Why are some religious people "afraid" of science?

[Unveiled Artist]

Thank you for replying to the OP
I am trying to expand my horizon of understanding, and even i personally struggle to "trust" science, it can not stop me from exploring. who knows, maybe i will learn a thing or two about my own faith through science?

Hmmm. Why not?

 

[Spirit of Light]

I don't know about that. They say ignorance is bliss. I do think if someone is good at it they can challenge the validity of a lot of people's spiritual experiences. Not superficially but personally.

Which means all the signs you received from god has explanations and mystic experiences become endorphins instead.

The god of the gaps goes poof!

But my thing is, it's not necessary to burst someone's bubble. If it's meaningful and well lived, that's what matters.

So what if it's all fantasy.
What adult doesn't like Disney?

Ha.

Question: What if God has to use physics as in our physical worlds law to give believers "proof" of his existence? Would not science be able to pick up those "signs" but interpret them not as God but as physics?

 

[Rival]

That attempting to understand how things works is somehow breaking the world down to numbers and sets of data, removing the wonder of nature, and trying to deduce all of life to that. In essence, they believe most scientists and science itself are hyperdogmatic scientismists, and do view it roughly as a sort of proselytism that is leading people away from god.

Thus is extremely ironic in light of that it was mainly Christian scientists who pioneered this kind of natural exploration.

 

[Rival]

An other thought that comes to mind is.

What if it is God who have given humans the scientific way of thinking, to challenge our own way of thoughts?
What if a believer is stuck and can not find spiritual answer, maybe science can help see it from a different P.O.V ? but not give a conclusive answer?

Could well be. Some folks just don't see it that way I guess, and that's their call

 

[Spirit of Light]

Hmmm. Why not?

Yes why not take a peek and see what i can learn

 

[Dan From Smithville]

It came down to being taught scientists are widely under the influence of Satan, and furthering his goals of leading people away from god.
That is what I was taught. No joke or exaggeration. Science is good, and they acknowledge many good things have come from it, but they see Satan corrupting it.
And when they start saying "playing god," that is when they are afraid. Angry as well, as they believe certain things should only be left to god, but they don't fully flesh this out (such as how it can be argued any medical intervention is "playing god.")
And the drumbeat they march to is "it's just a theory." This comes from poor understandings of how science uses the terms, but it's not always rooted in believing scientists use the words as laymen do. It's widely believed "hypothesis, theory, and law" follow a progression, and a theory that has been well tested and found accurate many times inevitably becomes a law.

I think you have summed it up all rather well.

 

[Spirit of Light]

Could well be. Some folks just don't see it that way I guess, and that's their call

True, i am not here to dictate God or humans i am just becoming a very curious humble man. i think...

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

A Question to the 4th point you make Can religious people update their own understanding without changing the scripture they believe in?

Probably depends on the person, the religion and the scripture.

Certainly over the long term, any religion that's been around more than a few centuries has had to adapt its teachings to take into account scientific advancements and discoveries.

 

[Jimmy]

not about fear.
easier to accept things as they are.

It would be a colossal undertaking to reshape the world according to what the majority of people actually believe in their hearts.

history’s a good place to put the blame.

 

[SigurdReginson]

Maybe understanding science even can strenghtening someone belief in God?

"[Scientific concepts] exist only in the minds of men. Behind these concepts lies the reality which is being revealed to us, but only by the grace of God."

-Wernher Von Braun, rocket scientist

There are many more quotes from god believing scientists. Albert Einstein had a lot to say on the subject.

"Do not be afraid of being free thinkers. If you think strongly enough you will be forced by science to the belief in God, which is the foundation of all Religion. You will find science not antagonistic, but helpful to Religion."

-Sir William Thomas, physicist

This is another one that I find interesting.

 

[Valjean]

Science is skeptical, rational, and intellectually rigorous. It's evidence based, encourages testing, and discards that which is found faulty. It's comfortable with new knowledge, even if transformative.

Skepticism and rationality threaten faith. Testing threatens established "knowledge."
Religion discourages questioning, does not test, and retains that which has been found faulty.

Religion is hallowed conventionalism.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Thus is extremely ironic in light of that it was mainly Christian scientists who pioneered this kind of natural exploration.

