quote font, then that would be good.

Not sure what you mean. Replace <> with square brackets and remove the spaces.

end quote is which you are clearly using. If you mean the bold. There is a < B > tag at the beginning of all quotes. If you delete the end of the quote then the bold stays on. So, delete the < B > at the beginning or before the end quote add a < /B >. I hope that helps.

----
"An airport gives a good cross section of the mentally unstable, doesn't it." -Me
"Also, I can kill you with my brain." -River

HEB

Tuesday, April 20, 2004 9:14 PM

Thanks SigmaNunki and FOURSKYS I appreciate all the recommendations. If I can just get my A-levels out of the way, then maybe I can get down to trying to learn some of the interesting, proper physics rather than the rather deadly syllabus I'm learning at the moment.

SIGMANUNKI

Tuesday, April 20, 2004 9:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by FourSkys:
P.S. - SigmaNunki, if your wife has any published papers on EPR, or even some good reviews, I'd be very interested in taking a look at them. GR's always been one of my pet subjects, and EPR sounds really cool, but I don't know much of the theory behind it. If you wouldn't object to posting a link or a journal, I'd love to read something on the subject.

First off, thanks for the back up.

From the wife:

Reasearch on that topic has just started again afew years ago. Since it is a current research topic there is no review articles and certainly no books about it, pop or otherwise. If I come across something I'll have SigmaNunki send it to you.

----
"An airport gives a good cross section of the mentally unstable, doesn't it." -Me
"Also, I can kill you with my brain." -River

SIGMANUNKI

Tuesday, April 20, 2004 9:24 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by heb:
...than the rather deadly syllabus I'm learning at the moment.

LOL

Seriously though, good luck

----
"An airport gives a good cross section of the mentally unstable, doesn't it." -Me
"Also, I can kill you with my brain." -River

SUNDERWOOD

Wednesday, April 21, 2004 3:31 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by ManiacNumberOne:
Have we ruled out Book being a Mormon? They're Christian.

My wife is somewhat a former Mormon. They don't have Priest. They have Bishops that are chosen from devout and studious congregation. The Bishop usually has a day job also.

Plus Mormons, though recognize the Bible, view the Book of Mormon as the latest teaching. Book has a Bible and no Book of Mormon.

Mormons marry (once) and have a large family. Book is celebate.

Book never mentions Joseph Smith though he refers to Jesus often.

There are many other items that show he's not Mormon.

I think Static has it way the heck up there when he said that Book is a mixture of Religions with maybe a few unknowns thrown in. This takes into account changing beliefs around a central core and keeps it more generic and to the point.

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