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Permalink Reply by Dave G on February 5, 2012 at 11:10am

As far as whether or not religion is inherently anti-scientific or not, there is a difference between whether or not something can be addressed by science and whether or ot something is anti-scientific.

For example, the idea of a deistic god that initiated the creation of the universe (or multiverse) and has never interfered or affected our universe since that point is untestable by science. Hiwever, it is not necessarily anti-scientific, as that belief is perfectly capable of coexisting with a completely scientific worldview of our universe.

However, most religions deal in revelation and that *is* anti-science. In science, knowledge comes from observation, experimentation, and applying the scientific method to disprove/support stated hypotheses. Revealed knowledge not only does not require evidence, it is often considered superior to evidence-based knowledge by its adherents.

And I think that the "the universe must have a purpose and therefore so do I" is used to offset many religions' assumption of human worthlessness, at least in the Abrahamic faiths.

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Permalink Reply by No Nick for me on February 5, 2012 at 10:37pm

My opinion on this topic is clear. I used to be anxious about my place in the world and the meaning of my life but once I got to terms on it and drifted towards becoming an atheist, I realized something very closely related to what you are seeing.

The need for a higher meaning is so extremely, deeply rooted in our culture because of religion. You are right, we do not need something like it, but we grow up thinking that we need it. Even the notion that there might be no meaning is terrifying to us because we have grown to assume that the alternative would be loosing the most valuable thing we have. It is just another way of religion to put fear into our minds and to control us. I do not claim that the pope or other religious leaders have this ulterior motive -even though I wouldn't be suprised- but that this just happens to be the case. It is like clutching to a rope, thinking you are above an abyss, even though your feet are just a few inches from the ground.

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