The commandment to gain knowledge of all kinds from all sources is a serious affair. What has been discovered by scientific investigation should be part of our learning.
The commandment was not to gain knowledge but to gain wisdom. The command was not to gain all kinds of knowledge from all sources but to gain wisdom through the process of reading the “best books,” which, as we have seen, are books containing the word and counsel of God, for all others are foolishness before him. Those are the best sources.
However, to learn of man is good—if what he learns consists of real and absolute truth. However, if we trace the history of all the sciences, we find that scientific knowledge is ethereal—a windy gust of air, strong at first but gone at last.
Basically, scientific knowledge can be viewed as being here today and gone tomorrow. In other words, what is true today may or may not be true tomorrow. Scientific knowledge is ever-changing, not just ever-gaining. Nothing is absolute.
Also, scientific investigation is very narrow in its scope and is, more often than not, tied to government and/or other grants. Academic research is also tied to government and/or other grants, more often than not.
In addition, science does not delve into the worlds of the spirit and paranormal, two very viable areas of potential knowledge. These not-provable-in-labs worlds do not fit into their all-things-physical way of looking at the material world.
A close inspection of scientific research will find that if one strays from accepted “knowledge” or theory, such as evolution or the Big Bang theory, one is assuredly in danger of losing his or her grant money.
One must remember that scientific research is funded almost entirely by grant money and/or other donations, if not entirely.
One who strays from the so-called scientific method and comes up with different conclusions also stands in danger of losing one’s standing in the world of academia and/or one’s reputation. There have actually been cases where “straying” professors have been drummed out of academia altogether. It’s shameful to me.
In my opinion, all science is flawed to one degree or another—some more, some less.
On the more flawed end of science, I find archeology and anthropology, which consists, basically, of making up stuff based on finding a few relics (or even one) buried in the sand, as it were.
On the less flawed end of science, I find that quantum physics is closer to finding out the truths of the universe than are the grosser sciences, such as astronomy and cosmology.
Science has basically evolved into a religion, with each science creating its own unique sect. While it’s good to study science, it’s also good to remember that science, as we know it, is based on the “knowledge” of man, which is ofttimes fickle, and not God.
Perhaps Skousen ought to remember the warning of Nephi, a Book of Mormon prophet:
“O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish” (Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 9:28).
To me, this is a perfect representation of modern, narrow-minded science. But there’s hope:
“But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God” (ibid., verse 29).
Of course, scientists, however they may believe privately, are not allowed to bring God into their equations and postulations. It is career anathema to them.
That little omission has to figure in somehow as to the way they look at things. Nephi nailed it, in my opinion.
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