Atheism
Many people make the connection between atheism and science. It's thought that one has to be an atheist to be a scientist. Or perhaps you've heard about atheists who use scientific thinking as a proof that God doesn't exist. What do you think? Is there a link between atheism and science? If so, is it only partial or in some circumstances?
17 Replies
Maybe the people who find interest in the sciences have a certain personality and belief system that made them fascinated with science and evidence. Therefore, many scientists are atheists because atheists do not believe in God and many base their beliefs on empirical, scientific evidence, which is a main characteristic of science. The people who need clear-cut/factual and observable evidence agree with science, and may become atheists, as faith and religion does not provide the “proof” they need. Science might attract those that are atheists, without realizing that even science requires faith.
I don't believe that Atheism and Science necessarily have to go hand in hand. The main reason I feel this way is because having faith in God is not scientifically measurable. Regardless of scientific evidence and evolutionary thinking, faith remains. That's where evolutionary creationist come in. There can be a respect in scientific fact and historical proof, but there can also be a complete and utter faith in God.
Yes, good point. A person can have faith in God and still believe in science and vice versa. However, they still need to be understood separately, since science is based on evidence and religion requires faith. It's similar to the idea of believing in God and also believing in dinosaurs; they aren't related and cannot be thought about in the same way, but can both be believed in.
I think that the nature of scientific evidence is exactly why many scientists may feel obliged to become atheists. But Lamoureux does a great job at demonstrating that the dichotomy that exists between science and faith is more man made then anything else. If Darwin himself made reference to a higher being, I think athiests who use evolution as a reason to undermine the existence of a Creator should research the varying positions of beliefs and that it doesn't have to be believing in science or believing in a Creator.
I think you guys have made great points so far about Atheism. I have talked to many Atheist people that I have met around campus, in class, etc and their argument always seems to be the same.. that they need proof empirical evidence to believe in something. They believe in Science because it has been proven by facts, Atheists lack the faith needed to believe in God and the unknown.
When a student first starts to learn in science class about evolution and "how the world started" it can be very difficult for one to comprehend everything, because if that student believes in the biblical facts of creation, they see evolution as being untrue and a lie. If one is a Christian then starts to believe in the scientific facts that they are taught, it can be a challenge to still consider ones-self a Christian and then they being to basically question God because they are being taught all these "facts" that basically go against God and Creationism.
I think Atheists and Scientism does not have to go hand in hand, not all Scientists are Atheists, they still leave room for Faith and to believe in that which cannot be proven by scientific inquiry.
There have been some fantastic posts about the link between science and atheism and I have some similar experiences and thoughts as some of the other individuals in this discussion. I also have a few different ideas that this conversation has provoked.
I feel that there is certainly a link between science and the reasons for people choosing atheism. The nature of scientific process is very reliable and dependable. In order to discover something new or for some new idea to become fact, essentially, other scientists must be able to replicate the same experiment or scenario in which this new content was discovered. This must happen in order for the idea to be accepted by the rest of the scientific community and, furthermore, most of society. Many ideas have become fact on the basis of this process over the last few hundred years. Due to this process of scenarios being replicable, I feel that many people develop their faith in science.
I think that science has convinced many people of its validity over the years and many people place a lot of acceptance in it's findings including people of religious background. In saying this, more and more people have their faith challenged due to the emergence of scientific fact. This is where I think science has it's direct link to atheism. Science "disproves" a lot of religious history as written by various religions. Scientific minds of today are then led to believe that many religions are basically a bunch of hog-wash. If their historical accounts aren't true then why should we believe anything else they try to tell us, such as the existence of God. This point of view can be very bleak but I believe it to be a primary source of atheists' belief.
I don't want to come off as a big nay-sayer on this topic as it may seem I have been up to this point but I will offer this idea. One of the most beautiful things about science is that there are always questions. No matter how hard scientists try, there will always be more questions to explore, new discoveries to be made. This is why people choose to be scientists and researchers. Some of these question include: where we came from, how did everything start, why is everything the way it is, and how should we spend the time that we have?
I Don't think scientists will ever be able to answer questions of this magnitude. This is the point in which many people evoke their faith in God and Christianity. God can be the answer to these incredibly important questions that are left and this is why, as Valentina put it before me, NOT ALL SCIENTISTS ARE ATHEISTS. It is most important to remember that science cannot prove or disprove God and that is why we have faith.
