Something out there?

[JockSporran]

Atheists argue that religious belief is based on speculation. Science, too (it could be argued), is based on speculation. The dark matter that is necessary to make the Big Bang possible is speculative, as are certain subatomic neutrinos. Surely then, science and religion seem to be opposed but are in fact two sides of the same coin? Maybe God and nature are the same thing? Well, just a thought. Anyway, why did the penguin take Viagara? To keep it's pecker up, arf! arf! Don't mind what I say, I'm mad :-)

[Theland1]

Many a true word is spoken in jest.

[Mothman]

It's a frightening thought but there is something in what you say. The BIG difference is that science starts off from a point of belief - to which it applies theories which are then tested to destruction. Religion , on the other hand, starts off from a point of belief - to which it applies dogma which is then preached to the unthinking. Scientists are actively searching for Dark Matter, Higgs Boson etc and, if found, will publish their findings for review by their peers - relgious institutions take exactly the opposite approach and will hide behind foundation-less platitudes rather than open their beliefs to rigorous examination (god, apparently, works in mysterious ways - which explains everything!!). Whilst science welcomes challenges to the established viewpoint, religion used to welcome the opportunity to tie someone to a stake, now it just buries its head in the sand. Many a true word may be spoken in jest - but so is a lot of bo77ock5.
It's true that both will start with conjecture and 'belief' - it's how they handle this that seperates one from the other and, likewise, seperates sense from nonsense.

[naomi24]

Nature is, for want of a better term, God. The universe is nature's creation, but unlike the various Gods man has conjured up in his imagination, nature doesn't dictate to human beings, it imposes no threat of eternal torment in retribution for perceived 'sins', and it doesn't listen to, or answer, prayers. As a force, rather than a 'thinking being', it has no personal relationship with humanity whatsoever.

Like the joke, by the way. :o)

[keyplus90]

There we go, old topic again. Atheists only believe in what they can see or can figure out with their given six senses. In that regard then humans are even unable to beat few animals as they can sense certain things long before human.

And it is in fact true that without the help of the creator human are worse than animals, and that help only comes when you ask for it, and you only ask for it if you believe in its existence. You do not always buy only what you see.

Any way even a child born just few moments ago would verify that scientists do make big U turns.

It is like going through a maze, sometimes some where science will make a final U turn and would see that they are at the same point where others are already seated. keep on walking.

[naomi24]

It seems a reasonable enough question to me - quite an interesting one in fact - and Jock's perfectly entitled to ask it. If you're bored with the subject, Keyplus, you're not obliged to give an answer.

[brionon]

Right you are Jock. The God of the exploding Pommegranat ,of whom I am the representative on Earh, salutes you. PS. ''I am a jealous God '',the GP. says,so you better worship him or risk something very nasty when you die.

[Teddio]

Of course scientists make u-turns. Many scientists are hoping that the Large Hadron Collider does not discover the so called "God particle", the Higgs Boson. If it isn't discovered, the Standard Model will have to be scrapped and that will be a huge u-turn!

[beso]

That is rubbish Teddio. If the Higgs boson is not found in the LHC scientists will narrow the range of possible hypotheses but not abandon the Standard Model.

[jake-the-peg]

Er which subatomic neutrinos are speculative?

As far as I know ther are 3 neutrinos and all have been found.

Dark matter is not "required" to make the big bang possible. It is also observed by it's gravitational force - we just don't see it which is why it's dark.

That's like saying radio waves are speculative because you can't see them.

Do you want to know the difference between Science and faith?

A true Scientist will accept the possibility that any of his beliefs might be wrong and can suggest what proof he'd need to change his mind!

Religon will never do that

Ask Keyplus what evidence would convince him to abandon his faith if you want to see what I mean.