Why is science the ultimate arbiter on what exists or doesn't?

Question

After all, science is ALWAYS proven wrong throughout history. Examples go back to when scientists thought the world was flat..oops, the Earth was the center of the universe...oops, cloning will never be possible...oops, and scientists were CERTAIN that the coelocanth had been extinct since the Cretaceous Period......oops we found one in 1938, and other examples all over the world since then. Is it possible that God DOES exist, but our "science" just hasn't caught up yet?

Answer 1

Sorry, but science is NOT ALWAYS proven wrong.  If it was, you would not have technology at all.  Science makes us able to do engineering, which is in turn behind almost everything that you use in life, from cars to architechture to agriculture to paper clips.

Also, it was the church that insisted that the Earth was flat and the center of the universe, and they put a lot of people to death for suggesting otherwise.  True, a lot of scientists made theories on the universe that were wrong, but these were replaced when more information was available.

I am willing to go with science because 1) science relies on observations on what can be clearly observed and measured, not on any person's random opinion, and 2) science strives to improve its knowledge and will refute itself when proven wrong, unlike religion.

When something is referred to as a theory, a theory is just something which has been suggested and is widely favored, but which has not been proven yet.  When it is called a law, that is when they have found out that it is true in all situations.  

That's why you have the LAW of gravity and the THEORY of evolution.  Is evolution completely provable?  No, but a lot of evidence suggests it is feasible.  Is gravity completely provable?  Yes, it can be proven and measured easily and is reliable to work the same way every time.

As for the God question, don't get threatened by science.  If there is a God, then God created all of science and the laws behind it.  If anything, science is the study of God's creation.

Answer 2

It's possible. It's also possible that Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy all actually exist, as well, but our "science" just hasn't caught up to any of THEM yet, either. You can believe however you wish, obviously. Personally, I believe it's virtually impossible to tangibly prove OR disprove the existence of ANY diety, Christian or otherwise.

There's a quote by Stephen Roberts which I really like, and which I think really nails the entire does-God-really-exist debate between non-believers and Christians:

"I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours."

Answer 3

Because science DOES change... It is open to new ideas and can change if it is wrong... If it didn't change, and always thought it was right, it'd be a religion...

Answer 4

You must realize that most of the things you stated were proven wrong by science.  It is true, it plays a big part in our daily life,  but it is not the ultimate arbiter.  It is different in every country too. Religion does play a major role depending where you come from.  Also, many scientific theories are based of religious one.

Answer 5

That's the way it is when insistence on physical evidence is the be-all and end-all of a thing.

Answer 6

It's possible, as much as the opposite is possible. Science has a long way to go  for sure.

Answer 7

Science is still the best thing going. Science will admit mistakes when new discoveries are made.  If science finds proof of god, science will accept that and incorporate that for the future.

Answer 8

You can test and measure things that exist; however, there is no way to test something which is a matter of personal faith. I will never be able to use scientific method to test the existence of the Great Pumpkin.

Why do you need proof anyway? I thought blind faith was enough.