Science operates in the natural, not the supernatural. In fact, I go so far as to state that there is no such thing as the supernatural or the paranormal.
Michael ShermerRead
You have to know evolution to understand the natural world. And that cannot be a threat to people of faith. There's a serious problem if you are forced by your faith to reject the most well-supported theory in all of science.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Understanding evolution is crucial for comprehending the natural world and should not conflict with faith.
This quote emphasizes that a proper understanding of evolution is fundamental for grasping the complexities of the natural world. It suggests that faith should not compel individuals to deny well-established scientific theories, like evolution, as this creates a conflict between scientific understanding and personal beliefs.
Themes
EvolutionFaithScienceUnderstandingNatural World
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about science education in schools, this quote emphasizes the importance of teaching evolution without undermining faith.
More from Michael Shermer
All quotes →Smart people believe weird things because they are skilled at defending beliefs they arrived at for non-smart reasons.
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Being deeply knowledgeable on one subject narrows one's focus and increases confidence, but it also blurs dissenting views until they are no longer visible, thereby transforming data collection into bias confirmation and morphing self-deception into self-assurance.
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How can we find spiritual meaning in a scientific worldview? Spirituality is a way of being in the world, a sense of one’s place in the cosmos, a relationship to that which extends beyond oneself. . . . Does scientific explanation of the world diminish its spiritual beauty? I think not. Science and spirituality are complementary, not conflicting; additive, not detractive. Anything that generates a sense of awe may be a source of spirituality. Science does this in spades. (158-159)
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But because we live in an age of science, we have a preoccupation with corroborating our myths.
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I’m a skeptic not because I do not want to believe, but because I want to know.
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