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Has the bastardisation of science become the new religion?

  • 14-03-2011 03:25PM
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 17,689 ✭✭✭✭


    This is not about Science by the way (well, not in the true sense of the word at least).

    It's about the new foolish masses (apt word for so many reasons) that think by just mentioning the word "science" - they have somehow won a debate or in doing so, that their opinions are somehow inherently correct. They will usually make remarks about certain subjects as being "science" based - but almost everything is bloody science based at some level for God's sake (Opps, AH naughty step for mentioning the 'G' word).

    Just because Science was, or is currently being used in a certain area, or is even at the heart of some thing's very existence, does NOT then make that: "science". I am wearing jeans that would not be here but for Science. When I squirt Ketchup on my chips, it's thanks to Science for making squeezable plastic bottles. When I get my rampant rabbit out and use it's motorised rotating head, that's down to science.

    Just because someone might take issue with something and science has being used in it's coming about, in it's finding or in it's creation - this does NOT then make them "anti-science". Some of us are just not gullible enough to believe that everything that comes about because "science" has been used in it's discover, is in the best interests of humanity, that's all.

    I really wish all you "science" worshipping sycophants would realise that "science" is just system of acquiring knowledge through observation and/or[SIZE=-1] experimentation[/SIZE]. When you refer to others as "anti-science" and the like, or accuse people of not believing in "science based" findings etc, you look foolish.

    Do "anti-science" people even exist?

    If they did, these people would never walk across a bridge ffs. They wouldn't use computers, or take medicines, or go to the dentist, or watch television, or drive a car, or do a million other things that would not be possible because of the use of science in their creation. So please, quit hijacking the word "science". We all appreciate the amazing advances that humans have made through observation, research and experimentation. Saying you "like" Science and implying that somehow others don't, is laughable. There is NOTHING unique about you because use the word science, truly.

    Which brings me to the religion aspect of this.

    What is this phenomena where people keep crowbarring the word "science" into every single conversation/debate these days? It's done in such a smug way also, as if the mere mentioning of the word means that the possibility of them being wrong, has just been obliterated. (1) I think they feel that the very word has superhuman powers and so that is the reason for their (2) worshipping of it. It has got to the stage where (3) people can have no opinion of their own without looking to what science's stance is on the subject.

    The last three examples being pretty much what the definition of just what religion is after all.

    --

    TL;DR:

    Has this new bastardisation of science now become like a new type of religion? Is there a new breed of people that, instead of having blind faith in a man in the sky with a white beard, now instead just have blind faith in a man in a lab, with a white coat?

    Poll private of course, due to the obvious stigma of speaking out against "science" in any form and sure I wouldn't want any blasphemers being burnt at the
    stake bunsen burner on my account ;)

    Has the bastardisation of science become the new religion? 76 votes

    Yes
    0% 0 votes
    No
    47% 36 votes
    Commodore 64
    52% 40 votes


«13456

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,080 ✭✭✭Gunsfortoys


    Have you any scientific evidence to support this?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,598 ✭✭✭✭prinz


    The witch is floating, burn her!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,255 ✭✭✭✭The_Minister


    What pisses me off is when people try to prove their argument by "Scientists believe...."

    Anyone with a science degree is a 'scientist' and there is nearly never full consensus on any issue throughout the scientific community, and even if there was, they have been wrong before.

    The number of absolute certainties that exist in any new developing branch of science is much smaller than the number of uncertainties.


    I drink with scientists - nice people, smart people, but not omnipotent.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,129 ✭✭✭✭Oranage2


    those idiots annoy me - "smoking is bad because a scientist said so". sure it is!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 904 ✭✭✭MetalDog


    People aren't going to start murdering each other in the tens of thousands over science, so no.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,598 ✭✭✭✭prinz


    My favourite part is when they claim science is the realm of the enlightened agnostics/atheists only. Anyone who believes in a god/gods/higher power couldn't possibly be a "real" scientist.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,910 ✭✭✭Sisko


    This is from an argument you had with someone in the irish nuclear power plant thread isnt it?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,706 ✭✭✭Voodu Child


    Recent studies by scientists have proven that this thread sucks.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,896 ✭✭✭✭phantom_lord


    Sisko wrote: »
    This is from an argument you had with someone in the irish nuclear power plant thread isnt it?

