[tacticalogic]

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?

The difficulty lies not in considering that there may be some that would fit the description, but in expressing it in a manner that can't be misrepresented later.

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.

There is "metaphysical naturalism", and there is "methodological naturalism".

Unfortuanately, there are also rhetorical exercises in sophistry that specialize in conflating the two, and making science appear to be intrinsically atheistic. I'd advise being very careful to explicitly declare exactly which one you mean any time you make a reference to it.

[BroJoeK]

"Unfortuanately, there are also rhetorical exercises in sophistry that specialize in conflating the two, and making science appear to be intrinsically atheistic.

"I'd advise being very careful to explicitly declare exactly which one you mean any time you make a reference to it."

Good point, nice post. I always enjoy reading folks who know a lot more than I do on a subject. ;-)