Reply #139: Scientists don't rely on faith.

[ozone_man]

"The faith of a scientist is that Nature isn't delibrately trying to hide anything from mankind. But the trade of the magician is deception. Thus the magician is much better equipped to recognize the deceptions of others."

Scientists rely on scientific method. Also nature does hide things from mankind. There are an endless number of hidden mysteries for scientists and nonscientists to discover.

Magicians, on the other hand, rely on deception. For a minute, I thought you were going to take this in the direction of comparing the magician to the priestcraft, because I think it's a very good comparison. They are both practiced at the art of deception.

"It has been my experience that the precise tools of science are not useful in arguing matters of faith. If I want to pound some point home, a big rock or the leg bone of a large animal works much better than any expensive laboratory tool."

Logic and reason have generally been the enemies of faith and superstition. Since the Age of Reason, science and philosophy have been pushing primitive beliefs and superstitions into the dark recesses that are still unknown.