Is science a religion?

[Oneeyedvic]

Was discussing this at work. There is a lot of science that can't be proved (eg - the universe is expanding - but into what).

I will never see an atom and have to take it on faith from scientists (or the keepers of this religion) that they exist.

A lot of science is based on hypotheticals and imaginary events (square root of minus 1).

Most people see science as the answer to God - but it is just religion by another name?

[WaldoMcFroog]

"Do we have faith in being told the truth, or is it an assumption based on cold hard (mundane) facts?"

I think you're dangerously close to slipping into solipsism, and frankly, as exciting as that may make one at parties, I don't think it's a terribly productive way of thinking. One of these 'beliefs' seeks cold hard, repeatable facts to back up its claims, the other does not; these 'beliefs' are not the same, and to characterise them as so is to mislead people.

[WaldoMcFroog]

Sadly, Theland, The Meister print is well known and completely debunked. It's not a foot print at all, even though it may look a little like one.

http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/paluxy/meister .html

[Theland1]

Accepted, Waldo. Thank you. Are the other examples also dubious or is there still a question mark over dates of the rocks in which ehse things are found?

[WaldoMcFroog]

Which other examples?

The consensus is that there is no major confusion over the geological column in mainstream science. The major source of objection comes from... ta dah... Creationists who need there to have been a global flood despite the fact that it obviously couldn't have happened. They have lots of arguments, all, as far as I'm aware, a load of utter Hovind.

[naomi24]

It's regularly claimed that God loves us, but there's no unambiguous, detectable signs of this love.

I know it will not please some here, but I have to say that I totally agree with Waldo. Where is this love? Only in man's incredibly arrogant - and pathetically needy imagination, I suspect - and the real reason for that belief is fear of the threat of eternal damnation - in effect, saving their own skins (or souls?). Some of us feel completely self-sufficient, we manage our lives perfectly well - and, without being forced into it, we genuinely love our neighbour without relying upon prayers, or upon any outside influence - so I have to ask why people believe in a God who shows no evidence whatsoever of his love for mankind? But that's another question, and one I'll post separately.

[jno]

those who say religiion is unchanging are flying in the face of, erm, scientific evidence. Religion changes ass people change. Our notion of Christ (for instance) is different from the one our forefathers had. To us the stern Pantocrator depicted in medieval church paintings and mosaics is almost unrecognisable. We just don't see him that way any more. And no church that I know of claims the world was created in 4004BC as they used to. (Some may do so still, of course.) Even the church may admit out loud it has made mistakes; the pope recently acknowledged that it might have been a wee bit hasty in the Galileo case.

The pace of change is certainly glacial, much more so than in science. But as Octavius has suggested, it's rather less hard and fast than atheists like to imagine. This is because believers are humans.

[jno]

and naomi, to claim believers are incredibly arrogant and pathetically needy is to blithely insult untold millions of people in the past and present. Can it really be that all humankind is so much dumber than you that you can despise them in this fashion? Most loving of you.

[naomi24]

jno, you're mistaken. This is simply a discussion, and I don't despise them - in fact some of my best friends are religious people, and I respect the fact that every man is entitled to his belief, but how can I assume it's logical when I'm told by Christians they believe that the universe was made especially for them? That the stars and the heavens were made, not only for the glorification of God, but so that man (us) could tell the seasons? We have a whole, magnificent, and mighty universe here, so Is this not arrogant? Do they really believe we are so special? They may believe they are, but I don't.

[jno]

so do you tell your best friends they're 'arrogant' and 'pathetically needy'? How do you suppose they'd react if you did?

[China Doll]

Perhaps if you based all your faith and belief in what Science tells you then possibly it could be considered a religion of sorts.

However I think the two are not the same. But I'm sure I saw something recently along the lines of physics being the new religion (it's me so naturally God knows what I was reading or listening to but I've definitley picked the physics thing up from somewhere), anyway, I'm not sure physics is the new religion but I do think that acts of god and unexplained events get blurred sometimes and I think in time physics might provide some of those answers.

[naomi24]

Yes, jno, I have told my religious friends that they're arrogant to believe they're so special, and I've told them that they're pathetically needy to rely upon something that clearly cannot be relied upon. Since that's been said during the course of debates on religion, and since, like me, they believe that everyone is entitled to an opinion and shouldn't be afraid to speak out for fear of bruising over-sensitive egos, or ruffling up chips on shoulders, their reaction has been quite simply to argue their case - usually whilst pouring another glass of wine all round.

[Octavius]

Solipsism Waldo? Ooh, you nicked my word from the other day directed at another ABer.

I doubt I am guilty of that, and I have never claimed to be special. But each to there own, eh. I am really quite content for you to believe what you like. Its a shame you cannot return that privilege.

[WaldoMcFroog]

Alternatively, it might just be possible we might both know a word independently - but yeah, I probably nicked it off you...

Do you really think me writing a few words on a website is tantamount to restricting anyone's ability to believe what they like? I don't.

And if that is true, why post your own views, you dispicable supressor of the right to free thought? I see you've posted quite a few negative views of atheism recently, you facist bully boy.

Boom shanka,

Neil

[Octavius]

Yes, quite.

[beso]

Cazzz1975
Religion is not based on any "knowledge" but substitutes ignorant faith for intelligence and honesty

Keyplus
Religions have not agreed on one truth, the single God. This belief comes from an @rsehole called Abraham whose evil philosophy is the basis for Islam, Judaeism and Christianity. These faith have diverged not converged.

[brionon]

Oneye says -''Most people see science as the answer to God -''
No they don't.