Religion

Binkie The Clown

(7,911 posts)

78. Science as defined, or science as practiced?

Sat Apr 4, 2015, 01:11 PM

Apr 2015

There are some who "preach" science as if it were a religion with little or no understanding of the scientific method. That's not what science should be.

Science, as defined, as it should be, is the antithesis of a religion. Nothing is taken on faith, and everything must be questioned and tested. There are, however, those few who take everything they ever read in a science book as unquestionable gospel truth. Those are the people who give science a bad name because they take science on faith, and really question nothing. If you are going to question the Bible, then you better be willing to question James Randi too. Take neither on faith. THAT is science. (Granted, Randi is more likely to be right than the Bible, but that's no excuse for not questioning both, since neither source should be considered infallible.)

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Is science a religion? [View all] skepticscott Apr 2015 OP

According to the current climate denial talking points it is. Warren Stupidity Apr 2015 #1

Yes, I've noticed that some people declare skepticscott Apr 2015 #2

You only ever hear that... gcomeau Apr 2015 #3

Yes, and there are many posters here who desperately need skepticscott Apr 2015 #4

Here's my definition of a religion from an earlier thread. Htom Sirveaux Apr 2015 #5

Does a religion involve skepticscott Apr 2015 #6

Revising and improving interpretations of the stories, and writing new stories Htom Sirveaux Apr 2015 #7

Why would you need to revise phil89 Apr 2015 #10

I didn't say that the stories got revised, I said the interpretations did. Htom Sirveaux Apr 2015 #12

Here's my definition of a religion from an earlier thread. AlbertCat Apr 2015 #9

I love the quote, which cannot be repeated enough: bvf Apr 2015 #11

I would suggest that this thread okasha Apr 2015 #14

I agree that there's team-building going on here. Htom Sirveaux Apr 2015 #15

This "team" has been in place for years. okasha Apr 2015 #32

No one here gets "bullied into silence", okasha skepticscott Apr 2015 #37

I think "cult" is the perfect word Starboard Tack Apr 2015 #47

"sugvest" was that a typo of "suggest" or "slugfest"? Warren Stupidity Apr 2015 #16

You'te in bad shape when okasha Apr 2015 #29

No, bad shape is someone skepticscott Apr 2015 #33

Flew right by ya. Warren Stupidity Apr 2015 #36

The same can be said for most of your posts in this group. cleanhippie Apr 2015 #19

I wouldn't hold your breath for an answer skepticscott Apr 2015 #24

When scaled up, your description fits DU as a whole quite nicely skepticscott Apr 2015 #21

zzzzzz. opiate69 Apr 2015 #22

Well damn, there goes another one. trotsky Apr 2015 #28

Spot on. NYC_SKP Apr 2015 #48

You're welcome to back up your claim skepticscott Apr 2015 #57

Your anti-science bias skepticscott Apr 2015 #59

Perfectly predictable. okasha Apr 2015 #62

Science isn't faith based phil89 Apr 2015 #8

Even sadder that supposedly scientific people skepticscott Apr 2015 #13

it is only a small cult here who do that as part of a team building exercise. Warren Stupidity Apr 2015 #17

I see no way in which science can be characterized as a religion, despite some similarities. NYC_SKP Apr 2015 #18

Since you say that, what is your opinion of the statement skepticscott Apr 2015 #23

I think that refers to stubborn insistence that one's position is the singular exclusive position... NYC_SKP Apr 2015 #25

Do you agree with the statement? skepticscott Apr 2015 #31

There's nothing dodgy about any of my responses. NYC_SKP Apr 2015 #51

I asked a very simple and direct question in post 23 skepticscott Apr 2015 #56

I find it extremely aggravating to argue with the scientifically illiterate... Humanist_Activist Apr 2015 #20

ad hominem much? NYC_SKP Apr 2015 #46

I wonder what it is that makes people need to harp on the fact skepticscott Apr 2015 #58

No, it isn't. arcane1 Apr 2015 #26

HAHAHAHA! No. DetlefK Apr 2015 #27

No. obxhead Apr 2015 #30

I think some people believe in science in the same way others believe in God. Agnosticsherbet Apr 2015 #34

Sorry, but those are quite different senses of "believe" skepticscott Apr 2015 #38

I see no evidence that the act of belief in the human mind is different whether it be science or god. Agnosticsherbet Apr 2015 #41

Science is a process, not a belief... brooklynite Apr 2015 #35

To a few it is. Starboard Tack Apr 2015 #39

Ah, before it was "some" skepticscott Apr 2015 #42

I am peddling nothing. Certainly not "scientism" Starboard Tack Apr 2015 #43

"You try to explain how fucked up and delusional believers Warren Stupidity Apr 2015 #45

Clearly "why" is not just a question about motive and reason skepticscott Apr 2015 #55

"I'm peddling the truth, and intellectual honesty." Starboard Tack Apr 2015 #69

Wow, did you just decide to make things up this morning? skepticscott Apr 2015 #75

Sorry, don't have time right now. Starboard Tack Apr 2015 #83

Not surprised that you love to make BS accusations skepticscott Apr 2015 #89

Give 'em a break, SS. They're basically homeless (their words) on that yacht in Mexico. cleanhippie Apr 2015 #93

