From an interview about the nature of scientific knowledge

Fragment 1: Version 1

Preston: I am a very religious person and that sort of, kind of rearranges my knowledge about science. I think about different things. When I think back of all the things I have been taught such as how the Earth was made, how the things are (growing?), it makes me really think about what is true and what isn't and what is real and what isn't. And sometimes the facts, what I have learned in science and religion, can't be compared to each other. . . I am a Presbyterian Christian. So, you know, they say, "God says ‘Boom, let there be light and let the Earth be,'" whereas science says that there was dust collected out of space. I, like, it is very hard for me to say that. But in a way I do think that science is not artificial because it explains a lot more about the world rather than what religion does. And that's why I think that more people can be drawn towards science as it really is, because it is easier to believe, rather than religion.

Fragment 1: Version 2

01 I: All I want to know from you is what your ideas are about these questions and if you change your view just let me know what sort of caused that change. . . . Why don't you tell me about, what you think about that first statement, "Scientific knowledge is artificial,” and then the next one is– and the next thing will be, we'll look at is whether it shows nature as it really is. What do you think about, you know, when you read that sentence?

02 Preston: Well, you know, I mean, first of all, I am a very religious person and that sort of, kind of rearranges my knowledge about science. I think about different things. When I think back of all the things I have been taught such as how the Earth was made, how the things are (growing?), it makes me really think about what is true and what isn't and what is real and what isn't. And sometimes the facts, what I have learned in science and religion, can't be compared to each other.

03 I: Which religion are you talking about?

04 Preston: I am a Presbyterian Christian. So, you know, they say, "God says ‘Boom, let there be light and let the Earth be,'” whereas science says that there was dust collected out of space. I, like, it is very hard for me to say that. But in a way I do think that science is not artificial because it explains a lot more about the world rather than what religion does. And that's why I think that more people can be drawn towards science as it really is, because it is easier to believe, rather than religion.

Fragment 2

01 T: See, because if something is out there, then we could eventually find a way, may be a way of describing how it really is.

02 P: See, see, you look at things completely different than I do, because I am religious, that's why. Whereas, are you religious at all?

03 T: I mean, not in any organized-

04 P: Yea, I mean, like, you can obviously say that you cannot- I cannot say that I do not see nature as it really is. I think that science knowledge is artificial because I would think that religion is completely by the book of God, is not artificial, because I have grown up that way, and therefore I can't say that- Newton, I can say that Newton is artificial that all the things that he has said is artificial, that is my way of thinking, right.

05 T: But how is religion not artificial? I mean, you have to make a basic commitment, or belief . . .

06 P: And that's the only argument I have is because that's the way I've grown up, that is why.

07 T: But you have to make that– you have to make that basic commitment.

08 P: That's right.

09 T: See, question three actually asked you, "Do scientists have to make similar commitments? Do they have to believe that what they come up with?"