On Wed, 12 Apr 2006 16:47:05 GMT, "David Martel"
<marte005@earthlink.net> wrote:

J> Author Michael Crichton, in a 2003 lecture at CalTech, stated that
J> "The Drake equation cannot be tested and therefore SETI is not
J> science. SETI is unquestionably a religion."

One does not necessarily follow the other.

It's not clear to me why a fiction author is considered an authority
on either science, religion, or philosophy (other than the fact that
he is a celebrity).

   Crichton graduated summa cum laude from Harvard, taught at Cambridge, 
and earned an M. D. from Harvard. It's possible that he was exposed to 
science, religion, and philosophy during his school years. His training was 
largely in the life sciences. You are correct that he is a celebrity which 
does not validate or invalidate his opinions on SETI.
  I think he's correct that the Drake equations do not predict anything and 
are not really testable. Whether this makes them a religion I don't know. 
Crichton is not the only person to express the belief that SETI is a cult or 
religion.

First it's necessary to define some terms and in their original,
broader sense as they can be taken in narrower senses with multiple
meanings.

1.	Cult.  *any* group that gets together with a common goal or
belief.  
2.	Occult, *any* group that gets together with a common goal or
believe that is hidden.
3.	Religion,  The feverent worship of *something* be it an idea,
goal,  person, or belief.

From 3 virtually anything can be worshiped from money, to ideas, to
people. Therefore whether a idea can be tested or not, or whether it
is based on faith or science it can become a religion. 

From 1, it follows that any religious group would fall under the
definition of cult, But as the worship is based on faith and is hidden
typical religions are occult.  If only the faithful can see the so
called truth that reinforces you must be one of the cult which
reinforces the occult definition.

Many theories are tested and found valid or invalid only to later find
the methods of testing themselves were invalid.  Our ideas of the
world and universe are constantly changing which requires new proofs.

So for some seti would be both a cult and religion. For some it'd be
just a cult and for some just an old fashiond pursuit of knowledge.

Seti would not be occult as the goal is openly stated, it's only the
answer has not been found.

The drake equation is a *theory* which is based on many assumptions
and those are so stated.  That basically makes it a SWAG. (Scientific,
Wild Assed Guess), but it's the best that has been come up with so far
albeit the assumptions do tend to change a bit..  IE the theory is
based on a number of widely variable scientific assumptions.  That
those assumptions can not be proven as of yet does not make the theory
a religion.

OTOH like almost anything else it most likely could be called a
religion for some people.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

Dave M.