Funny thing is that tens of billions of dollar supercollider is testing out the claims of theoretical physicists. We also rely a huge amount on what was theoretical physics 40 years ago to power our current computers and what is still theoretical physics to design ever smaller processors and quantum transistors. Theoretical physics is as much based on evidence as any discipline and when the evidence comes up short or in support of a different version we go with that one.

An excellent example of empiricism following the lead of rationalism.

what the hell did i just read... i live in sweden one of the least religious countries in the world and i have never ever seen anyone turn to science when being stressed or during emotional times, never even heard about it.

what i can say about science is that i trust it, for many different reasons. now trust and faith are two totally different things.

you trust the natural world, such as the sun will go up tomorrow, that gravity will still be there when you wake up, these things we trust.

faith on the other hand is believing in something without any evidence to back it up.

regardless of this though, i have never heard of or seen people turning to science in times of hardship, usually we turn to friends and family for empathy and comfort.

give a *bleep* the concept of skepticism and he will blatantly abuse it

except perhaps for those accidentally put on fire and then jumping into a nearby river rather than kneeling down and praying
but then, some religious people would do the same - quick religious conversion?

"Having faith in science" implies a misunderstanding of science.

Science has to be critic and used against every dogmatism, at least from my point of view.

seems you are not from america, they just love dogmatism there

but to your signature: 'mother jokes' are childish

I think the idea is that most atheists rely on science as a prescriptive worldview rather than merely as a methodology.

A non-religious life seems devoid of any objective meaning, and the pursuit of empirical knowledge for many is a replacement for the purpose that only the religious have. It is a way to avoid the existential angst that comes with a lack of belief in God.

Most atheists go a step further: they believe in naturalism (almost universally). Naturalism is a philosophy not based in any external evidence, yet nearly all atheists follow its tenets. This I think is a better way to consider the concept of "faith in science", as it is actually "faith in naturalism".

This post was edited by Voyaging on Jun 10 2013 11:48pm

another speculation, you haven't heard of secular humanism? or nihilism?
there are a few philosophical worldviews open to atheists and agnostics
just because you have some sort of 'faith' does not mean that others need to rely on a substitute
talking here about genuine atheists and agnostics who have reflected on the issue
and not the little kids who run around and claim to be atheists

was this study a joke