Is science just policically correct religion?

Question

It seems to me that many aspects of religion are overlapped by science and that many "theories" are preach as fact by teachers who believe very strongly in them. How does this compare with teaching religion in schools?

The following definitions of religion were found at dictionary.com.

Definition 1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

Definition 2: something one believes in and follows devotedly.

Answer 1

I have thought the same thing many times. There was a documentary on the Theory of Evolution that I saw that made me laugh. The scientist they were interviewing said that, if you can't figure out how something could have happened, that does not mean that it couldn't have happened. It just means that we need to imagine better, imagine more.
Replace the word imagine with believe.
So yes I would say that in many cases science is nothing more than the worship of ones own mind and the capabilities there of.

Answer 2

Science does not deal in beliefs. It deals in evidence. Observations and experiments are made and hypotheses formulated to explain the observations. When a hypothesis is the best explanation for all the evidence and is able to make predictions that come true, the hypothesis has become a theory, the highest status anything can have in science.

Theories are not fixed and are modified or discarded should new evidence appear that counters them. Newton's theory of gravity was fine until relativity came along which showed that newtonian gravity does not work at the quantum level. Einsteinian gravity is used there. Newtonian gravity is still OK for large things and is used for space exploration etc. Gravity is a theory. Evolution is also a theory and, in fact, is a more robust theory than gravity. There is better evidence for it.

Science is not about belief and is not a religion.

Answer 3

Science is based on testable ideas that can be repeated and reproduced by anyone. Science runs your car. Science puts electricity into your home. Science allows me to answer your question over the internet. Science is about the house you live in. Science is a study of all the physical world. It's not about the metaphysical world.

Science is not about pure belief. It's a lot like math. 2+2=4 If you take two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom and put it together you get water, every time. It's pretty basic stuff. It's not true because I or you or anyone else wants it to be true. It just is true. I also cannot make it false because I want it to be false.

Religion relies on faith... belief alone. You cannot prove or disprove that God or any other supernatural being exists with any sort of test. You just have to take a leap of faith. Religion is about the metaphysical world. Religion is about things that science isn't even attempting to figure out. Using religion to figure out the natural world is pretty silly.

Science is actually really cool. As a Christian, I find my faith in God is strongly reinforced by what science discovers. I'm totally in awe of this system of things that God created. WOW!! There's no conflict. Science does not threaten the idea of God now anymore than Galileo's ideas did in the 1600's.

Answer 4

No.

Scientists study what is in front of them. Things are carefully observed by multiple people. experiments are replicated . . . .

It does not fall back on the "oh, it must be supernatural" explanation but seeks to understand. It also doesn't have anything devotional or ritualistic about it. And the guy studying fruit flies or bacteria isn't looking for answers about a human moral code.

Don't get hung up on the word "theory," as in a theory is the opposite of a fact. That is not how it is used in science:

theory: A set of statements or principles devised to explain a group of facts or phenomena, especially one that has been repeatedly tested or is widely accepted and can be used to make predictions about natural phenomena.

In fact, you could say that scientists don't ever call anything "fact." Everything is always open to further study and discovery.

Answer 5

"esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. "

Read: YOU LOSE. CONTINUE?

Answer 6

Huh?

First, I don't know any teachers outside of seminaries who preach. Second, teaching facts is not "preaching". Thirdly, believing in something is not necessarily "religion". You believe that snow is made of water. That is not religion, it is fact. If you were a teacher and taught your students that snow was white, you would not be a teacher who was "preaching" something you believe in strongly. You would be teaching a fact. That would be true even if some of your students had been taught by others that snow is really made of white paper.

You have been listening to closely to creationists (that's obviously what you are concerned about). Try listening to what generations of scientists (who actually have an education in science) have to say, without judging it by what your ministers and bible teachers have told you. You might learn something!

Answer 7

No, big difference.
Scientific matters follow certain guidelines for hypothesis, research, evidence, and conclusion.
There is not one shred of empirical evidence that religion is not 100% imaginary. None.

Apparently, you are falling in to the same trap as other religious people when you confuse the term 'theory' as only conjecture when it come to science.
Scientific theories are not beliefs. They are the results of the scientific method. Many scientific principles are called theories, yet are considered pretty much certainties.
Unlike religion, science does not claim to be 100% infallible.

Scientific discoveries are based on reaseach and proof.
Religion is made up delusions that are the result of years of brainwashing.

Answer 8

You can Believe in Both.... As I do.

Religion for me is more like a Guide line... Religion makes sure that you do whats morally correct, and not unlawful or disobedient. A good example is laws and rules: Most laws and rules are taken out of religion. For example, the 10 commandments are all things that are actually illegal or you would normally get in trouble for.

Science is also important, for without it, we would still be scratchin' our heads with sticks. Although it is good to learn a lot about science, it is still good to remain loyal to our religion.

Answer 9

Science has nothing to do with religion. It does not talk about "a superhuman agency or agencies", and does not involve devotional observances.
Science deals with worldly things. Things you can see, study, and test. It does not deal with the supernatural. It does not deal with "beliefs". It deals with facts.

Answer 10

Science and religion are not the same thing. They agree on many things but they disagree on a lot to. Science deals in facts and results of tests and research. Religion deals in values, beliefs and faith in the unknown.