Them and Muslims both. They both made much of the world go round before Tesla (and still do in many ways), but they've both developed rabid packs who are viciously against what they helped start. Attempting to understand the creation of god and how it works is an admirable goal. But when you start to call such a thing heresy and renounce it because you take things literally that where written before we knew what germs and plate tectonics and epilepsy are.
And it's a shame too that they crapped on a tradition of philosophy and learning. Unlike the Ottomans, I have my doubts ISIS is that big into the Greek philosophers.

 

[Jimmy]

Science is skeptical, rational, and intellectually rigorous. It's evidence based, encourages testing, and discards that which is found faulty. It's comfortable with new knowledge, even if transformative.

Skepticism and rationality threaten faith. Testing threatens established "knowledge."
Religion discourages questioning, does not test, and retains that which has been found faulty.

Religion is hallowed conventionalism.

If rational threatens faith as u call it and actually does away with all those religions of the world guess what?

what do u think would happen?
I’ll give you one good guess.

 

[Jimmy]

Them and Muslims both. They both made much of the world go round before Tesla (and still do in many ways), but they've both developed rabid packs who are viciously against what they helped start. Attempting to understand the creation of god and how it works is an admirable goal. But when you start to call such a thing heresy and renounce it because you take things literally that where written before we knew what germs and plate tectonics and epilepsy are.
And it's a shame too that they crapped on a tradition of philosophy and learning. Unlike the Ottomans, I have my doubts ISIS is that big into the Greek philosophers.

Without religion terror would still be among us, unfortunately, maybe worse so

…idk

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I think you have summed it up all rather well.

Rereading Sam Harris' Letter to a Christian Nation, I realized I can do what he did but only way better because I have that understanding he doesn't have. He's clearly an outsider looking in. I abandoned a path towards church leadership and haven't even looked back to look in (though I often hear little has changed).
And, indeed, they shaped and molded a terrible enemy not to be reckoned with. But in California they don't come preaching or pestering so I've grown lazy and out of shape from the lack of encounters with wild fundies out in the wild, lol. It has been awhile since I've had an Elder or some other "specialist" or leader sent after me. I may not even be able to roar much anymore, lmao.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Without religion terror would still be among us, unfortunately, maybe worse so

…idk

True, but religion is known for creating terrors. Terrors of the unknown, of a wrathful and angry god, demons and devils, sins and superstition.

 

[Spirit of Light]

Science is skeptical, rational, and intellectually rigorous. It's evidence based, encourages testing, and discards that which is found faulty. It's comfortable with new knowledge, even if transformative.

Skepticism and rationality threaten faith. Testing threatens established "knowledge."
Religion discourages questioning, does not test, and retains that which has been found faulty.

Religion is hallowed conventionalism.

My teacher in sufism always tell me, be skeptical, investigate find answers.
Sound a bit like science

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Question: What if God has to use physics as in our physical worlds law to give believers "proof" of his existence? Would not science be able to pick up those "signs" but interpret them not as God but as physics?

The thing is with that is you're assigning an agent where there is none.

I know this sounds redundant but if god works the laws of physics, you'd have to describe which god that is.

It has to be a god that all can agree so when we decide if physics are a sign of god via the natural world, we are on the same page.

If not it's just from your understanding. Science doesn't work by that. Your view would be biased. So, I couldn't see how God could do that. Educate the savage?

(By the way. Science has no disbelievers. If physics are actual signs from a specific god (a creator) our beliefs/disbeliefs would be irrelevant; it would be fact)

And believe me. Science will be all over it if it were fact.

 

[Fallen Prophet]

Maybe this question comes as a "shock" to someone that i ask since i am known for not trusting science
(meaning i am not afraid of science, just not see it as a valid way to answer certain questions)

But here we go...
1: Why are some religious people "afraid" of science?
2: Is there truly a way for science to disprove God or deities?
3: IF there is no "verifiable" proof of God, does that means God can not exist?
4: If science one day did discover Gods existence, does all religions fall away then? or does this part of science fall away?

I don't see any dispute between God and Science - but I also do not believe there is any way to prove God's existence.

 

[Valjean]

If rational threatens faith as u call it and actually does away with all those religions of the world guess what?

what do u think would happen?
I’ll give you one good guess.

Let's see... the same things that have happened before when faith feels threatened: persecution, suppression, crucifxions, burnings, exile, house arrests, gassings?

Without religion terror would still be among us, unfortunately, maybe worse so

…idk

Terror of what? Hasn't religion historically been a major cause of terror, as well as an opiate for those already fearful? Isn't there an inverse relationship between security and religiosity?