Not necessarily. I've met at least one person who's bitter about religion in general for reasons that have nothing to do with science or "scientism".
But why would he specifically call on scientists to do this work?
But why would he specifically call on scientists to do this work?
It’s not like I’m accusing Madeline Murray O’Hair or Larry Flynt of scientism. The man in question was a scientist calling on scientists to do something that would be a greater achievement than all the real scientific work up to now. That’s different from just any old rant against religion.
Scientism defined:
"Unlike the use of the scientific method as only one mode of reaching knowledge, scientism claims that science alone can render truth about the world and reality.
"Scientism's single-minded adherence to only the empirical, or testable, makes it a strictly scientifc worldview, in much the same way that a Protestant fundamentalism that rejects science can be seen as a strictly religious worldview.
"Scientism sees it necessary to do away with most, if not all, metaphysical, philosophical, and religious claims, as the truths they proclaim cannot be apprehended by the scientific method. In essence, scientism sees science as the absolute and only justifiable access to the truth."
I agree with tacticalogic, the answer is "not necessarily." But I'd also say, one should not be so surprised to find among scientists a certain number of "scientism-ists." So what?
Science by definition is the study of the natural world. Many scientists believe in a supernatural or metaphysical world, but that should have nothing to do with their work in science.