    Could be from the martingale thread, or the one on vaccines too.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 589 ✭✭✭PAULWATSON


    some people even believe in global warming


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 22,559 ✭✭✭✭AnonoBoy


    "Everybody knows I'm known for dropping science."

    I used to think that Beastie Boys lyric was about dropping out of science class. I'm totally not down with the lingo dude, man eh..... homie.

    Personally I only believe in science when it's being used to make sure my hair is silky smooth.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,331 ✭✭✭RichieC


    Global warming? evolution? what topic is bothering you, son?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 22,479 ✭✭✭✭philologos


    OutlawPete wrote: »
    Is there a new breed of people that, instead of having blind faith in a man in the sky with a white beard, now instead just have blind faith in a man in a lab, with a white coat?

    What religion is that? I've never heard of it personally :confused:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,594 ✭✭✭bonerm


    I just wanted to vote Commodore 64.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 870 ✭✭✭Osgoodisgood


    prinz wrote: »
    My favourite part is when they claim science is the realm of the enlightened agnostics/atheists only. Anyone who believes in a god/gods/higher power couldn't possibly be a "real" scientist.


    I agree that this is a sensible conclusion to draw.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,933 ✭✭✭Logical Fallacy


    All i'm hearing is Hawkins this, and Darwin that.

    But whatever happened to Jesus this...and Jericho that?

    In all seriousness, the way people treat Science and Religion is almost exactly the same....Catholics who have never read the bible and atheists who have never read On The Origin of Species both taking the high ground with each other and acting like a bunch of kids while completely missing the point that the two things are largely mutual exclusive.

    Theists too stupid to realise that there faith is a personal thing that doesn't require the validation of the masses (uberpun) to still be relevant to them and Atheists demanding physical proof of a faith based system.

    When you are watching from the sidelines it's all freaking hilarious.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,547 ✭✭✭Agricola


    The men in the lab with white coats don't even have blind faith in themselves so why should anyone else. As you say, they are just acquiring knowledge, experimenting, testing theories.
    You can't really do much about the fact that lots of people will always like to grab a stick and beat someone else of an opposing viewpoint with it. That is the human way. Religious people have been hammering 'heretics' for millennia because they didnt go along with their way of thinking, nowadays a weakened church is being hammered by proponents of scientific reason.

    People like to argue and hopefully get to feel superior to others while doing it....
    In other news......!


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    bonerm wrote: »
    I just wanted to vote Commodore 64.
    Racist!

    What have ya got against Sinclair Spectrum's - even ZX81's! :p


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,933 ✭✭✭Logical Fallacy


    I agree that this is a sensible conclusion to draw.

    "I have never been an atheist in the sense of denying the existence of a God. – I think that generally ... an agnostic would be the most correct description of my state of mind." - Charles Darwin

    He had a complicated religious life moving from ardent Theist to relaxed Agnostic over the course of a life time.

    Shame this disqualifies his work in the field of Evolutionary Theory.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 60,119 Mod ✭✭✭✭Tar.Aldarion


    May science preserve you.


    There are anti science people of course, the 'god did it' reasons. Gravity doesn't pull you down, god pushes you down!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,919 ✭✭✭Schism


    Jakkass wrote: »
    What religion is that? I've never heard of it personally :confused:

    Come on, he's obviously referring to Christianity, possibly as exact as Catholicism. I'm not trying to flame you but you're being a bit naive there purposely.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,370 ✭✭✭Knasher


    OutlawPete wrote: »
    Do "anti-science" people even exist?
    Of course they do, creationists being the prime example of a group of people who reject a scientific theory because it conflicts with a personal belief. They then go a step further by trying to foist an unscientific theory into science using politics.


    That being said I'd agree with some of what you are saying and believe that it would fall under the same principle as the Milgram experiment. Science has a position of authority in today's society and people have an, occasionally unjustified, abundance of faith in it (same could be said for politicians) without actually understanding what they are believing in. People will also occasionally leverage this faith without needing to fully understand it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 34,788 ✭✭✭✭krudler


    OutlawPete wrote: »
    This is not about Science by the way (well, not in the true sense of the word at least).

    It's about the new foolish masses (apt word for so many reasons) that think by just mentioning the word "science" - they have somehow won a debate or in doing so, that their opinions are somehow inherently correct. They will usually make remarks about certain subjects as being "science" based - but almost everything is bloody science based at some level for God's sake (Opps, AH naughty step for mentioning the 'G' word).

