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General Science / How can I become more scientifically literate?
« on: 18/04/2021 19:16:53 »
First time posting on the forum.
I view science as a religion. Controversial, but please allow me to go in depth.
In short, I was raised catholic, fell out of the religion, went over 10 years of my life just lingering around as an atheist/agnostic, wasn't really sure about the existence of God, and now just things are happening in my life where I'm slowly starting to rediscover my faith... whatever that means honestly. I'm just somewhere in my life that seems a bit... bizarre to not be some sort of supernatural intervention. But again, I have no idea and this could all just be pure coincidence.
I ask this question because I want to be more scientifically literate. The question of "evidence" doesn't really just sit with me well at pure face value, because while we have "evidence" for evolution(which people deny), we also have "evidence" of Jesus being real(which people deny), so the question for me goes deeper.
I want to "hold" science in my hand. Observe it for myself. How can I do that? What can I observe for myself?
For example, the Earth being 4 billion years old. Instead of just taking someone like Neil Tyson's word for it, how can I see that the Earth is 4 billion years old for myself?
And that's where the religion part comes in. I need to take on pure "faith" that what Neil Tyson tells me about the Earth being 4 billion years old is true. Even though I have never done any personal testing for myself(and not even sure where to begin with that), and even though Neil personally never saw the formation of the Earth, he claims with 100% certainty that the Earth is 4 billion years old.
And that's why I ask what can I do for myself to test that yes, the Earth is 4 billion years old. Science is testable and observable, so what can I do to confirm that the Earth is 4 billion years old for myself?
I equate the Bible telling me that the Earth is 6,000 years old and Neil Tyson telling me the Earth is 4 billion years old the same way - I have to take on faith that what is being told to me is the truth.
I view science as a religion. Controversial, but please allow me to go in depth.
In short, I was raised catholic, fell out of the religion, went over 10 years of my life just lingering around as an atheist/agnostic, wasn't really sure about the existence of God, and now just things are happening in my life where I'm slowly starting to rediscover my faith... whatever that means honestly. I'm just somewhere in my life that seems a bit... bizarre to not be some sort of supernatural intervention. But again, I have no idea and this could all just be pure coincidence.
I ask this question because I want to be more scientifically literate. The question of "evidence" doesn't really just sit with me well at pure face value, because while we have "evidence" for evolution(which people deny), we also have "evidence" of Jesus being real(which people deny), so the question for me goes deeper.
I want to "hold" science in my hand. Observe it for myself. How can I do that? What can I observe for myself?
For example, the Earth being 4 billion years old. Instead of just taking someone like Neil Tyson's word for it, how can I see that the Earth is 4 billion years old for myself?
And that's where the religion part comes in. I need to take on pure "faith" that what Neil Tyson tells me about the Earth being 4 billion years old is true. Even though I have never done any personal testing for myself(and not even sure where to begin with that), and even though Neil personally never saw the formation of the Earth, he claims with 100% certainty that the Earth is 4 billion years old.
And that's why I ask what can I do for myself to test that yes, the Earth is 4 billion years old. Science is testable and observable, so what can I do to confirm that the Earth is 4 billion years old for myself?
I equate the Bible telling me that the Earth is 6,000 years old and Neil Tyson telling me the Earth is 4 billion years old the same way - I have to take on faith that what is being told to me is the truth.