Modern science has led to great advances in modern civilization, enabling people to live longer and more conveniently. However, many enamored by modern science, who do not practice the rigorous controlled experimentation or apply the mathematics that is its foundation, view it more as an ideological faith and attempt to use it to replace religion. There was a lot of resistance to science by traditional religions that were unable to transcend inherited dogma. This contributed to a non-rational conflict between science and religion that led many people to reject religion in the name of science. Those who do so can be said to profess a faith in “scientism.”

Today, scientism often expresses itself in the shallow slogans of popular culture and the politics of interest groups, rather than the genuine promotion of scientific knowledge through the use of scientific methods. And, many research grants and political policies follow this scientism, rather than genuine science because the scientific-sounding rhetoric convinces those making the policies or giving out grants. This often wastes millions of taxpayer dollars, and is no less fraudulent than selling a taxpayer a fraudulent promise of salvation.