Why do BIG BANG SCIENTIST use the phrase," we believe"?

Question

Without fail scientist often state I believe when presenting their evidence, Does this mean scientific data is faith or facts? I hear preachers say we believe also....james hollow earth man

Answer 1

We believe a THEORY until it is proved to be lacking or wrong. Then WE BELIEVE the new theory that replaces the flawed Theory.  Science is supposed to always be open to question, and testing of Theories is supposed to be the Norm.  EXCEPT when it comes to THEORIES that are being supported by Political support. You can get a grant to study Man Made Global Warming, but you won't get a dime to study Global Cooling. With Man Made Global Warming you are supposed to have FAITH in Al Gore and ignore any fact that does not support His Theory as Fact.

Answer 2

You used both the phrases "without fail" and "often state" to describe the same thing.

That fact, in itself, makes me wonder about your motives in stating two totally different and contradictory "facts" as "truth".

And the "fact" that you juxtaposition preachers use to scientists use leads ME to "believe" you are not asking from desire for knowledge but to make a statement of your own. And a rather discrediting one at that.

Thinly veiled trollism. That's my theory.

Answer 3

Cause they really don't have a clue!

x

Answer 4

Do not allow this question to go up for voting. Flash Gordon has multiple user names. He is a cheat.

If you don't believe me check out his answer list. He always votes for himself 3 times.

He/she also uses the names Princess Leia and 169 moons.

Please join me to report him/her to y/a to have her banned.

Answer 5

Einstein pretty much brought both sides to a truce when he said, "Science without Religion is blind, but Religion without Science is lame."

That's my stance on this too.

Quaternios aka AL MOSKOWITZ - lay the **** off or else.  You have no right to post a remark like that.  Everyone here knows you're a demented lunatic with a perverse motive.

Answer 6

they say "we believe" because it is impossible to know.

there is a difference between a belief and a religious belief. everything in science is a belief, none of it is a religious belief. beliefs are based on facts and evidence, much like the big bang theory. religious beliefs are based on faith.

Answer 7

The Big Bang is a generally accepted theory of the origin of the universe--- however it's just a THEORY and open to debate--- we don't have or use "consensus" opinion in Astronomy.... where the debate is OVER!

Answer 8

Speculation about the big bang theory may always remain speculative.

Answer 9

When scientists say "we believe...", it's a shorthand for:

"there is a valid epistemological basis for the truth of..."

When preachers say "we believe...", it means "we have faith that....".

Answer 10

Because science is always open to new data.

Ironically religion, as in your example, is not.

Perhaps this quote from Gould will help you understand:

"in science, "fact" can only mean 'confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent.'"

The word provisional in there shows that science can't be close-minded.

Answer 11

because they really do not know.. However, on all fairness to scientists, most of their " theories are based on sound, provable methods and calculations". This gives other scientists the opportunity to prove false or affirm the theory'. I believe.

Answer 12

What is a "BIG BANG SCIENTIST," as opposed to any other scientist? Every astronomer I know agrees that the big bang theory is the hypothesis which best fits the known facts about the universe, so _every_ astronomer is a "big bang scientist."

We say "we believe" to mean "this is true to the best of our knowledge" because every scientist knows that every hypothesis only survives until a better one comes along, and so we have learned not to be arrogant. As one of my professors once said, "I believe all the theories of physics for 23 hours a day, except for the hour when the mail arrives bringing the new journals which may contain information to make me change my beliefs." How many preachers would say that?

Answer 13

Because you cannot definitely say how something happened unless you actually observe it happening.  Obviously, no human of any time could have observed the Big Bang, so no one can definitely say, "This is what happened, and this is how it happened."  The best scientists can do is observe current conditions; test and observe chemical and atomic processes and learn how they work; and extrapolate backwards from the present using their knowledge of chemical and atomic processes.  Their theories of the Big Bang are less than observable fact, but much more than just faith.

.

Answer 14

Scientific data is facts.

This isn't what people mean when they say "I believe...". The data is fact, the interpretation of the data with theories can vary, so different scientists can "believe" different theories support the data.

It's not faith, it's a way of covering their bases, since tomorrow could bring an experiment which does not agree with the theories of today, and then they'll look silly for making such bold statements.

They mean "this hypothesis best fits our observations".

Answer 15

Every scientist says this, not just cosmologists.  Nothing is ever 100% proven in science - if something could never be proved wrong, it's not considered science.  And scientists understand that.  So even when all the evidence we've ever gathered and all the tests we do confirm something, like the big bang, we'll still be saying 'we think ...' or 'we believe ... ' or 'we're pretty sure ...' because nothing real is ever 100% for sure.  

If someone is telling you there's no doubt whatsoever, they're not talking science.  They're probably trying to sell you religion.

Answer 16

Actually all scientists use the term "we believe" or "we assume" from time to time. It has nothing to do with plain fantasy though:

When a scientists believes something, it means, he has evidence and observations called hypothesis, which lead him to summarize these observations into a possible theory he has, but he has not yet managed to test all possible predictions of this theory.

The important aspect: In science, things have to be testable. Not only that, they have to care for the chance in their definition, that they can be wrong. This is a very important test in science - a theory, which can never be wrong by definition is not scientific. It is a rhetoric question, which answers itself.

In relation to the big bang, the uncertainty comes from many problems. The most important one the aspect, that nobody was around to observe and record it. Next problem: By looking into the distance, we can observe the past - but at one point in the past, the universe was still not transparent for radiation, and thus will always be invisible for us. But the 3K background radiation tells us, that it is there, where it should be according to the big bang theory.

Another problem, which makes scientists unsure, is when they have not the equipment for testing a theory. For example, we still are not able to create the conditions shortly after the Big bang like theories describe it. This means, we can not know, if our known laws of physics (which are also not complete at all) also apply to this phase.

The good thing about being a scientist is something very simple: You might not know more stuff as anybody else (scientists are pretty specialized people), but scientists know better than anybody else on this planet, what they don't know. They are experts for not knowing things - and ask questions.

Religion is about giving answers (even if the answer is wrong) - science about giving you questions (even if you can't answer them).

Answer 17

Because they are never 100% positive. Look at the atom, for example. Over  the years, the atom has been represented in a few different ways, all thought to be correct when they were presented. However, later, another scientist came along and proved them false. The same thing happened with Pluto. It was originally considered a planet but then new infromation was discovered and scientists went back and corrected their mistakes.

Answer 18

Because everything scientists  say is theorectical.  They have NO way to prove themselves or their beliefs.

WIth God its just the oppisite. We say we believe because it is truth and the proof is in the pudding.

God says he created everything, and guess what? Everything is what He created.

Ironically, every article I have read in any science mag, or book, or documentary presented, only serves to validate the creation.