Americans and Religion

[kandrathe]

Truthiness:
Fundamentalist: "My belief is true and absolute. Therefore, all evidence must be interpreted in a way that supports my belief."

Beliefs dictate evidence.

Truth:
Skeptic: "My beliefs are dictated by evidence. The evidence will be analyzed and logical inferences will be made."

Evidence dictates beliefs.

Well, the fundie was certainly narrow minded for trying to make facts fit where they won't. But in a way you are being equally narrow minded in limiting your reality to physical evidence. There is much about this universe, both macro- and microscopic that you will never perceive.

For example, reality might have begun exactly 25 seconds ago, but I wouldn't know that and it's not very likely since there is absolutely nothing that indicated it did. But did the universe just spontaneously pop into existence some 16 billion years ago? Maybe, and it makes for some interesting discussions and guesses. So how is it different for you to believe the high priests of cosmology or physics when they give their sermons on the age of the universe? Have you ever seen a quark? Me either.