Well thats the most BS filled response yet. cleanhippie Apr 2015 #92

Wonderful Easter? phil89 Apr 2015 #109

Maybe that is what Easter means to you. Starboard Tack Apr 2015 #111

Maybe you should stop telling people what to believe or celebrate. hrmjustin Apr 2015 #112

Maybe you should stop telling people that they can't have an opinion. cleanhippie Apr 2015 #113

Never said that. Enjoy your day. hrmjustin Apr 2015 #114

Yes you did. And a Happy Zombie Day to you, too! cleanhippie Apr 2015 #115

we will disagree but for the sake of the day. hrmjustin Apr 2015 #116

This day is no different than any other. cleanhippie Apr 2015 #117

For you. Think of others. hrmjustin Apr 2015 #118

I already do. cleanhippie Apr 2015 #119

Bullseye! okasha Apr 2015 #85

Poor okasha..you don't seem to be able to do anything skepticscott Apr 2015 #90

Bingo! cleanhippie Apr 2015 #94

What questions can religion answer that science can't? beam me up scottie Apr 2015 #50

People are all about the "why", not science Starboard Tack Apr 2015 #52

Why is human childbirth so painful? beam me up scottie Apr 2015 #53

I honestly don't think you are understanding me. Starboard Tack Apr 2015 #54

Notice his dodge? skepticscott Apr 2015 #60

"Religion gives an explanation based on reason, not cause and effect." beam me up scottie Apr 2015 #61

Of course it is not reasonable, at least not to you and me. Starboard Tack Apr 2015 #64

your use of the word reason was an example of an equivocation fallacy. Warren Stupidity Apr 2015 #66

Science is a systematic ,objective process of ladjf Apr 2015 #40

science isn't a religion but Science is Man from Pickens Apr 2015 #44

Can you provide examples of people doing that? skepticscott Apr 2015 #65

people who read about some scientific study and jump to conclusions Man from Pickens Apr 2015 #67

In other words, you can't back up your claim at all skepticscott Apr 2015 #68

oh dear Man from Pickens Apr 2015 #70

We have a few of those "true believers" Starboard Tack Apr 2015 #71

More claims without evidence skepticscott Apr 2015 #73

Yes, I can see you'd like to paint me as "religious". What a shock. skepticscott Apr 2015 #72

You need a new schtick. LTX Apr 2015 #120

Poor GG really had to torture quotes to even pretend that they answered my questions skepticscott Apr 2015 #122

A couple of (disconnected) questions: LTX Apr 2015 #123

In other words, you dredged up a post from 2012 skepticscott Apr 2015 #124

I just pointed to a thread (and a post you didn't answer at the time) from three years ago LTX Apr 2015 #125

Scientific illiteracy is a huge problem in this country. beam me up scottie Apr 2015 #74

Nice to see people using right wing anti-science cliches on DU. beam me up scottie Apr 2015 #49

Science is not a religion LostOne4Ever Apr 2015 #63

Perhaps the question is science compatible with religion might be still_one Apr 2015 #76

It's a common anti-science talking point. beam me up scottie Apr 2015 #77

Climate change is based on observable metrics. Religion is based on faith still_one Apr 2015 #80

That's also a relevant question skepticscott Apr 2015 #81

I was NOT negating your question, just adding a corallary still_one Apr 2015 #84

Science as defined, or science as practiced? Binkie The Clown Apr 2015 #78

I can answer with a definite yes, or no, depending on your outlook. guillaumeb Apr 2015 #79

If the only thing you cite in common between science and religion skepticscott Apr 2015 #82

what then is belief? guillaumeb Apr 2015 #98

Then define it skepticscott Apr 2015 #99

a definition guillaumeb Apr 2015 #102

So let's recap skepticscott Apr 2015 #107

the bottom line for me: guillaumeb Apr 2015 #121

The truth. You haz it. Science and Religion are different iterations of the same human natures... NYC_SKP Apr 2015 #128

I like what you say, especially the part guillaumeb Apr 2015 #129

We can have both, we do and we must and we always will have both. And, both depend upon faith. NYC_SKP Apr 2015 #86

Yes, you keep saying that, but it's just more stuff you can't back up skepticscott Apr 2015 #87

It's true. We make shit up all the time, it's called "experimentation"... NYC_SKP Apr 2015 #88

Yes, viruses and religion have also been with humankind throughout history skepticscott Apr 2015 #91

I thought the discussion was about science and religion... NYC_SKP Apr 2015 #95

Can you explain how science and religion "are in our DNA"? beam me up scottie Apr 2015 #96

Both are in our nature, both are responses to our natural curiosity... NYC_SKP Apr 2015 #97

You didn't answer the question. beam me up scottie Apr 2015 #130

Lots of things are purely human machinations skepticscott Apr 2015 #100

Nope. Language, greed, and organization into communities are not exclusively human. NYC_SKP Apr 2015 #101

Language: Dolphins name themselves. okasha Apr 2015 #104

Exactly... NYC_SKP Apr 2015 #106

Nope. okasha Apr 2015 #108

What exactly have I made up my mind about that you haven't? skepticscott Apr 2015 #105

Science absolutely does not rely on faith. phil89 Apr 2015 #126

To be fair, it may depend upon which branch of science we're discussing. NYC_SKP Apr 2015 #127

Science =/= Religion deathrind Apr 2015 #103

no, science is not a relig.. BUT if it were it would be one worth dying for, nuts & bolts that's all juxtaposed Apr 2015 #110