I am, first and foremost, a skeptic. My lack of belief in deities or the supernatural is a product of my demand for evidence: "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." But too often I've heard believers in a god or the immaterial assert that "atheism is just another religion," or that "skeptics have turned science into their religion." They're likely to try to attempt to wrap up discussions on the subject with, "You believe what you want, and I'll believe what I want."
A few days ago, I departed New York City's Garment District after having attended an annual four-day conference known as NECSS -- the North East Conference on Science and Skepticism. Produced by the New York City Skeptics (of which I am a member), it brings together some of the finest minds in science and rationality, and attracts freethinkers and skeptics from all over the globe. At this year's conference, I had the pleasure of spending time with skeptic friends from the Czech Republic whom I had met at another conference last October.
We heard from scientists and physicians, philosophers and journalists, an octogenarian magician who prefers the title "conjurer," and even a NASA astronaut. There was some political discussion as well -- mostly consisting of dismay over the current administration -- but much of that was based in concern for the planet and the survival of life here, including humanity. We weren't there to bash religion or political conservatives, although people who oppose vaccinating infants against deadly diseases did not fare well in most discussions.
At one point I wondered if we were holding a sort of "skeptics revival meeting" -- a bunch of non-believers sitting together in a darkened room, nodding solemnly at PowerPoint slides, as if we were lost in prayer. To a naive observer it might well appear that way. But then I thought, NO. This is the farthest thing from religious worship!
And why? Because what was being presented to us consisted of facts -- the results of painstaking observation, not ancient texts written before the discovery of the scientific method. We were encouraged repeatedly to ask difficult and probing questions, not to simply parrot liturgy, and never question or deviate. Everyone on that stage was willing to say "I don't know" to inquiries that went beyond the limits of their knowledge. Everyone was willing -- no, eager -- to be proven wrong by new and better information gathered by colleagues or students. Quite the opposite of the typical clerical response to questions: "You must trust in the Lord, my son. Do not question His methods."
So adherence to science is not faith; it is the opposite, in that nothing is accepted as "gospel" without evidence. Neither skepticism nor atheism are religions; they are the pathways to greater understanding that transcend the artificial barriers that religion erects. "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy," said the Bard. But the philosophy of NECSS -- of science and skepticism -- is that we can dream of more things, because ultimately we will come to understand them.
A few days ago, I departed New York City's Garment District after having attended an annual four-day conference known as NECSS -- the North East Conference on Science and Skepticism. Produced by the New York City Skeptics (of which I am a member), it brings together some of the finest minds in science and rationality, and attracts freethinkers and skeptics from all over the globe. At this year's conference, I had the pleasure of spending time with skeptic friends from the Czech Republic whom I had met at another conference last October.
We heard from scientists and physicians, philosophers and journalists, an octogenarian magician who prefers the title "conjurer," and even a NASA astronaut. There was some political discussion as well -- mostly consisting of dismay over the current administration -- but much of that was based in concern for the planet and the survival of life here, including humanity. We weren't there to bash religion or political conservatives, although people who oppose vaccinating infants against deadly diseases did not fare well in most discussions.
At one point I wondered if we were holding a sort of "skeptics revival meeting" -- a bunch of non-believers sitting together in a darkened room, nodding solemnly at PowerPoint slides, as if we were lost in prayer. To a naive observer it might well appear that way. But then I thought, NO. This is the farthest thing from religious worship!
And why? Because what was being presented to us consisted of facts -- the results of painstaking observation, not ancient texts written before the discovery of the scientific method. We were encouraged repeatedly to ask difficult and probing questions, not to simply parrot liturgy, and never question or deviate. Everyone on that stage was willing to say "I don't know" to inquiries that went beyond the limits of their knowledge. Everyone was willing -- no, eager -- to be proven wrong by new and better information gathered by colleagues or students. Quite the opposite of the typical clerical response to questions: "You must trust in the Lord, my son. Do not question His methods."
So adherence to science is not faith; it is the opposite, in that nothing is accepted as "gospel" without evidence. Neither skepticism nor atheism are religions; they are the pathways to greater understanding that transcend the artificial barriers that religion erects. "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy," said the Bard. But the philosophy of NECSS -- of science and skepticism -- is that we can dream of more things, because ultimately we will come to understand them.
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