Is the blind trust of Science a form of religion?

Question

I am not asking if you think Science is a religion, it isn't.

What really disturbs me in debates like evolution, is that people chime in comments like "its scientifically proven that we evolved from apes" and "science proves the bible is a load of rubbish"

I see in those people the same trends as Fundamentalists Christians, which is to say that they constantly refer to the Bible as proof of their beliefs, usually without having read it or understood it but totally confident that everything they say is proven by saying "The Bible says"

just like certain people will say "But science says"

Seems to me the true believes have more in common with each other than they know. Not in what they believe, but in how they believe.

Sophia fantastic answer. The first one that actually understood AND answered the question.

Also thanks to the many excellent responses after Sophias. Often the good answers come after a wait. Coincidence?

@ taiD - there is very little blind trust amongst scientists conducting experiments, but there is a great deal of blind trust amongst members of the public that their views are proven by science, which is the point and illustration of this question.

Actually, there is quite a lot of blind trust amongst even scientists. Ever measured the gravitational constant experimentally? Thought not.

And star my question dammit!

Answer 1

Saying "Science says..." is the same as saying "Studies have shown..." or "Everybody knows..." or "Most people feel..." if you don't put any proof to it. I'd like to see some answers that say "Scientists have found" and then references that particular study in the "Know your source?" section.

If you don't cite your source, I don't find "Science says..." to be any more a compelling argument than "The Bible says..."

Answer 2

No scientist has ever said "it's scientifically proven that we evolved from apes" because that makes no sense at all. Science is not about proof, never has been, never will be. Science is open to new ideas. Science proposes hypotheses to explain what is observed. When a hypothesis explains everything known at that stage, it reaches the pinnacle of science - it becomes a theory. That's as good as it gets. It is however subject to change if new and different evidence comes along. No theory is set in stone.

By the way, a primary school science student will tell you that humans did not evolve from apes but that humans and apes have a common, but now extinct, ancestor.

Answer 3

I wouldn't call it a form of religion, but I'd say that it has similarities with religion.

People see what wonders have been wrought by science, but don't realize that science is a process of discovery, and that when scientists they "believe" something, what they mean is that it's their best guess given the evidence they have at the moment, not that they're 100% sure or that they have faith in it like a Christian would believe in something they read in the Bible.

It would surprise most people to know that for example, we no longer "believe" in Newton's law of gravity. Of course it's a pretty good approximation, but Einstein's theory of general relativity works much better and has replaced Newton's gravitational theory in cases where the approximation breaks down.

So when people say they believe something because "science says", they're making the mistake that it's 100% trustworthy. They don't realize that it's just the current best theory. That means they have blind faith, very similar to what a religious believer would have.

Answer 4

There isn't any blind trust in science. Ideas in science are tested, and worked over. Experiments try to prove the ideas wrong. You know, evolution could be proven wrong -- then we'd have to develop an alternate theory of existence. Intelligent Design is an alternate theory, but it can't be proven wrong as of yet, so it's rejected outright.

And you know, the bible says pi=3. science says it's wrong. boo hoo.

Answer 5

Not really. Science is a process - not an entity. It's a process that is verifiable and repeatable. You can't really be "religious" about a process. It's just the best way of knowing truth rather than "It's what I was taught" or "I just feel it in my heart!"

And it's the last thing from "blind trust." You know, the "blind" part and all...

Answer 6

Personally, I don't blindly trust anything.

However, at least science keeps asking questions, and looking for answers. Often they keep looking for more answers to confirm or disprove the first answers. Science, in fact, encourages and welcomes questions. Finally, science does not threaten to punish those who disagree with its conclusions.

Religion stops at "God did it." Questioning religion is seen as questioning God. Religion revels in unquestioning, unwavering reliance on authority, that authority being a single book, written 1500 to 2000 years ago, which remains virtually unchanged.

I think I'll stick with science, thanks just the same.

Answer 7

nope its based on logic and rationality
science deal in facts
religion deals in what people think is true
there is no correlation
you believe (like a muslim) that the world is flat, sorry your wrong it is round
not a belief
doesn't matter what your holy book says its round
no belief
science is right your wrong
your wrong in the same way you say science says we are descended from apes, nope science never said that fundamentalist Christan's did to discredit rationality , it is a false claim a lie

Answer 8

I agree. I'm an atheist. I cannot pretend to understand the workings of the universe, or our little ball of dirt spinning around the sun. But I put more faith in cause and effect, scientific method, and the intelligence of my fellow man to figure out observable phenomenone in my universe than the hocus pocus, and old musty books that religious beliefs offer. Dogma is dogma, but it only takes one (credible) example to disprove a scientific theory.

Answer 9

before yesterday pregnant women were warned not to eat peanut on the basis of science - this changed today - on the basis of science.
science says one thing one day - to which all those who believe only in science follow.
then the scientific conclusion changes - to which all those who believe only in science follow.
so really anyone can see that to follow science alone will not mean / guarantee that your judgement of life is correct.

life is not an experience of the intellect alone - live with your heart and soul and emotions too. thats to live fully and to be fully aware.

and risk religion - whats to lose. whats to gain.

Answer 10

Yes it is. Kind of like the "Chomsky says" people!

I love science (and Noam Chomsky) but they are (admittedly) fallible. But that fact alone raises them both above religion