Est ergo veritatem.

With the Mars Science Laboratory having been awesomely landed by a team of incredible bad-asses at the United States' JPL last week (and if you haven't seen what that entailed, I highly recommend you look it up. Yourselves. No, I won't Google it for you), I thought it might be a nice thing to go over a bit of comparison between what science has brought us, as a civilization, and what religion and blind ideology have brought about for us. There's also a list, at the very end, of things science is "on the brink" of bringing us: amazing technologies that are right around the corner; visible in the distance as actually achievable but not quite there yet.

Granted, this is mostly a "generalized" list, and I've tried not to include any duplicates, but a few might have crept in here and there. Also, on this list are a few things that you might argue if "science" really brought us. To those arguments I say: shut your pulpy-red organ-filled enamel-crusted speech hole. The way we utilize these items wouldn't be the same without their discovery and effects learned by application of the scientific method.

Things religion and blind ideology have brought us:
Flat-earth theory
Community
War¹
Hatred
Faith healing
Animal (including human) sacrifice
Segregation
Warm tingly feeling when facing our own mortality
The Crusades
Torture²
Willingness to sacrifice life for another person's agenda
HIV rates in Africa
Slavery³

Things science has brought us:
Communities that can grow past a few hundred people
Space telescopes
Space shuttle
Moon landing
Pictures from other planets
Understanding of seasons
Clean water
Clean air
Unspoiled food
Refrigerators
Movable type
Penicillin
Knowledge of bacteria
Antibacterials
Knowledge of viruses
Antivirals
Open-heart surgery
New metals
Houses⁴
Skyscrapers
Microchips
Computers
Laptop computers
Laser printers
Inkjet printers
Smartphones
Tablet computers
Calculators
Abacuses
Elevators
Escalators
Parachutes
Safety vests
Life preservers
Reflective tape
Televisions
Flat panel displays
Radio
Satellites
Satellite TV
GPS
ATMs
Batteries
Computer networks
Wireless networking
Eyeglasses
Contact lenses
Statin drugs
Pacemakers
Heart valve stints
Extended lifespans
Cameras
Digital cameras
Cure for smallpox
Cure for polio
Cure for whooping cough
Cure for scurvy
Survivable appendicitis
Genetic testing
Air conditioning
Central heating
HVAC
Toilets
Vaccuums
Ovens
Dishwashers
Coffee makers
Automobiles
RV's
Trucks
Trailers
Motorcycles
Engines
"Bulletproof" glass
Panes of clear glass
Bulletproof vests
Spun fibers
Cotton clothing
Rayon
Nylon
Polyester
Indoor lighting
Electricity
Tanning booths
Fluorescent lights
Aluminum
Aluminum foil
Steel
Iron
Bronze
Gold
Platinum
Diamonds
Microwave communication
Microwave ovens
Laser communication
Instant hot water
Sanitation
Running water
Hurricane tracking
Tornado warning systems
Airplanes
Helicopters
Printing press
Paper
Books
Keyboards
Pianos
Stringed instruments
Brass instruments
Electronic instruments
Sheet Music
Ships
Astrolabe
Outboard motors
Wheel
Scissors
Magnetic data storage
Optical data storage
Flash data storage
Transistors
Binary electronic systems
The internet
Web browsers
Email
Voice mail
Personal lubrication
Condoms
Birth control pills
Cut gemstones
Agriculture
Chemistry
Geology
Physics
Mathematics
Comic books
Doritos
Canned food
Aluminum cans
Carbonated beverages in every store⁵
Cardboard
Glue
Nails
Paint
Laser pointers
Blue jeans
Factories
This blog
Telephones
Computer languages
Ceramics
Biomonitors
Beds
IV fluids
Hematology
Instant messengers
Pots and pans
Chlorine
Megaphones
Loudspeakers
Speakers
Bass woofers
X-boxes
Playstations
Computer games
Amplifiers
Tomatoes⁶
Vitamins
Tape
Staples
Crystals
Uranium
Plutonium
Atomic Theory
Geiger counters
Fire alarms
Burglar alarms
Fast food
Leather
Aerogel
Liquid Skin
Burn therapies
Tang
Dehydrated Foods
Pens
Ball-point pens
Pencils
Roller coasters
Fiber optics
Toothpaste
Soap
Shampoo
Dental hygiene and care
Vulcanization
Volcanology
Coffee
Milk⁷
Foamed milk
Domesticated animals
Pop rocks
Survivable surgery
Stitches
Antacids
Aspirin
Ibuprofen
Industry
Cargo ships
Sailing
Personal watercraft
Concrete
Asphalt
Roads
Bridges
Shoes
Seismic monitors
Tsunami warning systems
Photography
Video cameras
Genetic tests
Chemotherapy
Sandblasting
Alcohol
Jet turbines
...and lots more!

Things Science is bringing us soon (but you can't quite buy yet):
Self-driving cars
Human-machine direct neural interfaces
Replacement retinas
Cures for severed spinal cords
Contact lenses with embedded electronics (Heads-up Displays, anyone?)
Augmented reality
Wearable computers woven into your clothing
Self-cleaning clothing fibers
Nanotechnology

1. War - Sure, there's also war over resources, but without religion's interference and "God-given" rights a diplomatic solution would have much more likely been found. The planet is not yet to the point of actual resource scarcity for the global community to create an "us or them" mentality, though it is approaching that point quickly. Most wars are begun and fought over ideology and/or religion, and an unwillingness to work together -- something science is good at.
2. Torture - It's been shown again and again not to work. This is contrary to the scientific method. I suppose a case can be made to argue that science has improved the methods of torture both psychologically and physically, but without the willingness to harm another in the name of ideology, torture wouldn't exist in the first place.
3. Slavery - Slavery wouldn't exist without an ideology that some people are better than others, or are a worker class.
4. Houses - Instead of Caves or whatever natural structures were carved by nature. The building materials or methods used for centuries weren't discovered without basic scientific method, whether they be stone block
5. Carbonated Beverages - Carbonated Water occurs naturally, but a method to create, bottle and mass-produce it? Yeah. Scientific Method applied, bitches.
6. Tomatoes - Originally thought to be poisoned. It took someone experimenting with eating them to realize that they were not.
7. Milk - Secretions from a cow's udder? Think you'd be drinking that if someone hadn't tried it first? BAM, Scientific Method!