The Scientific Perspective of Passion & Faith

Q) How do you annoy a Scientist?

A) Say that science isn't so different from Religion.

Literary theorist Stanley Fish wrote, "Science requires faith too before it can have reasons".

Most scientists, as seen online, are annoyed by such statements as they propose that science and religion have a similar philosophical analysis of knowledge. I am of a similar opinion in which there a multiple knowledge branches and that there is evidence that religious narratives co-exist with scientific ones.

Professor Michael Sherburn

Professor Michael Sherburn, is a Professor of Synthetic Organic Chemistry at The Australian National University.

Upon sending out many requests to Scientific professionals on their opinion on Scientific Passion and Religious Faith, Professor Michael Sherburn responded and is of the view that Science and Religion cannot co-exist on the basis of Religion being belief-based thinking and Science is logic-based thinking.

He is of the view that the origins of religion and science are similar, inasmuch as they both try (or have tried) to explain the world around us. They are connected somewhat tangentially through more philosophical and artistic ways of thinking, but they are fundamentally distinct, and necessarily so. 

Scientific passion vs Religious Faith

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd_-w9YZurI

Professor Sherburn upon watching my above introductory video commented :

"I think that your categorisation of science as “passion” is wrong. One can be passionate about one’s science and/or one’s religion, or one’s interest in perfecting the baking of a chocolate cake. Thus, “passion” doesn’t summarise scientific thinking. "

He stressed the importance of Scientists not straying away from the Scientific Method as it is the basis of "all scientific thinking" and is highly distinguishable from belief-based thinking.

Not being critical, however more-so on the notion of balance, their are Scientists in which have come out and confessed that they do not conflict their logic-based thinking and belief-based thinking.

Scientist Mayim Bialik, better known as her role as Amy Farrah Fowler-Cooper on The Big Bang Theory, commented that when it comes to science, her belief-based thinking makes a "full experience" of understanding and enjoying scientific discoveries (logic-based thinking).

So in a similar note, it would be valid to state that Scientist who are religious, use both forms of thinking and that belief-based thinking is only supplementary. In relation to logical-based thinking, Professor Sherburn was also of the opinion that the use of the phrase of “scientists are only supposed to believe in…” in the introduction video is incorrect, since any scientist who “believes” anything relating to science is making an egregious error. He also thinks that many people would benefit from having a clearer understanding of the difference between scientific and religious thinking.

Instead of having beliefs, scientists have opinions that are based upon the weight of evidence. One can be passionate about science but one also has to be objective, as a scientist - Professor Sherburn

The Scientific Perspective on Science and Religion in relation to principle-based thinking are two completely different forms of processing information. Being intelligent-beings, there is a high percentage of individuals who analyse and utilise multiple principle-based thinking when it comes to knowledge acquisition. Commenting from Professor Sherburn's perspective, Scientists predominantly and supremely use logic-based thinking to avoid any potential biases or errors.