marc9000 writes:
In many cases it is, because so many scientists use it that way to try to discredit religion. It's interesting that you use Dawkins as an example of someone trying to educate the public.
You are still deluding yourself that science has some war against religion. Lots of scientists don't like Dawkins, either, and wish he would shut up.
When practicing science, in other words, when they're working, scientists don't think about religion, just as when plumbers and electricians are working they're not thinking about religion, even fervent evangelical plumbers and electricians.
Most scientists have no problem with religion, and many scientists are religious anyway. What scientists have a problem with is religious apologists promoting religion as science. They're not against your religion's religion. They're against your religion's unevidenced "science."
--Percy