Why does my dad laugh at me when I say science is more important than religion or culture?

Because he knows you are on right track.

Probably because Science can never explain things such as miraculous healing and the beginning of life on Earth. It is a fact that the probability that all aspects necessary for life to come together on their own is about as likely as buying a lottery ticket every day for 10 years and winning every one. But, as we are here and alive everything must have come together just right to form life. Did that happen on its own or did we have some help? I know if I won the lottery every day for 10 years I would attribute it to divine intervention. So, I would bet that there is a God out there somewhere that created us.

I would say also because if you embrace Science and turn your back on religion then when you die you are gone for good. Think of it as a parachute. You would bring one along if you were to fly in an airplane even though you have no reason to believe the plane will crash. The point is, it is better to have a parachute and not need it than to need it and not have one.

It's a matter of context.

For example, if you ask which discipline will lead to the greatest advances and understanding, science wins. If you ask which discipline has had the most impact on history, religion and culture have been shaping events since well before the scientific revolution.

Because science and culture are born from religion

In the area of importance as to how it affects our daily lives, he may be right. But not if he is saying religion is as valid as science.

define your terms better: what's "important"? Important to whom, to what, at what times, and what suituations? I'd laugh too; dogmatic, arrogant, blind confidence is the hallmark of religion, not science. Of course, being your Dad, he laughs with great affection and love.

see if he laughs when you say "Beer...is more important than religion or culture?"

he won't laugh ...he'll pat you on the back and be a very proud father indeed..

You ought to know better than that!

Religion is a mental disorder characterized by abnormalities in the perception and/or expression of reality. Distortions in perception may affect all five senses. It is a serious social disorder. In most severe cases those affected are willing to kill and die or enthusiastically SUPPORT THOSE WHO DO. In Christianity some of them behave very silly and irrational in full compliance with the dogmas of their respective Church brand while FORCING their common views on the rest of us!

Some of the Bible stories are so absurd that not even “Fundamentalist” Christians believe that they mean what they say; they are all convinced that only their preachers know what they mean. That is why the Bible is still functional today! The Bible writers developed a Mafia way of telling people under their control to OBEY their “spiritual” leaders in all things. The Early Church Fathers predicted that Christianity in general wouldn't mind the lack of a direct face to face contact with “God” as long as they have access to an exclusive book about God. The Bible writers picture God to be so cruel that the idea of reading only the nicer stories about it is the best deal that any Christian can really bargain for!

Deuteronomy 17:12-13 (NIV) The man who shows contempt for the judge or for the PRIEST who stands ministering there to the Lord your God MUST BE PUT TO DEATH! You must purge the evil from Israel* (*it is an EVIL worthy of death in the eyes of the Bible God to question anything that his religious leaders have TO SAY OR DO! No matter how much they would fondle your kids. The Bible writers provided NO WAY OF APPEAL!). ALL THE PEOPLE WILL HEAR AND BE AFRAID, AND WILL NOT BE CONTEMPTUOUS AGAIN* (*this is strong Holy Mafia language!).

Act 5:1-11 (NIV) (This story is told by Saint Luke about the first Pope Saint Peter!) Peter said to her, “How could you agree to test the SPIRIT OF THE LORD?* (*by withholding SOME of the Church money) Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door and they will carry you out also.” At that moment she fell down at his feet and died* (*please notice how cool Saint Peter is acting at this Holy tragedy. In a TRULY Christian burial service NOBODY, NOT EVEN THE SPOUSE IS INFORMED OF THEIR COMPANION’S DECEASE! The primitive Christians were buried as sh*t happens). Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband! GREAT FEAR SEIZED THE WHOLE CHURCH AND ALL WHO HEARD ABOUT THESE EVENTS* (*there is nothing like a spooky story about God the Holy Ghost, aka “The Comforter” cutting down some moron Christians for not paying their dues to the Church. Tithing is about the first “BIBLE DOCTRINE” that newly converted and baptized Christians learn in Church. In most Churches they get their “offering envelopes” even before then).

Offering money to the Church is a serious issue! The Mafia is known to give out a few slow bleeding warnings before cutting anybody down, not so God the Holy Ghost! Christians KNOW that without gullibility (aka faith) it is IMPOSSIBLE to please the Bible God (Heb 11:6). Judging by the size of some Churches they must have plenty of it. Also, they know that failure to regularly eat the flesh of God the Son Jesus Christ and drink his Holy Blood without any “discernment” can kill them too.

1 Corinthians 1:29-30 (KJV) For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh DAMNATION to himself, not discerning THE LORD'S body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and MANY SLEEP* (*have died! That’s Holy Mafia talk! Any Christian getting seriously sick needs to wonder if they are screwing the Holy Communion… spiritually speaking, of course!).

Revelation 2:23 (NIV) I* (*Jesus) WILL STRIKE HER CHILDREN DEAD* (*for being in the wrong Church). Then ALL THE CHURCHES WILL KNOW* (*more Mafia talk! Some Christians don’t know because Jesus Christ didn’t start killing children yet!) that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds!* (*the bit on “GRACE” that allows a Christian to go to “Heaven” no matter what was an idea put together by Saint Paul. Other Bible writers never mentioned any “grace” AT ALL! Hardly any Christian reads the Bible to find out. They pay their preachers to do it for them!)

Christianity is surviving because it is rare to hear of any Christian dying the moment they “sin.” They get sick and die like anybody else. THIS FACT ALONE is used in Christianity to PROVE THAT THERE IS A GOD IN THE SKY and that it is very loving and forgiving… as long as you pay your dues to the Church! Islam is not much worse it demands the killing of infidels! Unless you live in a Muslim country you won’t knowI

BTW... You are lucky that your dad would only laugh at you... other FUNDAMENTALIST dads would spank the Hell out of you butt!

Because he's a theist, and if he's the fundie variety, likely can't refute you on the merits.

Religion is the root ....culture is the tree and ...Science is the fruit ....that's why