Who has the more rigid mindset, the Spiritualist or the Scientist?

Question

After posting numerous questions in both communities I find it surprising, given the fact that science declares we should have an open mind that.....they are more closed to finding the Truth. They just dismiss thousands of years worth of beliefs for one that changes constantly with each new theory. The Ultimate Truth may never be found, but don't you think we should search? Peace and Love.

Answer 1

I think you misinterpret the way science works. They do not simply dismiss thousands of years of beliefs. They take one of two attitutdes, though.

In the first, they test those beliefs by trying to find faults in them. This is exactly how they deal with their own scientific theories, so they regard this as fair. If the beliefs do not hold up to rigorous testing, they are thrown out or modified. This is a much different attitude than religious people use for their beliefs, so it comes across as agressive. However, the scientists have learned through hard experience that the truth can be harder to find that many think. It is only by thorough testing that we can have some confidence we have something right.

In the other approach, they realize that the belief is impossible to test. This can happen either because the belief is vague or because it can't be tested by its very nature. In such a circumstance, the scientist tends to discard the belief as not worth looking at. This is because the ultimate test of truth for a scientist is experiment and observation. If a belief does not allow either experimental testing or objective observation, it won't qualify as something that *could* be true.

As for the scientific beliefs being constantly changing. To some extent that is true, but it is because new evidence comes in all the time. I would hope that a belief changes if new facts show it to be wrong! Furthermore, many of the changes that happen in science are of the nature of showing that a previous view, while still applicable in some circumstances, is not universally applicable. For example, we can use Newtonian physics to plan satelite trajectories even though we know that Newtonian physics is not perfectly accurate. It is, however, accurate enough (and easier to compute with) for the job at hand. One a science becomes 'mature', this type of change is more common than any other.

Answer 2

Of course scientists dismiss thousands of years of beliefs... that's exactly why they have the least rigid mindset.

Nietzsche once said, "Conviction is a greater enemy of truth than lies."

Think about it... someone who believes something so strongly that they are not willing to change their beliefs no matter what evidence comes their way... is this person open minded? Or, take someone who seeks evidence and proof, and then constantly changes their views of the world based on this evidence... and no, someone else believing in something does not constitute "evidence."




"In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion."
-Carl Sagan, 1987 CSICOP keynote address

Answer 3

I find in all things there is a balance. The same would go here. I believe that both sets of people have very rigid mindsets. However, there is grey area. There are people that believe both and have combined the two. Those are the most open minded people you will find. The Spiritualist and the Scientist, straight up, typically have a very closed minded perspective in all things.

Answer 4

Lets see, you propose science changes constantly and spirituality has been the same for years. Scientists have to change their main constantly since science changes ALL THE TIME, and spiritual people doesn't have to change anything since it's always the same. Then your conclusion is scientists have a more rigid mindset? I wonder how can they take the constant change? Ain't their work to question things? Aren't scientists actually "searching" rather than taking for granted? Aren't spiritual persons (in some religion) supposed to take some things for granted without questions? Strange "logic" you have.

All I can say is there are people with rigid mind, either scientists or spiritual.

Answer 5

The answer SHOULD be the spiritualist. Afte all, the spiritualist is devoted to a certain belief system. The scientist is SUPPOSED to be more flexible, using trial and error to observe the natural order of things. The scientist is not supposed to tinker with questions which go beyond nature, such as "who created us" - but they do this all the time. Most scientists seem to be devoted to the belief of atheism.

Answer 6

Thousands of years of beliefs seems pretty rigid, but that's just me. Science is based in having an open mind. That is the only way new things are figured out.

Answer 7

if by rigid you mean closed, then the scientist. the scientist refuses to believe anything that he can not prove. thus the only real "truth" to him are things that can be expressed and proved in numbers. the spiritualist, and if you are referring to religious and not occultists by using spiritualist, has ultimately two sets of beliefs. the first set, the absolutes set by their religion, such as thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not give false testimony, etc., should be set in stone. the second set, such as preferences like thou shalt not leave the light on in the room whilst no one is there, thou shalt not vote for a democrat, are very flexible BUT should be subject to the first set and should not conflict with the first set. if there is a conflict, the first set SHOULD win out.

Answer 8

Wait a minute!

You are saying holding the same dogmatic ideas for thousands of years is a less rigid mindset than continually revising your point of view as new evidence is uncovered? That doesn't sound right to me.

Answer 9

I think they both have very rigid mindsets. The Spiritualist is very srict in his beliefs and and tries to prove that his religion is the right one (not all of them are like this of course). The Scientist tries very hard not to apply religion to his studies and also tries to prove there is no god or supreme being (again not all of them are like this).

Answer 10

Well, the way you've stated your idea really generalizes and puts scientists into a tidy little box...

Define Science.
Define Scientist.
They don't all think the way you have just described.
You might be talking about the two atheist scientists who spend all their time answering questions in that category on Yahoo.
...very narrow group.
There are many other ideas out there.

Take my religion/politics survey here:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/;_ylt=AuK6aX2.Ch.Nlfmy0qBvGpgjzKIX?qid=20060618233403AAfup5r