    Just because Science was, or is currently being used in a certain area, or is even at the heart of some thing's very existence, does NOT then make that: "science". I am wearing jeans that would not be here but for Science. When I squirt Ketchup on my chips, it's thanks to Science for making squeezable plastic bottles. When I get my rampant rabbit out and use it's motorised rotating head, that's down to science.

    Just because someone might take issue with something and science has being used in it's coming about, in it's finding or in it's creation - this does NOT then make them "anti-science". Some of us are just not gullible enough to believe that everything that comes about because "science" has been used in it's discover, is in the best interests of humanity, that's all.

    I really wish all you "science" worshipping sycophants would realise that "science" is just system of acquiring knowledge through observation and/or[SIZE=-1] experimentation[/SIZE]. When you refer to others as "anti-science" and the like, or accuse people of not believing in "science based" findings etc, you look foolish.

    Do "anti-science" people even exist?

    If they did, these people would never walk across a bridge ffs. They wouldn't use computers, or take medicines, or go to the dentist, or watch television, or drive a car, or do a million other things that would not be possible because of the use of science in their creation. So please, quit hijacking the word "science". We all appreciate the amazing advances that humans have made through observation, research and experimentation. Saying you "like" Science and implying that somehow others don't, is laughable. There is NOTHING unique about you because use the word science, truly.

    Which brings me to the religion aspect of this.

    What is this phenomena where people keep crowbarring the word "science" into every single conversation/debate these days? It's done in such a smug way also, as if the mere mentioning of the word means that the possibility of them being wrong, has just been obliterated. (1) I think they feel that the very word has superhuman powers and so that is the reason for their (2) worshipping of it. It has got to the stage where (3) people can have no opinion of their own without looking to what science's stance is on the subject.

    The last three examples being pretty much what the definition of just what religion is after all.

    --

    TL;DR:

    Has this new bastardisation of science now become like a new type of religion? Is there a new breed of people that, instead of having blind faith in a man in the sky with a white beard, now instead just have blind faith in a man in a lab, with a white coat?

    Poll private of course, due to the obvious stigma of speaking out against "science" in any form and sure I wouldn't want any blasphemers being burnt at the
    stake bunsen burner on my account ;)


    how has this thread made it to two pages without THAT being raised?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 22,479 ✭✭✭✭philologos


    Schism wrote: »
    Come on, he's obviously referring to Christianity, possibly as exact as Catholicism. I'm not trying to flame you but you're being a bit naive there purposely.

    Christians don't believe that God is a physical man in the sky. That's why I'm asking what religion it is, it sounds interesting! :)
    Theists too stupid to realise that there faith is a personal thing that doesn't require the validation of the masses (uberpun) to still be relevant to them and Atheists demanding physical proof of a faith based system.

    Faith isn't a "personal thing" or a "private matter" as far as I would see it. Especially if it has implications for all of mankind.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 23,315 ✭✭✭✭amacachi


    What pisses me off is when people try to prove their argument by "Scientists believe...."

    By "people" do you mean "journalists who have never studied science"?


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 34,567 ✭✭✭✭Biggins


    krudler wrote: »
    how has this thread made it to two pages without THAT being raised?
    Its a Rampant Rabbit. Its always raised!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 34,788 ✭✭✭✭krudler


    Jakkass wrote: »
    Christians don't believe that God is a physical man in the sky. That's why I'm asking what religion it is, it sounds interesting! :)



    Faith isn't a "personal thing" or a "private matter" as far as I would see it. Especially if it has implications for all of mankind.

    mormons do though? thats way more believable, god comes from another planet, like Superman :pac:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,787 ✭✭✭✭ScumLord


    I didn't really read the thread because I assume it's all heresy against my science gods. Kill the non believer, LHC is great! LHC is great!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,919 ✭✭✭Schism


    Jakkass wrote: »
    Christians don't believe that God is a physical man in the sky. That's why I'm asking what religion it is, it sounds interesting! :)

    I see your point. I'm not very religious so I can't really comment. Just so you can see my end though, Google God for images :)


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 870 ✭✭✭Osgoodisgood


    [QUOTE=Logical Fallacy;71161186
    Shame this disqualifies his work in the field of Evolutionary Theory.[/QUOTE]

    It does? How so?


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