Is atheism a scientific perspective?

[Whateverist]

This was my response as well, though it seems not to have been posted before I shut it down this morning.

There is no link as Rob says and in fact some atheists claim to be spiritual, etc.  But it is quite fair to point out that every mainstream xtian sect embraces empirical claims not based on observation or measurement.  In other words, xtians start off committed to empirical claims for which they do not consult science.  And yet empirical claims are precisely those which make up the domain of science.  That isn't to say such a xtian couldn't be a good scientist in regard to other questions but when it comes to the origins of the universe, the development of life on earth or the relationship between consciousness and the human brain xtians are not good scientists. Instead they seek to cherry pick evidence that supports the empirical beliefs their religion commits them to.

I disagree. A lot of Christians can and have always been good scientists. We have an obvious apparent bias. Given that we all know that science should be protected from personal bias, we are forced to take our bias into account at every turn. On the other hand, non religious scientists do not have their biases labelled. They are still incredibly biased people, but they are not necessarily held up to the same bias-avoiding behavior that religious scientists are.

I can't believe you just OMGUS'd* non-Christian scientists over their lack of god belief. You've identified no personal bias likely to distort their findings yet cast shade on them all gratuitously. Worse, you seem to feel that dancing around your own easily identifiable bias some how inoculates the lot of you against any further occurrence of personal bias. You give no reason for either finding non-Christian scientists biased or finding Christian scientists less biased. I'd say this post of yours indicates your personal bias immunity theory is bunko.


* http://wiki.mafiascum.net/index.php?titl...d_You_Suck