WOTM: Science and Religion are Mortal Enemies, Part II
The values of science are at war with the values of religion.
This episode looks at the democratic nature of science vs. the authoritarian nature of Abrahamic Religion. ENJOY!!!
Comments (7)
Brian, really? You want specifics on discrimination in science? <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/10/15/berkeley-astronomer-resigns-over-sexual-harassment-investigation" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/10/15/berkeley-astronomer-resigns-over-sexual-harassment-investigation</a> <a href="http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-caltech-professor-suspended-for-harassment-20160112-story.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-caltech-professor-suspended-for-harassment-20160112-story.html</a> <a href="https://www.aps.org/publications/apsnews/201512/astronomy.cfm" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.aps.org/publications/apsnews/201512/astronomy.cfm</a> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2015/jun/10/tim-hunt-old-men-women-controversy-science" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2015/jun/10/tim-hunt-old-men-women-controversy-science</a> <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-33090022" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-33090022</a> <a href="http://gizmodo.com/barbie-f-cks-it-up-again-1660326671" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://gizmodo.com/barbie-f-cks-it-up-again-1660326671</a> And I am sure I can find some more. As a physicist I am outraged that this goes on, as a father of a daughter interested in science I am worried. And this is the "advice columnist" from the American Association for the Advancement of Science one of the preeminent organizations! Just put up with it! <a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/06/02/aaas-pulls-sexist-advice-column-amid-outcry-readers" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/06/02/aaas-pulls-sexist-advice-column-amid-outcry-readers</a> It is all too common....... I am sure I can find more! These are just the last 6 months or so in my memory.
As I work in another field, I don't have any access to what goes on inside. Thanks for this info.
I never thought of democracy in this way before. This is a tremendously important insight. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you Brian for your thoughtful piece.
I enjoyed your latest piece, well thought out and demonstrated as usual. The one caveat that occurred to me was when you first said that science is open to all contributions, regardless of who makes those contributions. While this is the ideal, sadly it is not always the reality in science as a human institution. Misogyny, for instance, is regrettably rampant in a number of disciplines. In such cases, a woman's contribution may be just as valid and valuable as a man's contribution, but she faces greater hurdles is making that contribution. None of this discredits your core argument, but it does go to show that people are complicated and multi-faceted creatures, who are capable of bad things for reasons that have nothing to do with religion.
Hey Stephen!!! Yes, you're right. Science doesn't care, but people still have their prejudices and biases. Still better than the world at large I think, but we're not there yet. If you have any specific information about women being discriminated against in science, I'd like to hear about it. I'd like to make a video about that subject and how we might be able to get beyond that kind of thing. Let me know, and thanks so much for your support. I really appreciate it!!!
Well said Brian! Let's hope your message gets through to some of the "proud to be an American" but "blinded by faith" folks!
That is the hope, isn't it? I think about that a lot when I make these videos, and realize that much of what I do is prophylactic. My videos may not get directly to the people who really do need to see them. But they are ammunition for the choir, and giving people the resources to go out there and make the case -- or share a video -- has proved valuable. I have the emails from people who've changed their minds to prove it. Those are always my favorite emails -- aside from notification of YOUR comments, obviously! ;-) Thanks so much for your support!!!