Scientific Faith

I have always been deeply interested in science.  A legacy of my Dad.  I also enjoy noting how much science relies on faith.  Especially in outerspace and quatum mechanics.  You know there is something there, you see the results, so you form conclusions about what you cannot see based on what you can see.   "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."  (Hebrews 11:1 NAS) Sometimes they get it right, sometimes they get it wrong, and sometimes they think they have it right and then its back to the drawing board.

The article above concerns the properties of "dark matter."  Its a good article, but I want to highlight a couple of quotes from it.

• "New measurements of tiny galaxies contradict scientists' best model of dark matter, further complicating the already mysterious picture of the stuff that is thought to make up 98 percent of all matter in the universe."
• "Despite not knowing exactly what dark matter is, scientists have gradually built up a good model to describe its behavior."
• "After completing this study, we know less about dark matter than we did before,"

So's here the general idea.  They see something affecting what they can see, so while they can't see or detect this "dark matter" they know its there because something is having this other effect.  Now they may be right.  There really may be dark matter.  Of course, it could be God, or another unknown natural force hitherto undiscovered.  My point is that they are operating of faith, and as such, they are no different from how I arrive at my conviction about God.  I cannot see Him directly, but I can see the effects and I can measure the difference He makes.  Everyone operates of faith, whether faith in themselves, faith in the universe, faith in the unknown, or faith in God.  Faith in science is still faith.   I am facinated by all we are learning about our world and our galaxy.  With each new discovery I am more amazed at the world God has made.

UPDATE: http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/09/opinion/urry-dark-energy/index.html Another good article on the subject of Dark Matter.  A good quote from the beginning of the article.  "Their discovery did not fit any existing theory, so it had mind-blowing implications for our understanding of the physical world."  Enjoy

UPDATE 2:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/clay-naff/physics-and-the-soul_b_995646.html "Can Physics Save Your Soul."  Another author having fun with this same subject.  A fun and thought provoking read.