Sorry for the essay length post. I hope you have time to read it :S
As everyone's said before, scientists want proof, facts, and evidence before they can believe something to be true, which is why some of them have a hard time believing in God. Science and atheism are only tied to each other because people improperly conflate the two terms together. I have friends who are atheist, and it's easier to just let them be and not even try to explain your viewpoint, because they keep arguing and arguing talking about the lack of proof for existence of God, and how impossible and useless it is to believe.
But I think they're really missing something. It's called Pascal's Wager: If someone goes all their life believing in God, and there ends up actually being a God and heaven, then you've spent your whole life working towards eternal happiness. If there isn't life after death, then the worst that can happen to you is, well, nothing. But if you go through life rejecting God, and there truly is an after-life, you've lost everything, and the best thing that can happen to an atheist if they were right all along is nothing.
Not necessarily because you can still be faithful in God and believe in science. Although, science does have evidence and proof shown around us, it does not mean you are an atheist for believing that God does not have any relation with the world. Atheism and science do not go hand in hand because atheism is a belief of the non- existent of God, while science explains the way things work and how things are the way it is. There are many yet to be discovered and questions left to be answered, but science can only go so far, then comes God.
Not really. The belief in science through evolution makes a valid point because it does seem like that happened. But to me that doesn't say you are an atheist for believing God did not create the world. Atheism is the belief that God does not exist. Just because you believe in the theory of evolution, people may suggest that you just disproved God but that may not be the case. You believe in God that he exists in every way, you just believe in Science as well.
Not necessarily. Ahteism means that one believes that God does not exist. Someone who believes in evolution, and how things are created does not fully mean that one cannot also believe in God.
I personally believe that many scientists decide to be atheist because of the lack of scientific evidence left behind by God. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean all scientists are atheist. There are a few scientists that believe God is the reason for science.
Some people who don't believe in God. These people are called Atheis. They have no Religious beliefs. They are people who still believe in doing good things yet they don't do it because they have to, its becasue they want to.
Atheism is becoming a big factor nowadays. Many people are beginning to think if there is actually a God. With so many people actually starting to think of theres a "God" many people are impacted and are affected by it. Science can be a factor. Science and Religion have been studied for years and some of it has led to religion factors. I dont believe in God but I do believe that there is a higher power. Its what makes Earth a somewhat controlled environment. We're here for a reason, and the higher power has some sort of plan, with us having our own opinions. Atheists have a very valid point, not having physical proof. Neither of us will, no matter how hard we try.
I think there is a link between atheism and science because science has the ability to challenge statements made in the Bible. I have found that many times people who study science become atheist because they cannot find a balance between their studies and their faith. They also have a hard time distinguishing parts of the Bible that should or should not be taken literally. Many of these people think that when it comes to science and religion you either believe in one or the other (origins or dichotomy). I believe it is important to recognize that it is possible to embrace science and religion simultaneously and in doing so will find out that they can complement one another quite nicely.
As many of you have stated before, there is definitely a connection between science and religion. However as this discussion suggests there are many who believe that science disproves religion rather than compliments it. For example, atheists will argue that there is no scientific evidence that God or any other higher being exists. On the other hand, strongly religious individuals can argue that there is no scientific evidence that shows that there is no possibility of a higher being. This existence is a question that will never be answered for us in a concrete way. It is a question only answered upon death, and as Victoria has stated the worst that can happen for believers is that there is nothing after death. The same is for non-believers. An individual must use their faith in order to believe in the existence of God. Atheists will also argue that scientific proof of evolution disproves the creation stories contained in the Bible. However, as noted through our class discussions and readings, the writers of the Bible were writing before many modern scientific discoveries, including evolution, were made. Using the science of their day and the evidence they had they theorized how creation occurred just as we now theorize about many things in modern science. Scientists continuously disprove old theories and create new ones. This is a potential answer for why there are discrepancies between the Bible and modern science.
I definitely agree with a lot of what people have already posted, specifically the desire of scientists for proof which often leads to the desire of empirical evidence for the existence of a deity. I also think that people often feel like atheism and science have to be intertwined and indistinguishable from each other when that isn't the case. Being a scientist isn't mutually exclusive to being an atheist.
Even Albert Einstein eluded to something greater, even if it was merely the Universe. In his words "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious." I think that just proves that even the greatest minds need to be able to comprehend that there are things we may never be capable of figuring out and we should take the opportunity to revel in the beauty of the unknown.
Paige Deacon
Mar 3, 2012 at 5:06 PM