Science and the scientific approach works well for many purposes, including possibly its ability to convince others.

When we make decisions based on any kind of “true faith” approach, be it religion, Waterfall, or Agile Zealotry, we know we are right. If things don’t work out as we hoped, it’s not our fault. In the case of religion, well, Gozer the Destructor, Gozer the Traveller, Gozer the Gozarian just didn’t grant our wishes. Gozer knows best, just like Mom.

In the case of other faith-based activities like Waterfall or Agile Zealotry, it’s some guy who wrote a book who knows best, and clearly we just didn’t do it right. The author knows best, just like Mom.

All the faith-based approaches also seem to include a clause regarding the worthiness of the beseecher and the format of the beseeching. If your beseechments are not up to snuff, you don’t get what you wanted. If you yourself are not up to snuff, you don’t get what you wanted. If Gozer knows best – and Gozer does – you still might not get what you wanted. Because Gozer knows best, you are supposed to be happy about that.

The Agile methods as understood by the true believer do not rely on Gozer or Ken Schwaber or Ron Jeffries in order to work. They rely on feedback. You’re supposed to do stuff, look at what happens, and change what you do!!!

I kind of wish we could have government working that same way, where it was at least vaguely understood that cause and effect actually work, and that what happens is not due to the behind-the-scenes machinations of Gozer. Gozer is, after all, the Destructor. If we did pay attention to what happens and viewed it as a result in part of what we did, maybe we could all learn similar lessons.

Oh well. A man’s got to have a dream.