When people strictly practice a religion, they can sometimes be narrow minded, a little self-righteous, proudly ignorant of other points of view, and close-minded. When people strongly adhere to a scientific discipline, do they sometimes exhibit similar traits?
2006-10-13 20:27:07 · 16 answers · asked by Calvin James Hammer 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Not to poke fun, but don't the abrubt responses of the first two answers ring of irony?
2006-10-13 20:32:54 · update #1
Hawking seemed to indicate that real religion and real science both seek truth, and that could be a good meeting ground. Wouldn't it be reasonable to admit that even the best in both have sometimes failed to meet their own standards?
2006-10-13 20:38:19 · update #2
A few people (I'm talking about scientists) can be closed-minded, eg. about a pet theory that they have been pushing, until there is overwhelming evidence the other way. But definately not "self-righteous and proudly ignorant of other points of view". I think that is a religious thing. And it's only towards competing scientific theories. And on any single issue, the vast majority of the scientific community are impartial judges of their collegues work.
Athiests I think can often take science as the opposition to religion, and be everything you have described. However, its important to recognise that they are not representative of scientists. Religion is outside of science by definition - you can't prove or disprove God with science, it's impossible. And many many scientists are religious.
The reason 99.9% of scientists in the relevants fields have no respect for "Creationism" is that it is pseudo-science, without a leg to stand on in science. It's adherants are everything that you have described.
Open-minded science and open-minded religion are two completely different fields. And perhaps you are right, perhaps the whole truth lies in the middle.
2006-10-13 21:53:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, science is not at all similar to religion. Since it involves passion, opinions and hard work to make anything important happen, it can seem that way to those unfamiliar with it.
However, the ability to be 'right' belongs to no particular scientist. Unlike the pope, who is a religious leader whose pronouncements are considered infallible, even the greatest scientist by consensus (Albert Einstein) has his theories and pronouncements tested every day by some scientist or other, and if a third-rate podunk no-lab college has a grad student who proves or disproves any of it, that person and that institution immediately become more important.
So in science, you're only as good as your most recent interesting theory or proven fact. In religion, you can rule as long as your side kills off the most nonbelievers, has the most babies and/or makes the most converts.
Totally, totally different.
2006-10-13 20:32:42 · answer #2 · answered by nora22000 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Both science and religion can only goe so far. Science is restricted by objectivity, religion is restricted by the rules of the church. Real truth lies in the subjective. Quantum physics is making great guns into the truth of reality. Close-mindeness is just the refusal or ability to step outside ones paradigm. In this sense science and religion are the same
2006-10-13 21:55:29 · answer #3 · answered by sunline 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes they do. Anyone who tends to believe in sth strictly ( doesnt matter whether it's a religion, or science or atheism) they become narrow-minded, self-righteous, ignorant as you have mentioned. I guess yes in this case science does have some aspects of religion.
2006-10-13 20:47:30 · answer #4 · answered by Tushi K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Islam is the religion which is based on spirituality & Science too....
Just take this example......
In Islam it is taught that eat with bare hands after you wash them thoroughly.
What did sciece found in this logic...
Washing hands make them more hygenic for food handeling...
& eating with hands, with out using fork or spoon has another logic which SCIENCE found out ....
What?
Yes!
The clean fingers while handeling food produce some enzymes which are very good for digestion.
When we finish eating, we suck the left over food on fingers.
At that time the fingers produce those enzymes....
Islam tells eat till ur stomach is 3/4th full...
Leave 1/4 of ur stomach empty...
Reason:
So that u are not hungry & also don't become fat...
Eat 3/4th so that ur stomach can process food very efficiently.
Science takes this as intelligent thought...
Islam teaches not to indulge in extra-marital sex, illicit relationship.
It is immoral.
Reason:
Coz u can get deseases which are more shamefull than any others...
Science found it also true.....e.g. AIDS .
Islam teaches to prayer 5 times a day.
Reason:
so that u remain active & u excercise & u be punctual.
Science proves it true.
The positions which are used in Muslim prayers are the very very basic & important postures in YOGA.
Also one becomes punctual when he regularly has to do some thing on fixed times...
Islam : Among the 5 times prayers, the first of the day is before the sun rises.
Reason...
So U get up early in the moring & that the Daylight is saved & maximum benefits are taken in daylight...
Science proves it to be true
Getting up early is good & healthy for us...
Similarly There are millions of small things that are not considered but are scientifically true....
& that Islam has that all.
U see Islam is the complete code of live...
& yes one more thing !
The name of the muslim GOD > Allah...
has also scientific aspect in it...
2 ways I know...
first is that when a child who is at the age of starting to speak, If he can utter the word "Allah" it means He can SPEAK, & will not stammer or no other problem is with this childs speaking & hearing powers...
Also there has been a scientific recearch in Germany by German medical Doctors, that those patients who pronounce the word " Allah" get well sooner thatn others.
provide patients from any of the religions..
Just uttering "Allah" word in low voice, increase ur healing & recovering power....
So I say that Atleast Islam is the very religion whose GOD thought every minutest thing in mind before sending it to us...
SO I say Atleast my religion has scientific aspect in every way..
It is practical, logical, practice-able & scientific....
2006-10-13 21:07:40 · answer #5 · answered by just curious 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i found it.well i am a med student n as i proceed day by day,it brings me further close to my religion.as in Quran 100's of scientific aspects have already been mentioned which were later proved,so i can never say that advancement in science in any way stopped my way forwards to religion.
religion like islam didnt prove to be orthodox, some ppl representing them might mislead.
2006-10-13 20:43:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it does as it is trying to find out how was it done.most scientists go to a Church also.The only difference is that they are not looking for a who.
a line from a movie . One day science will look into their microscopes and See the eye of God looking back and the first one to blink will lose their testicles.
2006-10-13 20:35:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, scientists hold on to theories (unproven beliefs) even when they are presented with new evidence that proves their current theory is wrong.
The researcher who is presenting new evidence is treated as an outcast by "legitimate,
accepted" scientists. This keeps new theories from coming to the fore too quickly.
It keeps the struggle going.
2006-10-13 20:33:45 · answer #8 · answered by Susan M 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Scinece is way more close minded, do people really think the can figure everything out woth there futile little minds?
2006-10-13 20:32:12 · answer #9 · answered by moon420 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Science looks for truth.
Religion tries to sell dogma and has nothing to do with truth.
2006-10-13 20:30:42 · answer #10 · answered by tammidee10 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