Scientism

A Brave New Religion For A Brave New World

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution forbids Congress from establishing a state religion, but it seems we have one anyway. The state religion, that of scientism, is the belief that there is nothing beyond the physical. Atheism.

It looks like the definition of scientism is a bit vague. Thoughts range from strict materialism in which nothing exists outside of the material, and that science is the ultimate arbiter of truth, to the position that science just shouldn't waste time studying things outside of the physical. I think the official U.S. religion is the former.

In the article linked below, J.P. Moreland explains scientism.

https://www.crossway.org/articles/what-is-scientism/

What Is Scientism?

“Roughly, scientism is the view that the hard sciences—like chemistry, biology, physics, astronomy—provide the only genuine knowledge of reality. At the very least, this scientific knowledge is vastly superior to what we can know from any other discipline. Ethics and religion may be acceptable, but only if they are understood to be inherently subjective and regarded as private matters of opinion. According to scientism, the claim that ethical and religious conclusions can be just as factual as science, and therefore ought to be affirmed like scientific truths, may be a sign of bigotry and intolerance. Before looking in more depth at scientism—the view that the hard sciences alone have the intellectual authority to give us knowledge of reality.”

"The gift of mental power comes from God, Divine Being, and if we concentrate our minds on that truth, we become in tune with this great power. My Mother had taught me to seek all truth in the Bible." ~ Nikola Tesla

Anyone out there of intellectual stature equivalent to Tesla's is free to disagree.

The mindset promulgated in the public schools and universities is one in which all facets of life, the universe and everything consist only of and are explainable completely in terms of the physical. I say that it's the state religion because the state acts like it is. Attempts to introduce a competing world view are blocked by claiming it violates the First Amendment's separation of church and state's clause. Of course, that isn't exactly what the First Amendment prohibits, it prohibits the formation of a state religion, and prohibits the state from interfering with religion. But now we have a state religion.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. - The First Amendment of the U. S. Constitution.

We see that it prohibits a state religion, prohibits interference with religion, prohibits the interference with free speech and the press, does not allow the state to stop people from assembling or petitioning against state rules and edicts.

Again from Moreland's article:

“Scientism is found not only among those writing columns in popular magazines. It is also the required dogma in our schools, where it directly challenges Christianity’s claim to be a knowledge tradition. For example, consider the “Science Framework” issued by the state of California in 1989, designed to guide its public schools’ science curricula. The document offered teachers advice about how to address students who expressed reservations about the theory of biological macroevolution:”

“At times some students may insist that certain conclusions of science cannot be true because of certain religious or philosophical beliefs they hold. . . . It is appropriate for the teacher to express in this regard, “I understand that you may have personal reservations about accepting this scientific evidence, but it is scientific knowledge about which there is no reasonable doubt among scientists in their field, and it is my responsibility to teach it because it is part of our common intellectual heritage.”

No doubt this encompasses the point of view that the state and religion should be separated, and the state should not muddle about in the affairs of religion, but in effect they are doing exactly that, and the state’s religion is muddling about affairs of state.

"We are slowed down sound and light waves, a walking bundle of frequencies tuned into the cosmos. We are souls dressed up in sacred biochemical garments and our bodies are the instruments through which our souls play their music." ~ Albert Einstein

Anyone out there of intellectual stature equivalent to Einstein's is free to disagree.

Why, we might wonder, would the leaders of the country want to foist such a philosophy off onto the rest of us? Do they believe it themselves, or is it somehow useful for maintaining their control? After all, the first priority of anyone in power is to maintain that power.

A religion such as Christianity is basically a real pain for any aspiring dictator. What happens if your minions just say “I can't do what you just ordered. It's against the laws of God?” An evil bureaucratic machine might feel like it has sand in it's gears.

A Russian physicist with whom I worked had an anecdote; It seems that during the time of the Soviet Union there were still churches open, mainly Russian Orthodox, although the Communists had done much to suppress them. (The Communists had adopted the religion of scientism.) The KGB would send a couple of agents to attend them on a regular basis, but what would sometimes happen is that those agents listened to the sermons, became Christians and resigned their positions. Apparently the KGB treated it as an acceptable cost since it was a very small drain on their resources. No doubt our leaders fear a similar affect on our populace.

"The more I study science, the more I believe in God." ~ Albert Einstein

They have a problem when it comes to getting people to maintain faith in the state religion. At heart many just don't accept it on a basic emotional level, then many people have had miraculous or paranormal experiences. Those don't point to a particular religion, but they sure point away from scientism.

A populace made of up believers in scientism is an advantage for the powerful since it increases fear and anxiety, making them more pliable, and that fear can be used to leverage them into doing the unthinkable. I can't read the mind of John Adams, but I think he may have had this in mind as well as the general need for public decency.

"The public has a distorted view of science because children are taught in school that science is a collection of firmly established truths. In fact, science is not a collection of truths. It is a continuing exploration of mysteries." ~ Freeman Dyson

"Mind and intelligence are woven into the fabric of our universe in a way that altogether surpasses our understanding." ~ Freeman Dyson

Anyone out there of intellectual stature equivalent to Dyson's is free to disagree.

Stay Brave, Stay Free