Science is a general term or even an incomplete term. Unless understood correctly it can give a false impression by persons who want it defined to reflect a (= their) bias.
Historically, Science attempts to explain reality according to paradigmS, also known as presupposition(s). Before the rise of Darwinism, in the latter half of the nineteenth century, the reigning scientific paradigm was Creationism-Design. Its presuppositions accepted reality to be the product or effect of direct Divine power, mind and intelligence. But between 1859 and 1874, that is, when Darwin's
Origin of Species converted biology to evolutionism, scientific paradigm change occurred. Science abandoned the presuppositions of Creationism-Design and adopted the presuppositions of Materialism-Naturalism. These suppositions assume the exact opposite of Creationism-Design, that reality is not the product or effect of Divine mind, intelligence or power, but unguided material processes.
In essence, paradigm change shifted from Divine causation to material causation based on the evidence of evolution.
Evolutionists, basking in their victory, have claimed sole title to the word "science". They equate their theory to be science and science to be their theory. But all they are really saying is that "our paradigm best explains reality". Evolutionists reject Creationism to be science. But, as I have already pointed out, before Darwin, Creationism was science.
Therefore, the best-objective definition of science is that science is the investigation of reality via paradigmS. This is why I said that science was an incomplete term. It can only be understood in view of the quick history lesson just provided.
Both major paradigms claim to have an explanation for the other paradigm:
Materialism: claims that material causation (evolution) created the human brain which in turn imagined the idea of gods, spirits and demons.
Creationism-Design: claims acceptance of material causation is a reality defying choice based on anti-religious reasons (this explanation is deliberately ambiguous based on the fact that I do not want to borrow from my forth-coming paper).
What is Scientism?
Scientism is the belief or proposition that either major paradigm excludes ANY phenomena or evidence
for explanation.
We assume that the best paradigm is the one that explains ALL of the phenomena or evidence best. Therefore, when any evolutionist says "science excludes or cannot address the supernatural" (for any reason) THIS is advocating Scientism because Science exists to explain reality and all of its phenomena (via paradigms).
Scientism is the exclusion of evidence, phenomena or knowledge of any kind for any reason, since we know that Science seeks to explain reality via paradigms.
Ray
™ Version 4.2