Subject: Babies and Bathwater (and Saturday's catastrophic quake)
    Date: Sun, 09 Oct 2005 04:38:55 +0100
    From: Ray Dickenson <ray.dickenson@...>


> http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=29622
> Posted on 03 Oct 2005 # IANS 
> Rationalists dismiss predictions linked to eclipse 
> 
> Hyderabad: Scientists and rationalists have dismissed the predictions of
> some astrologers that Monday's solar eclipse would trigger natural
> calamities.
> 
> They also said the advice of some Vedic experts that one should not eat,
> drink or have sex during the eclipse was based on superstition and beliefs
> that had no scientific basis.
> 
> "There is absolutely no scientific evidence to prove that an eclipse
> could trigger an earthquake or disturb the sea. This is nothing but
> superstition," said Ramesh, secretary of Jana Vignana Vedika, a body of
> rationalists working to promote scientific temper among people.
> 
> Ramesh ridiculed the decision of Hindu religious leaders to close
> temples during the eclipse.



  It's not the eclipse one has to worry about but what comes after.

  Readers know I don't apologize for superstition, yet, this
  (again) looks like a case of `lost science' re-emerging as
  legend, or incorporated in religious ritual. 

  Some years ago got a mail from a Muslim chap
  http://www.perceptions.couk.com/uef/ansci.html#nada

  who'd noticed correlation of a 1400 yr old religious instruction
  (to do with the full moon) with a note of mine re: fertility
  (also referring to temporary mental influence) -

  IMHO those two above are specific instances of `lost science'.
  There would seem to be many, many more.

  cheers
  Ray D

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