Title: Science Is Not Religion | HuffPost
Headings: Science Is Not Religion
Science Is Not Religion
MORE:

Content: Science Is Not Religion | HuffPost
Jeff Schweitzer, Contributor
Scientist, former White House Senior Policy Analyst, Ph. D in neurophysiology
Science Is Not Religion
09/05/2013 10:21 am ET Updated Nov 05, 2013
Author Christine Ma-Kellams recently told HuffPost Science that, “In many ways, science seems like a 21st Century religion. It’s a belief system that many wholeheartedly defend and evolve their lives around, sometimes as much as the devoutest of religious folk.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Science is not a “belief system” but a process and methodology for seeking an objective reality. Of course because scientific exploration is a human endeavor it comes with all the flaws of humanity: ego, short-sightedness, corruption and greed. But unlike a “belief system” such as religion untethered to an objective truth, science is over time self-policing; competing scientists have a strong incentive to corroborate and build on the findings of others; but equally, to prove other scientists wrong by means that can be duplicated by others.