God and the Ivory Tower

[ygolo]

We can certainly study religion in an academic setting, take "measurements", use statistics, make models, test hypotheses, and discuss this process in peer-reviewed journals.

Still, I have a hard enough time calling things like psychology, sociology, and economics, "science", let alone whatever one might call the study of religion. But we can certainly study it in the manner described about.

 

[Mole]

Why are scientists concerned with trying to disprove religions?

Falsification is the job of scientists.

Normally we think of scientists falsifying hypotheses, but archeologists have been able to falsify the Exodus in the Bible as well as the history of North and Central America in the Book of Mormon.

So scientists have been able to falsify the sacred books of two major religions, Christianity and the Church of the Latter Day Saints.

 

[UniqueMixture]

Why are scientists concerned with trying to disprove religions?

I think it is generally viewed as psychologically abusive, much like the effects of domestic violence on children.