Belief

I believe in science.

All scientists and engineers do.

We take it on faith that electrons exist, and that the great results and theorems hold up to scrutiny. We trust our colleagues and historians when they report on important experimental results.

I don't pretend to understand evolution beyond what was explained in my high school textbook, but I believe in it. I believe that the scientists employed the scientific method, and that this theorem has stood up to scrutiny over the decades.

We take these things on faith because it is impractical for us to do otherwise. Yes, with time, resources, and effort, I would reproduce the experiments I read in journal and textbooks, but this is rather unlikely, isn't it. Repeatability is a good principle, but is for all intents and purposes a platitude. We rely on faith and trust.

How are we (science believers) any different than the religious zealot who has read his holy book and several commentaries on it; has read and heard about the observations of miracles and mystical experiences from others; and intellectually agrees with the tenets of his faith? Are adherents to science that far off from religious zealots?

Science works, you say? Bridges hold up the weight of vehicles, my plasma TV set works, etc. But how do we know these results were obtained from the scientific method. For all we know, these results could have been obtained by silent medication and prayer. We trust the folks who reported these results that lead to technological progress that they used the scientific method.