Re: Questioning scientific community credibilty


Keith H Duggar wrote:
> Jody wrote:
> > Okay,
> > This is one thing i've always wondered:
> >
> > How do creationists explain how countless extremely well
> > educated, peer reviewed, professional scientists along
> > many different branches of science are 'completely off
> > the mark'?
>
> By pointing out the obvious, that they are human? Anyone
> who has studied the history of science knows that if one
> cycle is repeated time and time again it is this: there
> is a period lasting decades or longer during which dogma
> is zealously defended by scientists who "know" they are
> "right" even though a new paradigm destined to replace
> the dogma has already been proposed.

You just described a typical religion.

> If you want to know more about this phenomenon, start by
> reading Thomas Kuhn (though many scientist have pointed
> out and/or experienced the same).

As have many free thinkers who dared question the preacher.

> > I hear about them saying the evidence for evolution is
> > biased, but why bother?
> >
> > Is there some supposed big international conspiracy or
> > something? Are they being controlled by Lord Vol..er..
> > You-Know-Who?
>
> LOL, no need for conspiracy. It is simply human nature.
> Greed, selfishness, pride, arrogance, smugness, apathy,
> etc, etc, sadly all factor into the human practice of
> science.

You're projecting religious dogma against an area where it doesn't
exist.

> > I can see creationists being biased (they get a spot
> > upstairs and no riffraff for neighbors if they are right)
> > but evolutionists get nothing, so why would they make it
> > all up? :) Why lie when there is nothing to gain?
>
> Oh no, no. Scientists have much to gain for being good
> little dogmatic sheep. Fame (recognition) and fortune
> (funding) among MANY other benefits.

As any successful televangelist can testify.

> And on the other hand,
> standing against dogma brings you stress, poverty, exile,
> etc. Some have even been driven to suicide never living to
> see their ideas reign supreme.

Going against the grain in a repressive religious environment results
in ostracism. Such cases are numerous.

> > Or is their opinion dummies rise to the top in science?
>
> No, but humans certainly do. And, as you must know, humans
> are subject to irrationality and crowd behavior.

Revival meetings tend to do that. It frees people's hold on their
spare change much more easily.

> > Wouldn't someone become immensely rich from seminars etc
> > if that person could disprove evolution?
>
> Eh? Of course not. They would be shunned and exiled to the
> Discovery Institute :-)

Only if they're too looney even for evangelists to tolerate. :-)

.

Relevant Pages

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