Why do atheists assume all Christians are anti science?

Question

Why do atheists assume all Christians are anti science, believe in a young earth and interpret every other story in the Bible as a literal account. All it means to be a Christian is that you believe in and follow Jesus Christ. I personally accept scientific explanations for how we arrived here. The Bible is not and was never intended to be a scientific text book.

Let me make it clear, that I still consider the Bible the inspired word of God. I just recognise that much of it is intended as a metaphorical guide, and not as a literal account of events.

For those quoting statistics at me from polls done in the USA, please note that while the US has a high concentration of fundamentalists, this is not a good indication of how Christians world wide believe. Around 75% of Christians are either Catholic or Orthodox, and both of these groups have acknowledged evolution as an acceptable explanation for how we arrived here.

Answer 1

It is a phenomenon similar to the straw man error in logical argument. In order to feel like you've won in debate against the Christian point of view, simply take issue with the most extreme positions known to be held by some Christians.

This is why Dawkins took on Ted Haggard in his TV special, and not a more intellectual Christian like Dr. Francis Collins or Cardinal Schonenberg. Fundamentalists of one variety find it easier to lay the smackdown on those most like them in the other camp.

Heaven forbid going after someone with a nuanced position - you might not win that argument!

That said, people like Haggard are in our camp, and yes, it does behoove us to try and educate our own!

Answer 2

As a Fundie, I know that there are Christians who stick their heads in the sand when it comes to science. I don't though. I have yet to see any conflict between scripture and science.

SOME scientists say that billions of years ago living things came from non living things. To me that takes too much faith, but I wasn't there, so I cannot prove that it's not possible. Just as with God, "Just 'cause you don't see it, doesn't mean it's not somewhere you're not looking."

Science is just the observation of what can be seen and educated guesses at what may have come before. Take the sun for example. The bible says it wasn't here billions of years ago - again, I wasn't here then, so I cannot prove that it was or wasn't. Let's assume the sun was here billions of years ago - knowing what scientists know about the rate that it is burning, how big and how hot would it have been billions of years ago..... and how hot would it have been at the earth's distance? Too hot for this planet to not vaporize. So we do at least know scientifically that earth wasn't here billions of years ago. On that scientifically provable point science and scripture agree.

The problem though is what do we do about the "billions of years ago....." evolutionary story if we know that earth wasn't here then? We could ignore facts and continue with the fairy tail, but that wouldn't be very scientific, would it?

Answer 3

Because 43% according to most polls are anti science. Add to that the point that repeated polls place the number who believe that we are in the final days before armageddon at almost 60% and the stereotype begins to make sense.
When you see the effort that the RRR are putting into teaching their religion instead of sciences in the public school system and the anti-science positions that the Republicans have adopted the impression of Christians being anti-science just keeps growing.

Note that the polls were conducted in the general USA population so the numbers will be higher as a percentage of the Christian population in the USA.

For more information I suggest checking with PEW Research Foundation.

Answer 4

I agree wholeheartedly. I'm a Geologist and my studies and work led me TO God. Indeed, the Bible is not a science textbook. For instance, the Book of Genesis was written by Moses through divine inspiration in a way for the people of the day to understand the human spiritual condition. He uses a week because that is what they were familiar with. I mean it says the Earth was made (3rd day) before the stars (4th day) and we all know that isn't true. The Bible is God's Word to us to show us how to live in our spiritual quest to know Him and His Son, Jesus Christ. I believe in God because of all the fulfilled prophecy, the fact that I think certain things were put here specifically for our enjoyment, the complexity of life, etc...Also, there seems to be something going on in the spiritual realm between two opposing forces. No one creates to destroy. Plus, what some people call evolution, I call God's process of creation.

Answer 5

Good question. I'm an atheist who certainly knows that not all Christians are Biblical literalists who reject science. I had great some great science teachers who were also Xavierian Brothers. And I do correct people on that point when I see it.

For that matter, since when were atheists required to apply the scientific method to every aspect of their lives (which I see some atheists implying)?

Answer 6

I am an atheist and I do not assume that all christians are antiscience.

I acknowledge that there are some and even would venture to say most christians are not literalists on the bible, and do understand and accept the evidence of science. I just wish you and your like would educate your brothers and sisters in christ, instead of having us atheists do it for you.

Maybe they will be willing to listen to a fellow christian than an atheist?

Answer 7

Not all atheists assume that. I know some Christians who know plenty about science, and are very interested in it. But, you have to admit, many of you get very angry about how science goes against the bible, and must therefore be false. I think its the Christians who know the least about science who are the most likely to try and deny it.

Answer 8

hi, well from what i can tell many christians do consider the bible to be literal. i dont know which catholics and oxthodox people you know but i almost never see anyone who wants to believe evolution.

Answer 9

Hi, I'm an atheist, and I don't think that. Why do you assume atheists assume all Christians are anti-science?

Answer 10

We don't assume that ALL Christians are "anti-science". But we know that many are. And many take the bible very literally regardless of what science is telling us.