Deming,Science, Religion, Cults

[Kromkowski@aol.com]

"Vic Forte" <vic@vicf.com> wrote:
>>As I understand it, the principal difference between 
>>science and religion is that science is empirical. i.e. 
>>it is based upon evidence, and the testing
>>of propositions. 

Religion relates to faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity (aka, GOD). It may well be in part be "empirical" (as you use the term).  The "God" part is the key difference between science and religion and certainly there need not being any conflict because they are devoted to different realms.

So let's just be clear and not beat around the bush, Deming's ideas don't have anything to do with religion.  (He was obviously influenced by his religious faith, but his ideas are not dependant upon religion.)

The is an archaic use of the word "religious" meaning
"scrupulously and conscientiously faith".  

Maybe this is what the initial poster was trying to get at  --  The _scrupulous and conscientious_ attention to the appreciation for a system, the understanding of variation, a theory of knowing, and to the psychology of individuals, groups and change, which is evident in Deming's writing.

Let's use the words "scrupulous and conscientious" if we must when we talk about Deming's theories and eschew the word "religious" in the context of what is required to understand Deming's theories.

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