"We are both believers my friend. We both have our own faith. Mine is in God, yours is in beakers and test-tubes and atom crackers and magazines and books..."

OK- now, I am quite frankly sick and tired to death of trying to explain science to people who just don't get it, but I can't let such an outrageous post go unanswered.

I'm glad you are a Christian, but I'm not going there. I'm here to talk about Science.

Now listen carefully...

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First off- Science is NOT about beakers and test-tubes and atom-crackers and magazines and books. That is what I would expect, perhaps, from a third-grader asked to draw a picture representing science.

Science is not an accumulated body of knowledge and facts.

Science is really very, very simple to understand.

It is nothing more than a rigorous set of intellectual exercises and experimentation designed for the sole purpose of finding the truth. It is a methodology for figuring out how things work, for example. It is by no means perfect, but it is the best system we have this purpose.

Science necessarily is restricted to those subjects that can be tested and observed. Through a process starting with a hypothesis, a series of experimental research is conducted to tease out a proof of the hypothesis. Science is not, and can never be, etched in stone. No scientist worth his or her salt has ever claimed anything with absolute certainty.

The best we can do is put forth an argument that there exists enough evidence to support a particular theory at this point in time; knowing full well that more evidence will be revealed in the future, and that new evidence may support, change, or completely debunk prior conclusions. Science is OK with that- it is inherently adaptive and self-correcting, when it works the way it's supposed to.

There are, unfortunately, scientists who are sloppy thinkers, careless, intellectually dishonest, or otherwise fallible. That's why important research is published for peer review. An ethical scientist LIVES to have his work scrutinized and picked-apart by others.

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There are several things that too many of general public find disquieting about Science:

1. It requires WORK to understand and perform. This is no place for the intellectually lazy who are searching for pat answers. This is why the public is so easily bamboozled by hucksters, crooks and cranks who pervert science to advance (often nefarious) hidden agendas. They know that people are just too goddamn lazy and too goddamn stupid to ask for supporting evidence from the claims-makers. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof, and that onus is ALWAYS on them, not the sceptic.

2. Science does not deal in certainties. The best we can offer is a probability based on available evidence. That's it. We offer no promise of certainty nor any guarantees that a given theory will remain unaltered forever.

3. Too many people just don't understand what science is, how it works, or what it's for, and so they either throw up their hands or talk out of their ass in public forums.

Finally, Science is not a matter of faith. One does not "believe" in evolution, nor gravity, for instance. One can, however, believe that there exists enough evidence to support a particular theory, and that that theory can predict certain outcomes. The more evidence, the stronger the support.

As far as the topic at hand goes, I think science has done a fine job of explaining HOW life evolved and took form on this planet. Science has never dared to explain WHY it all happened.

The domain of Faith deals with all that is inherently untestable and mysterious- the things that cannot be explored by the scientific method. One risks exposing themselves as a fool or worse by ascribing to faith that which is easily tested, and for which a copious amount of evidence already exists.

Scientists don't play by the rules of theology. We expect the same consideration in return.

If you were not addressing me in your last two posts, please ignore the following.

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If your comments were directed at me, please understand:

1. I am, by no means, intolerant of people of different faiths. I am not even sure why you would say "different" in this context, since Science is not a faith-based construct.

I am, rather, intolerant of fools. It is clear that if you even read what I wrote, you are incapable of understanding it.

The truth matters. That's why I am so passionate about this subject. I cannot let spurious strawman arguments about science and what it is for go un-challenged. People have enough trouble with the concept without having to constantly beat back armies of ignoramuses poisoning public discourse with nonsense, in an attempt to push civilization back into the Dark Ages. If you wish to criticize science, please try to know something about your topic before you put your foot in your mouth, yet again.

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Science has no place on the gamefield of theology.

Theology has no place on the ballfield of Science.

An intellectually honest, open-minded and open-hearted understanding of both serves mankind, and helps us to understand and appreciate the world in which we live.

Now, go back and re-read. Please.

P.S. You, and everyone else in this forum is welcome to address my comments. I would greatly appreciate being addressed directly when doing so. Thank you.

@ AnOptomist [sp]:

"Think about something you want in your life. Pick something rather small so it will show up sooner. Pray about it every day. It will show up. When it does, you will have scientific proof."

I just love it!

Something for your delectation:

http://skepdic.com/posthoc.html