The Scientific Method And Faith-Based Research

[thesometimesaint]

 

There is no way to scientifically test a faith claim. They by definition are non-falsifiable....

 

 

That depends on what you mean by science. According to wiki, "Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...In modern usage 'science' most often refers to a way of pursuing knowledge, not only the knowledge itself."

 

Alma 32, D&C 9, Moroni 10, and other passages suggest viable ways to test faith claims.

I happen to believe such approaches are as scientific and reliable as anything the world has to offer.

 

Thoughts?

 

 

 

The keys are "testable", and accurate "predictions". IE; If I claim axeheads float, as the Bible clearly states. Then the test is pretty straight forward. I throw an axehead into a river and see if it floats. After many such tests by different people if it doesn't float then an accurate prediction would be that axeheads don't float. Also at the time of Galileo it was roundly thought that objects fall a different speeds. He presented convincing evidence that they fall at the same speed. Any variation is due to air resistant and not the shape or weight.

SEE http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2014/11/06/watch-feather-bowling-ball-fall-speed/#.VaJ-y_k99lc

 

Then came Einstein.

[katherine the great]

 

I consider observation to be the first step in the scientific method....I'm a firm believer in the scientific method but I don't attempt to test spiritual phenomena through empirical methods.

 

Hi Katherine,

 

Added: [i would agree that observation leads to valuable hypotheses.]

 

But I'm not sure whether we're agreeing or disagreeing on the rest.

 

 

 

Yah I really don't know either because I didn't read the original thread that this one is based on.  

[tagriffy]

The keys are "testable", and accurate "predictions". IE; If I claim axeheads float, as the Bible clearly states. Then the test is pretty straight forward. I throw an axehead into a river and see if it floats. After many such tests by different people if it doesn't float then an accurate prediction would be that axeheads don't float. Also at the time of Galileo it was roundly thought that objects fall a different speeds. He presented convincing evidence that they fall at the same speed. Any variation is due to air resistant and not the shape or weight.

SEE http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/2014/11/06/watch-feather-bowling-ball-fall-speed/#.VaJ-y_k99lc

 

Then came Einstein.

 

The Bible doesn't claim ax heads float; it only claims an ax head floated under certain circumstances (2 Kings 6:5-7). Those circumstances are probably not replicable, and thus can't be tested.

[thesometimesaint]

The Bible doesn't claim ax heads float; it only claims an ax head floated under certain circumstances (2 Kings 6:5-7). Those circumstances are probably not replicable, and thus can't be tested.

 

It claims that an axehead floated. One offs don't make science.

 

The joy of science is that if it can't be repeatedly tested, replicated, and logical accurate predictions made by it, it isn't science. IE; If many people repeatedly threw axeheads into a river and they didn't float. A logical accurate prediction is that axeheads don't float. Also if I burn hydrogen in the presence of oxygen and miniature flying pink elephants pop out. Then it is most

likely me that did something wrong and not the chemical reaction. If I go before my fellow chemists and try to convince them that it was God doing it I'd get laughed out of the profession, deservedly.

[tagriffy]

It claims that an axehead floated. One offs don't make science.

 

The joy of science is that if it can't be repeatedly tested, replicated, and logical accurate predictions made by it, it isn't science. IE; If many people repeatedly threw axeheads into a river and they didn't float. A logical accurate prediction is that axeheads don't float. Also if I burn hydrogen in the presence of oxygen and miniature flying pink elephants pop out. Then it is most

likely me that did something wrong and not the chemical reaction. If I go before my fellow chemists and try to convince them that it was God doing it I'd get laughed out of the profession, deservedly.

 

Exactly. One offs don't make science. But the Bible doesn't say that ax heads float. It said that on one occasion, under circumstances that are not replicable, an ax head floated. The story itself recognizes this is not an everyday occurrence.

[mfbukowski]

 If I go before my fellow chemists and try to convince them that it was God doing it I'd get laughed out of the profession, deservedly.

Well in that case I suppose you have a few alternatives.

 

1- Stop believing in God

2- Define your beliefs better so you stop coming up with false dichotomies that you know are false just because you want to be noticed

3- "Get out of your profession" which, since you are retired haven't been "in" for years anyway.

4- Stop posting

 

Which shall it be?

[thesometimesaint]

Well in that case I suppose you have a few alternatives.

 

1- Stop believing in God

2- Define your beliefs better so you stop coming up with false dichotomies that you know are false just because you want to be noticed

3- "Get out of your profession" which, since you are retired haven't been "in" for years anyway.

4- Stop posting

 

Which shall it be?

 

Your a few ideas short of a complete hypothesis.   How about use science to help my understanding of how God works.

Edited July 14, 2015 by thesometimesaint

[mfbukowski]

Never mind.

Edited July 14, 2015 by mfbukowski

[Teancum]

Never mind.

Good call.

[omni]

Well in that case I suppose you have a few alternatives.

1- Stop believing in God

2- Define your beliefs better so you stop coming up with false dichotomies that you know are false just because you want to be noticed

3- "Get out of your profession" which, since you are retired haven't been "in" for years anyway.

4- Stop posting

Which shall it be?

Ouch! Don't you think that was a little harsh?

[mfbukowski]

Ouch! Don't you think that was a little harsh?

Probably but not as harsh as the one I caught in time.

 

I probably should not post on these topics anymore.

Edited July 15, 2015 by mfbukowski

[Teancum]

Probably but not as harsh as the one I caught in time.

Such a noble fellow you are.

Edited July 14, 2015 by Teancum