Faith and how it relates to religion and science

[RL...]

I would strongly disagree. Science is the opposite of faith (although not mutually exclusive). Faith is belief in the absence of evidence whereas science absolutely requires evidence.

Do you think using a cell phone or a computer is a matter of faith?

I agree that complex and abstract ideas such as the big bang seem like leaps of faith because most people don't understand cosmic radiation, red shift, or other evidence behind the idea. To most people it "just sounds crazy" but it was an idea that is based on the same fundamental principles that led to your cell phone, computer, or any other invention of science.

1) Cell phones and computer are proven, tangible objects that we can ALL prove to be real. So the existence of such does not require faith.

2) There are only a handful of scientists in this world that are smart enough to really grasp the complex theories and ideas of higher physics/mathematics/chemistry/biology,quantom theory/etc... so do not act like you are a genius on the subject. You know just about as much as the average person.

3) The fundamental concepts of the big bang theory is not what led to the cell phone being invented.

4) If the big bang theory was 100% true, and could be proven then all religion would automatically be proven false. And although I never watch the news, I am going to assume this phenomenon has not happened yet.

5) There is as much evidence to support the big bang as there is against it so yes, the decision to believe the big bang theory over a religious faith still takes a faith. It is a conscience decision, and since you do not kow everything about physics/particles/chemistry then you are taking "their" word for it! And that, is fact.

[bu villain]

1) Cell phones and computer are proven, tangible objects that we can ALL prove to be real. So the existence of such does not require faith.

Agreed but you must also agree they are the results of science and hence the scientific method. See Item 3 for more.

2) There are only a handful of scientists in this world that are smart enough to really grasp the complex theories and ideas of higher physics/mathematics/chemistry/biology,quantom theory/etc... so do not act like you are a genius on the subject. You know just about as much as the average person.

I'm not sure what I said to make you think I was claiming to be a genius on any subject. I guess I should avoid even mentioning scientific principles or maybe just disagreeing with you. Either way, you are attacking me, not my reasoning with this one.

3) The fundamental concepts of the big bang theory is not what led to the cell phone being invented.

Agreed but the scientific method led to both. The method used to reach the big bang theory is what makes it less of a leap of faith than religion. The fact that many experiments have been done which could disprove it and yet don't are what makes it more legitimate.

4) If the big bang theory was 100% true, and could be proven then all religion would automatically be proven false. And although I never watch the news, I am going to assume this phenomenon has not happened yet.

I hate to be a stickler for semantics but it is important in this case. Science never proves anything to be true, it can only proves things false. Also if the big bang theory was "true" that doesn't negate religion unless you are taking certain creation doctrines literally. Most people don't take the bible or other holy books literally, they take them allegorically.

5) There is as much evidence to support the big bang as there is against it so yes, the decision to believe the big bang theory over a religious faith still takes a faith. It is a conscience decision, and since you do not kow everything about physics/particles/chemistry then you are taking "their" word for it! And that, is fact.

If there is even one piece of evidence that disproves the big bang then it will no longer be accepted at all, that's how science works. You are right that there is a certain amount faith in believing science you don't understand, but if you do understand it then it takes very little faith at all. Certainly you put faith in your doctor when he tells you that you need an injection. You have faith in him and the science he studied but would you really put that faith on the same level as religious faith?