Science vs Dogma

Inspiration: discussion on Amazon.com about the upcoming book The God Delusion by Richard Dawkings.
Category: Rant and Rave

This is an excerpt of my response to one of the other participants in the discussion. To see the whole thing click the title above. I think this sums up one of my main reasons for basing my world view on science and not faith.

While both science and some religions possess processes to debate theoretical and theological notions, I believe this is essential for scientific theory but not for religious dogma. The very foundation of the scientific method calls for constant experimentation to discover evidence that then can be interpreted in order to draw conclusions about the universe. This comes with the understanding that our ideas about the way of things is incomplete, because we are limited by things like our technology, accumulated knowledge, and the number of scientists. No scientist worth his salt would ever claim that a theory is the end all be all of scientific knowledge.

Science demands the constant reevaluations of our understanding of the way things are, while religion adheres stridently to tradition. This scientific process is open and public. Everyone is invited to participate in this process, whether or not they have been endowed with an official scientific title. If a layperson did a series of repeatable experiments that disproved a prevailing theory, members of the scientific community would consider their findings valid and they would be incorporated into the fold of scientific theory. While I’m no theologian, my understanding is that a layperson has little to no ability to affect the prevailing theology. What the Pope says goes. In fundamentalist communities, questioning the prevailing dogma can get you kicked out or much worse. (This I do have a better understanding of, I've known a number of people who once lived in such a community, changed their thinking, became ostracized, and then moved on under pressure) Scientific debate is inherently open, religious debate is not. I believe progressive thinking is man’s greatest and most noble ability. It is what helps to make man a good and worthwhile creature.