Alternatives Quote by Victor J. Stenger
“Alternative explanations are always welcome in science, if they are better and explain more. Alternative explanations that explain nothing are not welcome... Note how science changed those beliefs when new data became available. Religions stick to the same ancient beliefs regardless of the data.”
About This Quote
Source Book: God: The Failed Hypothesis, 2007
Science welcomes better, data‑driven explanations; religions cling to static beliefs despite contrary evidence.
In simple terms: Science values better explanations; religion often resists change.
Key Takeaway
Promote evidence‑based thinking.
Themes
science
belief
evidence
Mood
critical
inquisitive
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- education
- policy making
- public discourse
Key Concepts
philosophy
religion
epistemology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you evaluate new evidence?
- What role should belief play in decision‑making?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep‑seated beliefs can be emotionally painful.
![“Until recent times, absence of evidence for his [Jehovah's] existence has not been sufficient to rule him out. However, we now have enough knowledge that we can identify many places where there should be evidence, but there is not. The absence of that evidence allows us to rule out the existence…” quote by Victor J. Stenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/923/victor-j-stenger-16236_absence_until-recent-times-absence-of-evidence-f_385888.jpg)
![“[When asked how it felt to be a female prime minister:] I don't know: I've never experienced the alternative.” quote by Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/324/margaret-thatcher-463_alternatives_when-asked-how-it-felt-to-be-a-female-pr_15081.jpg)
