Hi, I am atheist of three years. When my friends are discussing why atheists don’t believe in God they reply, 'they believe in science’. I’m an avid atheist, but I don’t know anything about science, I’m a photography major and habitual weed smoker. I assumed that after converting from a religion I would immediately be instilled with scientific information, but it hasn’t happened yet. The question is what is the easiest and fastest way to learn about science without taking a biology course? Because that would just be too much work.
Posted: June 1st 2010
logicel
Most atheists and many theists accept science. Such acceptance is not a belief.
Getting involved with science varies from atheist to atheist. Some do not bother with it at all (in terms of studying it and/or reading popular science sources). Others try to keep up to date with the latest scientific findings. Yet others are professional, practicing scientists.
One aspect of science that is easy to understand is the scientific method. Knowledge which is acquired through this method is called scientific knowledge. Such knowledge is considered to be the only valid kind. The knowledge that religious believers tout, is not knowledge, but bias based on unproven, non-evidential, faith-based dogma.
Certainly human experience is subjective, and it can be filled with many aspects which are due to our emergent properties like emotions and the mind. For example, a religious believer can experience a divine revelation. Such an experience is not knowledge, but just an subjective moment in itself. However, if such an experience can be supported with evidence and the scientific method, that is, the person actually did have an encounter with an divine entity, then the existence of this entity can be added to our knowledge base.
As for the actual knowledge itself, oh, goodness, it is immense! Professional scientists practicing an scientific field do not profess all the scientific knowledge that exists in their own chosen broad field of science, hence the necessity of scientific specialties like particle physics or molecular biology.
You could get a subscription, either online or via snail delivery, to an scientific publication (check the listings under United States and United Kingdom). ScienceBlogs hosts many blogs which cover science. There are many excellent books about science aimed at the non-scientist. Here is a post (plus comments) at ScienceBlogs listing many favorite science books mostly written for non-scientists.
Science is at the basis of both your major, photography and your 'hobby.’ Perhaps that is where you need to focus because those are subjects which you enjoy. Optics is one branch of science of which photographers need to be knowledgeable. Neuroscience can give you some insight why your 'hobby’ affects you the way it does.
What I do, is that I hunt around for science blogs I like and put them on my newsreader. Every day, I get a little dose of science, quite palatable actually.
Last but not least, everyone should possess an built-in baloney detection kit. Get yours today!
Posted: June 5th 2010