"...I guess, science being a new religion and all. "
You do realize how disturbing that sentence is, don't you?
The fact that people do treat science like religion is one of the most disturbing features about scientific illiteracy. Science is often wrong. In fact, it's designed to be wrong as often as possible in the quest for what is actually right. The fact that people treat is as a canonical religion instead of as a body of knowledge that can be interrogated means that science itself has failed, and gives rise to pseudoscience with no end of variations.
Interesting though is your previous comment. The thing is that, even if you err on that side, you have boundaries. I expect that if a bunch of PhDs came out with a study that showed that women were mentally inferior to men that you would be skeptical. The interesting thing is that, like all humans, you probably tolerate any source of authority as long as it doesn't violate your worldview. This is interesting because of how far people are willing to let their worldviews be bent, but that's a subject for another time.
The fact that people do treat science like religion is one of the most disturbing features about scientific illiteracy.
Absolutely agreed. Science is meant to tell you how things happen, not why they happen. Which is why I die a little inside every time I see one of those little Darwin ichthus bumper stickers. Christianity and evolution are not in conflict, and never should have been placed in that position. It wasn't until lately when people began insisting that the Bible be taken 100% literally that the issue even arose.
So...um. Yeah. Mini-rant aside, your point on worldview is good.
Strangely enough, I don't know if they have a bumper sticker for those who believe in evolution and Christianity at the same time. It would be nice if the fish with feet meant that, but I don't think the meaning can be limited down to that. Too bad.
Mmm, yes, but the superficial resemblences are enough to make me giggle.
I would be skeptical of anything that violated my worldview because I tend to try and back up my worldview with concrete facts. And also because I'm a student of human nature, if nothing else, and there's been some insaaaaaaaaaane shit peddled as Ultimate Truth.
You do realize how disturbing that sentence is, don't you?
The fact that people do treat science like religion is one of the most disturbing features about scientific illiteracy. Science is often wrong. In fact, it's designed to be wrong as often as possible in the quest for what is actually right. The fact that people treat is as a canonical religion instead of as a body of knowledge that can be interrogated means that science itself has failed, and gives rise to pseudoscience with no end of variations.
Interesting though is your previous comment. The thing is that, even if you err on that side, you have boundaries. I expect that if a bunch of PhDs came out with a study that showed that women were mentally inferior to men that you would be skeptical. The interesting thing is that, like all humans, you probably tolerate any source of authority as long as it doesn't violate your worldview. This is interesting because of how far people are willing to let their worldviews be bent, but that's a subject for another time.
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Absolutely agreed. Science is meant to tell you how things happen, not why they happen. Which is why I die a little inside every time I see one of those little Darwin ichthus bumper stickers. Christianity and evolution are not in conflict, and never should have been placed in that position. It wasn't until lately when people began insisting that the Bible be taken 100% literally that the issue even arose.
So...um. Yeah. Mini-rant aside, your point on worldview is good.
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I would be skeptical of anything that violated my worldview because I tend to try and back up my worldview with concrete facts. And also because I'm a student of human nature, if nothing else, and there's been some insaaaaaaaaaane shit peddled as Ultimate Truth.
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