Many gods were essentially defined by their totems; Hermes his sandles, Ero's bow, Aesculapius's staff... Dionysus's totem was 'a pinecone on a stick'. Not a magical staff of power... a literal pinecone on a stick.
Madness string 99414
Science is nothing more than a method of inquiry. The method says an assertion is valid - and merits universal acceptance - only if it can be independently verified. The impersonal rigor of the method means it is utterly apolitical. A truth in science is verifiable whether you are black or white, male or female, old or young. It's verifiable whether you like the results of a study, or you don't.