So wafflehead has several major problems with his thinking and can not be debated or have his thinking questioned. That may be the case, but as a Christian you will forgive him and allow him as many chances as he needs to express himself in the hope that one day he gets it.
Wafflehead is both a rationalist and a seeker of spiritual insight. Wafflehead has said ad infinitum that religion is best when tested by science to rid it of superstition and dogma and science is best served by spiritual concepts to save it from materialism. Wafflehead is not into scientism in the least. We speak often and I have heard him say this.
Wafflehead has no interest in science as an ideology, however he believes that this God that is the core of religious belief functions via natural law, natural processes and natural order. Therefore a scientific proof is no different to a religious proof except one deals in empirical evidence, the other in the yearning of the human spirit. There is no materially testable, scientific hypothesis to prove God exists. We can never see God, hear God, feel God or touch God in any way that the scientist accepts. Philosophy can not prove, using logical arguments, that God exists. The best evidence for God many be in that inherent need that is hardwired into us.
The world is governed by natural law and forces. God must therefore work in natural law. Science reveals the essence of natural law and therefore reveals the presence of God. Science has been the greatest of all gifts from God after life. It is an ever growing aspect of our lives. What we need to compliment it is a religion with modern edicts, modern philosophy, something unchallenged by science and reason, free of dogma and superstition.
As for taking scientists on trust. Well, they have the gold standard of peer review. They fall on false science like hyenas. No fake science survives for too long. Science does not moralise its research or aim it to disprove religion. It cares nothing for religion. It is a truth seeker and no more. The war between religion is fought by religion on one side and a handful of scientists on the other side with nothing better to do. 99% of science is oblivious to religion during their daily grind. So science will never produce a priesthood because they deal in proven facts.
Now wafflehead can only speak for himself, but he belongs to neither camp, not science and not religion, because science and religion must be in accord, must be in harmony. It is not the forgoing of the mystical experience to say that Genesis is not literal as an example. This is logical. This is scientific. Religion nor God hangs on this being literal. In fact it is exactly the opposite. It is also not mystical to accept something that is impossible.
And yes, no peoples have ever existed as far as is known, who did not produce their civilisation on a matrix of religious, come spiritual belief.
I agree with your last paragraph and much of your post. Are you sure that is bowral who posted that?
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