Why do some people accept whatever scientists say as "proof"?

Question

Couldn't it be possible that the people you trust for your "proof" could be liars, just as you say the Bible's authors are? When there is a picture in your biology book of the tree moths adapting from white to dark brown (before and after "pollution") have you considered it could be lies? It could be a doctored picture....in fact, it was found to be!!! Yet, you believe it as proof of evolution? Many scientists have come out and admitted that they lied for fame/recognition or for money.

Answer 1

Science is their religion. Scientist in their white lab coats are their priest in white robes. If you listen to them, they actually worship Einstein and Hawking et al. They irrationally find comfort in their belief that they Will never have to face judgment. If they were ever to consider the possibility that they may spend eternity in hell, they would terrify themselves. As a result they distort science and predetermine that God's influence is not a possibility. When you take that off the table before looking at the evidence it is not surprising that they don't see any.

Another good example, beside the moth is the soft tissue found in T-Rex fossils. They had previously said that soft tissue could last no more than 100,000 years at the most. Now they find it still pliable inside a fossil that was supposed to be 65 million yrs old. They are trying to come up with a new theory, but they will not even consider the possibility that their time line could be wrong. No matter what the evidence says they are determined to stick with the 65 million yrs.

Answer 2

You obviously don't understand science. You can't jut say something and "poof" eveyone beleives it. If someone lies it is quickly discredited. Cold fusion as an example because no one was able to reproduce the result.

You postulate a hypothesis that can be tested by others. Only when others can reproduce those tests does it have a shard of truth.

Then you have theories some are more tested than others. Theories have evidence and they are constantly being questioned and altered with the addition of new evidence. Evolution is a theory which is used to generate hypothesis. One such hypothesis is that all life evolved from a single lifeform. Another hypothesis is that lifeforms evolve and change. This second hypothesis has been proven in repeated test to occur in bacteria.

The sad thing about your assertion is that even scientiest don't beleive what other scientist say is truth unless they can reproduce it.

And I just have to LMAO when you talk about that pictur eof the moths being doctored. Can you back your assertion with evidence or should we just beleive you? You know you might just be a liar.

Answer 3

It is interesting that you would ask that question. It shows a fundamental lack of understanding of epistemology or the philosophy of knowing. Scientists critique the findings of other scientists all the time, habitually, systematically and regularly; it is built into the scientists method of knowing. Scientists are skeptical and want evidence that is repeatable through experimentation. Recent scientific cheating and frauds were unmasked when they claimed to have discovered "cold fusion" and cloning processes. The fraudulent scientist in Korea may face criminal charges for misrepresenting his data. Scientists who lie, cheat, misrepresent their data are ostracized and cast out.
The same is not true of the Bible and Christians. The Bible has never stood real tests. Jesus said that if believers pray, the prayers will come true. Jesus said that believers could literally move mountains. If the Bible is to be believed literally and not metaphorically or poetically then let's test the truth.
In addition, those who believe that the Bible is true totally ignore that the books of the Bible were written in a social context and that the writers had specific reasons for writing what they did. Also ignored is the fact that there were hundreds of books or gospels written about Jesus and his teachings. Some were deemed heretical by other people who made decisions in a social context and for personal reasons. Those who believe that the Bible is to be accepted literally are afraid of science and hate it even though they enjoy the benefits that science bestows.
I'm wondering why so many preachers are needed if the Bible is the literal truth. Are most Christians illiterate?

Answer 4

It was also scientists who uncovered that those untrustworthy scientists lied. The nice thing about science is that anyone who wants can pick up a journal, read about the research method, then attempt to reproduce the same results on their own...we don't have to accept what scientists say at face value.

Btw, that moth picture was created for demonstration purposes...they took moths and glued them to a tree because it made for a better and more clear photo. Purposely a fake or not, scientists aren't some sort of supreme being, they are human and humans make mistakes and lie sometimes. If evolution was only based on things we discovered to be lies then there would definitely be reason to be concerned about its validity.

If evolution wasn't true then we wouldn't have antibacterial resistant bacteria today. There are a lot of examples of evolution at work today...you just have to research a little. But, oh, we can't trust scientists to do their job. Maybe we shouldn't trust doctors, lawyers, architects, teachers to do theirs....sure on average they all tend to do their jobs with honorable intentions, but since some might lie we shouldn't trust any of them.

Answer 5

The idea of scientific journals are that they allow other scientists to test out ideas presented by others, and see if they can replicate the results. Nothing gets even the slightest acknowledgement of it being true until other reputable scientists test the procedures, and see if they work.

