Nov 11 - Is modern science a religion? (trust, faith, truth, facts, beliefs)

Last year, I had a blog post "Is atheism a religion" (May28, 2013)  https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=284840814985716120#editor/target=post;postID=2661756584077450392;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=49;src=postname

Among other things, I wondered if modern science has gone so far out of reach of the majority of the population that it is becoming religion like.

Let's explore that particular point a bit more.

In the Enlightenment period, scientific discoveries shed light on mysteries that were explained by religion.  We can directly observe why the earth is round rather than flat by observing objects coming over the horizon.  We can understand Newton's law of motion and how it is a better theory than the Greek's notion that everything tend to rest.

On a personal level, we accept that the world is round and Newton's law of motion as fact.

While not all of us understand the science behind steam engines and thermal dynamics, we likely can find someone we personally know and trust that understand this.  We can therefore place our faith on this personal friend and believe that thermodynamics is valid.

Should we find that this friend is not reliable in other scientific matters, our faith in this person is now in doubt and we may not believe his earlier claims about thermodynamics? Nevertheless, there is comfort in knowing that there is a personal connection in having this faith that we can affirm every time we interact with this friend in other matters.

Let's now go to modern science.

How many of us know, or have personal trusted friends who know the equation that led to the conclusion that there is dark energy?  the black hole?  the multiple universe and action at a distance explained by quantum mechanics? the accuracy and validity of the "models" use to predict climate change?

Religious prophets use to be the ones offering explanations for mysteries in the world and predictions about the future because of their close connection with the almighty.  We were asked to have faith in the almighty.

We now trust Nobel Laureates, celebrity scientists to explain our mysteries and predict the future.

What is the difference between these high priests of science and those of an ancient Mayan culture if we do not have direct understanding of the science itself?


Some say that even if we do not understand the science itself, we should trust the peer review process and the Nobel selection committee or similar bodies with no outside interests..

In theory, peer review works just like self regulating professional bodies (College of physicians, Professional engineers association, Pharmacist and other professions).  The professional body looks after the practice of that profession as the general public do not have the knowledge to do so.

In reality, these professional bodies do that as well as err on the side of protecting their own members.  Malpractice cases will not ever happen if the professional bodies are fulfilling their mandates.

Peer review is a process that does not pay, often seem like opposing camps protecting their positions, and with no way of knowing whether proper review was actually carried out.

Put that against the seduction of telling the public what they want to hear, what the research grant agencies want to pursue and we have the potential of giving in to the mob.

As to trusting committees or experts with no outside interests; there is always an interest.  The Nobel selection committee's interest is to maintain and promote the reputation of the prize.  It is difficult to say whether they are leading or following public opinion when they award Obama the peace prize only months after he became president.

There is one more thing going for science over religion.  Science is falsifiable. Experiments can be carried out to prove or disprove scientific claims.

How many of us understood the experiments carried out at the Cern collider to prove the existence of the Higg's boson?  Do we personally know someone we trust with other things that understand this?

So our trust in science is really faith in scientists.

The current popularity of trends like buy local, organic, and anti GMO are likely rooted in our suspicion that something we do not understand should be avoided.  However, we have gone too far down the division of labor, specialization of skills, and advantages of global sourcing to go back to self sufficiency within our small circle of people we know.

Is it really this bad or is it our suspicious mind making life difficult for us?

For more discussions about whether science is a religion, have a look at this videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvKLL-db0kc