Natural science

A branch of study dedicated to the accumulation and classification of observable facts in order to formulate general laws about the natural world. Science is based on the ontological position of empiricism- that the material realm is all that exists, that it exists mind-independently, and that our senses and the senses of our equipment can be trusted to perceive the material realm with reasonable and calculable accuracy. Our understanding of the universe has been increasing exponentially since Mankind discovered agriculture 5000 years ago, accellerating yet further with the notable developments of Scientific Method- the system of hypothesis, experiment, and refinement that must be used to meet strict peer-review procedures used today, and increasing computer power over the last 50 years.

The product of many scientific tests is a scientific theory. Scientific theories, while not absolute, represent the best knowledge Mankind has accumulated over centuries of experiments and observations, and are generally accepted by a majority of scientists around the world as fact. Over time, a few theories become scientific laws as they are proven to be true across the observable universe. The Universal Law of Gravitation is one such example.

Recent scientific discoveries appear to be in conflict with a literal interpretation of many holy books, including the Bible. However, science and empiricism make no claims about the nature of any potential supernatural, immaterial realm, as these are impossible to assess empirically. Many scientists use philosophical tools such as Ockham's Razor and point to phenomena such as The God of the Gaps to argue for an implicit rejection of untestable hypotheses.