Science: It Works, Bitches

Faith can be a wonderful thing, adding depth and meaning to a life that might otherwise be overwhelmed by the immense nature of our universe and the role that we play in it for the brief time we're here.

Not everyone believes the same things, nor should they. It's our disparity of thought and quest to find answers in a myriad of ways that keeps the human race plunging forward. Faith (and religion) play a role here, too, although as science advances and begins to provide plausible answers to previously puzzling queries, a friction has developed between those who believe in science, those who believe in faith, and those stuck somewhere in the middle, trying to reconcile the two.

Isn't there enough science available to convince nearly everyone that the earth is not 6000 years old? We may disagree as to whether the correct age is 10 billion, or 500 million, or even 1 million, but 6000 seems completely off the mark.


That's why it is so distressing to see people in government quote the 6000 year number as their rationale for either supporting or opposing programs that deal with scientific matters.

Arizona State Senator Sylvia Allen, (R), used the statistic in a hearing before the Arizona Senate’s Retirement and Rural Development Committee, where she advocated for more uranium mining in Arizona because the state needs the money, and 6000 years of history has shown that uranium isn't bad for people.

As noted in the write-up, it's through the science of uranium's radioactive decay that we know that the earth is billions, not thousands, of years old.

When faith and religion stand in the way of our leaders making common-sense decisions that affect us all, that whole separation of church and state thing starts to make more sense.

Image via Tim Van Gorp