It's a most despised word. Religionists use it to criticize the likes of Dr. Richard Dawkins and Daniel Dennett:
Scientism means that someone has "turned science into a religion". What the critics mean by that, since science is based on evidence and religion is based on ideas, is beyond me. See, we can produce a set of expressions that even a King James Christian would understand.
Religion takes an unfounded idea and tries to make the evidence fit:
Idea <- Evidence
Science takes evidence and rationally evolves an idea (theory):
Evidence -> Idea
So religion and science are actually opposite patterns of thought. How could science be a religion? Oh, I know! The critics mean religion as a paradigm, a world view, a "way of life". In this case I totally agree: science is (and shall be) my religion.
So call me a practitioner of Scientism. I confess! I totally accept responsibility for seeing the world through the eye reason rather than fantasy; for relying on proven theories rather than archaic commandments; for continually correcting myself with current data rather than insisting that "God's Word does not change".
This is the way of Scientism, the love of nature and naturalism, the way of truth, the data driven life. Dibs on that book title.
The method of Scientism is observation, question, and investigation, leading to conclusion and action. The creed of Scientism is data locuta causa finita. When the facts are presented, the matter is settled.
Whereas irrationality is the root of all (every kind of) evil, Scientism is the cure for evil and the source of all good. Scientism is what this dark world needs: a clear beam of light.
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