Why is it that people always must have either extreme religion or science. There are plenty great minds which were religious yet also very scientific. Einstein has a great number of quotes associated with him about religion, and sceince one of the better ones is "Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind." Both can coexist in a persons mind if you completely discount science or religion you are short changing yourself for possible chances and living a fuller life.

Also alot of things scientist have "proven" I'm sure you implement in your daily life. You believe in gravity right? you use pasteurized milk? have gotten vacinations? the computer is a pile of scientific provens, corrective glasses or contacts, various polymers in clothes along with other materials used in the making of clothes, cars, houses, roads, cellphones, telephones, food are all scientific things that have proven to be true. So do not discount science as a bunch of BS if you really must try living without all things scientific.

Religions have been as against things in the past as Christianity is now against evolution. Such as the earth being the center of the universe. So today it may seem like a fringe thing for Christians to believe in evolution yet hold their faith yet one day another thing will be fringe and evolution and the movement of solar bodies will both be accepted.

Answer 6

When a scientists has "proof" they usually will show you that proof.
When a Christian wants you to believe proof he or she quotes the bible, which by the way was written by men who did not know Jesus and voted on by men who didn't want certain books in their collection because it did not agree with what "they" thought was right. Now just where is the proof in that, where? You would believe someone centuries ago that said, we believe that the people who wrote these letters really did hear the voice of God, but not all of them, hence the reason some letters didn't have a prayer's chance in you know where of getting into the collection, aka bible. But you would not take the time to listen to an educated scientists even after they put the proof in front of you. I have a feeling that all you Christians who doubt the scientists will have more proof as time goes on and man is able to explore, research and dig up more and more proof.
You know I believe in a Higher Power or Creator if you wish but I find it hard to believe the bible or that the Creator sent a son here to tell us how to behave. Believe me if the Creator or God if you like, wanted us to know how to behave It would not need to send a human to get It's point across.

Answer 7

Well, that's a problem. But first off I would like to say, there's more proof in evolution than ID.

Yes, some scientist lie, but heres the good thing about the scientific communitity, they always are under constant revision/criticism. They have to write papers with proof to be accepted.

Science theories are always changing, not set in stone. Just because one part is wrong, doesn't mean the whole theory is.

You should always take the time to read up on stuff before believing it 100%.

Answer 8

I suppose the main reason is that, generally, what scientists say can be (and in most cases has been) independently verified. Scientists are generally egomaniacs out to destroy eachother to benefit their own positions. Such a system does not leave a lot of room for major lies. That doesn't mean people don't do it, but at least there is a system of checks and balances in place. Not to mention, anyone with the patience and brainpower to understand what they say can investigate for themselves if they really want to.

Contrast that to the books of the Bible. What system of checks and balances was in place? None. If the authors simply wrote down the common myths of their day, who was there scrutinizing them and calling the bluff? No-one.

When a particular scientist is found engaged in relevant deception, by all means you should discount everything he has ever written.

By the way, Kent Hovind was recently arrested for tax fraud.

Answer 9

Actaully, there is evidence of data being falsified and some being just downright misleading in the big icons of evolution; some deliberate due to an agenda and some just honest mistakes due to the level of research available at the time.
But, you can't just make a statement like that without backing it up with some examples. And believe me, there's enough out there and it is easy enough to find. Plus, it is wildly interesting.
Don't get me wrong, I agree with you, to a certain extent, but look this stuff up and come back with some solid data to support your point.
Not bashing, dear, just trying to help. if you want to get your point across, which I think you have the beginnings of a good point, maybe going a bit too far in calling some scientist liars (really shouldn't call people liars without the stuff to back it up: bad manners), but you're on the right track, just keep digging. Oh digging. Fossil humor. Funny!

Answer 10

Eh, I think everyone needs to take in consideration the "proof" and make up their own minds, I have heard of many studies that were conducted JUST to come up with a specific answer, meaning if they yielded any answer than what they WANTED they would find a way to MAKE it say what the testers wanted, so in a way you're right. But I don't know about you, I don't have time enough left in my life to conduct ALL the experiments and do ALL the research to become an expert about everything. So frankly I take some of what the scientists say to heart, I know if I don't breathe I will die... I don't know this from my own experience but I'm not about to try it out! But I'm also going to say I follow my own heart when it comes to my spiritual beliefs, as I think everyone should (and probably does). You believe your beliefs and even if we went to the same church and learned about the bible from the same version of bible you and I would have different beliefs about religion, and that's okay, we're taught not to judge, that's for other's to do, so why get angry about it, let the stupid people believe whatever they need to to let them sleep better at night, it's no skin off MY nose!