Hi Buzsaw, just realized you were jabbing at my favorite sciences. Can't let that go by.
After all, isn't some mysterious aspects of QM and string theory non-materialistic in nature, inspiring some groups to believe this and others to believe that, relative to a given group's consensus, i.e. belief?
It is 'belief' in the same way that you 'believe' in gravity; you cannot 100%
know anything for sure. When speaking of a theory, we usually put 'believe' at the front like "believe in plate tectonics" or "believe in evolution." It's mainly just a way of saying that you support one explanation over another- the facts are there, but the reasons are debatable. (Of course, the better the theory, the more specific the points)
As per your reference of QM and string theory, no, they are not belief in the sense of 'faith.' Most of the things predicted by QM have been observed, and so it is pretty much accepted as fact by all of the physics community. The only discontinuity lies in the cutting edge areas like ST. Because the science is so advanced, then of course there is going to be a some confusion; we simply don't have the right materials to check it out directly yet (at least, not until the LHC is at maximum power). However, what gives these as-yet 'unproven' theories weight is that
they fit the model and equations nearly perfectly. I don't claim to be as intelligent about the subject as CD or SG of course, but I'm pretty sure I've got the gist of it.
T&U
Edited by Teapots&unicorns, : No reason given.