[tubalcain]

People misinterpret science as being a collection of facts discovered by authority figures rather than a process of questioning the validity of any claims made. It's almost as if the concept of science has turned into the religion of the atheist. Unquestionable, and dictated by more holy figures than them, in the form of scientists, and in some cases politicians, rather than clergy.

[_yb2s]

I can see how they came to see it this way, since that is how science was taught to me in public school... I only knew better because both of my parents were scientists, and I grew up helping them with their research.

I think that could be changed by changing how science is taught: give people the tools to experiment and reason, and figure out an answer on their own. I'd like to see more kids volunteering to work with real scientists, and see what the work is like firsthand.

These science-as-religion people often attack me online, and in real life when I share my own ideas... and then back down and flip almost to some creepy worship when they figure out I'm an academic PI. No reasoning or evidence can convince them of anything, but credentials instantly do.

I'd like to explain to them- as an officially ordained "science priest" with the degree and job title- that believing things based on authority rather than understanding yourself is the most heinous blasphemy possible. /s

[tubalcain]

Maybe that's why people are like that, but I think it's more baked into most people than we care to admit. I think part of our human wiring is to have faith. It used to be in deities, now it is in "science!" Humans, most of them anyway, are also wired to follow authority blindly. I really don't think there's any way around it. It's not that people refuse to be skeptical, it's that they are probably incapable of it.