cofty "One difference is that some of us are content to patiently follow the only method that works - the scientific method. Others like to pretend they know stuff that they don't and call it "spiritual."
I understand the point you are making. It can be frustrating to see people coming to conclusions based on faith instead of research; perhaps building a spiritual world based on what they hope is responsible for our existence. It can seem like they are taking a short cut.
Motive is sometimes more important than the deed. Spiritual belief and scientific optimism may not be as far apart, or as opposed as they can seem. If we alter our level of magnification and look from a distance the patterns are remarkably similar.
Expectation, hope, the desire to know, can cause us to rush to conclusions that then need to be amended. Both religion and science do this, though I do agree that science is more measured. Spirituality may contain a greater measure of emotion, then again emotion is not without value.