I think there’s a big difference between knowing that answers exist and with time, energy and resources you could learn them, but it’s just too impractical to do it all, and blindly accepting that no one has the capacity to know something.
Plus, science backs up claims with evidence, experiments and data, and, at least to some capacity, a layman can parse that information. Fundamentally, science is provable, even if you won’t get 100% of it. Religion is strictly founded in the fact that no one is capable of parsing anything it teaches.
The key concept here is belief without understanding.
That’s part of it, but not all of it.
If you look at definitions of religious:
having a strong belief in a god or gods
a · the service and worship of God or the supernatural ; b · belief in or devotion to religious faith or observance ; c · the state of a person in the religious life.
Belief in science does not require a belief in a god or gods.
It does not require the worship of god or the “supernatural” - a healthy fascination is plenty, but optional.
It does not require devotion to anything.
Science is the best we can explain the world around us, and if old theories are proven wrong, it’s not infallible- we simply accept new knowledge with an open mind. Religion tends to do the opposite and deny it.
So no, you may or may not be religious, but a belief in science has nothing to do with it.
Having grown up in a religious household, these definitions seem more restrictive to me that they should be. Religious people see religious behavior even where there is no supernatural god involved. In their eyes, the god of an atheist soccer fan is soccer, and they see much of his behavior as just as religious as theirs. In that world view, it’s just the question of a false or true god.
And from that point of view OP’s question is very very valid.
Religious people see religious behavior even where there is no supernatural god involved. In their eyes, the god of an atheist soccer fan is soccer, and they see much of his behavior as just as religious as theirs.
When you’re a hammer, everything looks like a nail. To the atheist soccer fan, they’re enjoying the sport, but I think it’s a stretch to say they are enjoying it to the extent of “worship” in the same way a Christian does God. Even the most religious people I’ve known were allowed to enjoy things, watch sports, , appreciate good food, etc. and it was fine if they didn’t “put it before God”.
In OP’s case we don’t know if they have any ties to a religion, so I suppose that context is what matters most to answer their question. To me, an atheist, they are not being religious by believing science. To a fundamental Christian, that belief in science could be enough to say they are in service of a false god.
I agree. It’s very subjective and depends who you are talking to.
I’m somewhat wary of calling myself an atheist, because I am not necessarily against religion (unless it is harming others - otherwise I think it can help some people, and that is great), even though I don’t follow any myself. Some people may interpret the term as being against it, and that is the case for some atheists, of course. But I do identify with the term more than agnostic, because while I acknowledge I can never know for sure, personally I am very doubtful.
You’re focused on one similarity between religion and science and framing it as the core of each system. Religion is fundamentally based on belief. Religious texts and belief systems can be complex, well researched, and well thought out, but if you pick a belief and try to follow its roots you will eventually reach a dead end.
Science is fundamentally different. Every single scientific “belief” is backed by rigorous evidence and open to criticism. If you distrust a claim you are free and encouraged to demonstrate it to be false. The only ultimate authority in science is the behavior of the universe.
Scientists, like all humans, are prone to make errors or deceive others for personal gain. But their lies or mistakes are always corrected eventually. You are not asked to believe in science, or to believe the claims of any individual scientists. You are encouraged to learn about the scientific method and how scientists apply it. To learn that many things have been repeatedly demonstrated to be truths of the universe and that many things are unknown. Every day humans use their knowledge to try and make new discoveries, or to expand or correct previous discoveries.
There is not a single “belief” in science that you are expected to take at face value, no authority that you are expected to believe or obey. You are free to come to your own conclusions about anything you want.
The reason most people collectively “believe in science” is because it is overwhelming, you cannot ignore the human progress that science has achieved.
I think you’re using the terms “religion” and “faith” interchangeably. And while faith is a key component in religion, religion is not a key component in faith.
I think there’s a big difference between knowing that answers exist and with time, energy and resources you could learn them, but it’s just too impractical to do it all, and blindly accepting that no one has the capacity to know something.
Plus, science backs up claims with evidence, experiments and data, and, at least to some capacity, a layman can parse that information. Fundamentally, science is provable, even if you won’t get 100% of it. Religion is strictly founded in the fact that no one is capable of parsing anything it teaches.
The key concept here is belief without understanding.
Which isn’t an entirely bad thing of course, to have an authority that you respect, believe and obey.
But maybe there’s a line there.
That’s part of it, but not all of it.
If you look at definitions of religious:
Belief in science does not require a belief in a god or gods.
It does not require the worship of god or the “supernatural” - a healthy fascination is plenty, but optional.
It does not require devotion to anything.
Science is the best we can explain the world around us, and if old theories are proven wrong, it’s not infallible- we simply accept new knowledge with an open mind. Religion tends to do the opposite and deny it.
So no, you may or may not be religious, but a belief in science has nothing to do with it.
Having grown up in a religious household, these definitions seem more restrictive to me that they should be. Religious people see religious behavior even where there is no supernatural god involved. In their eyes, the god of an atheist soccer fan is soccer, and they see much of his behavior as just as religious as theirs. In that world view, it’s just the question of a false or true god.
And from that point of view OP’s question is very very valid.
When you’re a hammer, everything looks like a nail. To the atheist soccer fan, they’re enjoying the sport, but I think it’s a stretch to say they are enjoying it to the extent of “worship” in the same way a Christian does God. Even the most religious people I’ve known were allowed to enjoy things, watch sports, , appreciate good food, etc. and it was fine if they didn’t “put it before God”.
In OP’s case we don’t know if they have any ties to a religion, so I suppose that context is what matters most to answer their question. To me, an atheist, they are not being religious by believing science. To a fundamental Christian, that belief in science could be enough to say they are in service of a false god.
I guess I will never call me anything else than agnostic, because I never know what people mean with “god” or “belief”.
I agree. It’s very subjective and depends who you are talking to.
I’m somewhat wary of calling myself an atheist, because I am not necessarily against religion (unless it is harming others - otherwise I think it can help some people, and that is great), even though I don’t follow any myself. Some people may interpret the term as being against it, and that is the case for some atheists, of course. But I do identify with the term more than agnostic, because while I acknowledge I can never know for sure, personally I am very doubtful.
You’re focused on one similarity between religion and science and framing it as the core of each system. Religion is fundamentally based on belief. Religious texts and belief systems can be complex, well researched, and well thought out, but if you pick a belief and try to follow its roots you will eventually reach a dead end.
Science is fundamentally different. Every single scientific “belief” is backed by rigorous evidence and open to criticism. If you distrust a claim you are free and encouraged to demonstrate it to be false. The only ultimate authority in science is the behavior of the universe.
Scientists, like all humans, are prone to make errors or deceive others for personal gain. But their lies or mistakes are always corrected eventually. You are not asked to believe in science, or to believe the claims of any individual scientists. You are encouraged to learn about the scientific method and how scientists apply it. To learn that many things have been repeatedly demonstrated to be truths of the universe and that many things are unknown. Every day humans use their knowledge to try and make new discoveries, or to expand or correct previous discoveries.
There is not a single “belief” in science that you are expected to take at face value, no authority that you are expected to believe or obey. You are free to come to your own conclusions about anything you want.
The reason most people collectively “believe in science” is because it is overwhelming, you cannot ignore the human progress that science has achieved.
I think you’re using the terms “religion” and “faith” interchangeably. And while faith is a key component in religion, religion is not a key component in faith.