RED DAVE

My impression (that's impression, as in largely unsupported opinion), is that engineers deal with existing scientific knowledge as technique while ignoring the theoretical underpinning. (I speak as the son of an engineer.)

This is why people with all kinds of weeirdo belief systems can engage in engineering. For awhile, Orthodox Jews were very big in programming, for example.

As long as science, with its evolutionary premises, on all levels, can be ignored, but its techniques used, this can occur.

RED DAVE

DMB

Engineers seem to be well represented among islamists (including suicide bombers).

butswana

I've got an engineering degree. I used to design prototype electronics shit. My assistant manager at that job used to bitch about the music we would blast while we worked(it ranged from Slayer to Ohio Players). He said that as a christian, he fould it offensive. Don't know if he was a creationist, but he was quite the dick head.

Warcraft3

So what are you saying? Engineering is easier than pure science?



Russ

Warcraft3

Some engineers are like that, yes. But not all. I frequently tutored both engineers and science majors in math and physics (and engineering), and some of the engineering majors did need some better theoretical footing..........but then so did many of the science majors.



Russ

Warcraft3

What does his not liking your music have to do with the topic at hand?


Russ

Azathoth

It seems to me,that any scientific field,that can avoid conflicting with a person's belief system,would be the one chosen.

The choice wouldn't even be a concious one.YEC creationists would shy away from fields such the natural sciences,because they make them feel uncomfortable,since those would challenge their religious views on more regular basis.

Doubting Didymus

I don't think that's it. Creationists want their ideas to be seen as science, so that it can replace evolution is science classes. Because it's nearly impossible for even the most convoluted mind to deny common descent and an old earth and study in the relevant scientific fields at the same time, they can only muster a pitiful few biologists to their banner, and the ones they do get almost never actually do relevant research, but simply use their doctorates as magic badges to give authority to unscientific claims. Seeing as they can't show the congregation the relevant scientists, they seek people that are usually considered brainy, but from a feild that you CAN study while remaining ignorant of evolution. Engineers just happen to fit that bill.

Warcraft3

Um that doesnt make sense since ALOT of people who are former YEC DID go into such fields......not to mention the fact that alot of YECs are also in such fields. I doubt that most people (YECs included) pick a technical field of study based on their religious beliefs.



Russ

Vorkosigan

I think you also have to look at how engineers are socialized, and what kind of people they are. At RPI our department did surveys every year of the engineering students. They tended to be people who preferred neat solutions to messy ones, predictable situations to unpredictable ones, machines and problems to the human world, and so forth. Several of these qualities strike me as being ripe for YEC propaganda.

Vorkosigan