Science or mysticism?

We are always criticising opinions and interpretations which lack the rigour of the scientific method, but how do we defend science to theordinary public? I remember reading in a book (don't remember which) the following critiscism: everyone of us believes in the first law of thermodynamics, because we were told it holds the most careful tests made until today, but only a handful scientists in the whole world are able to understand and interpret these tests. The majority of the population feels confortable with believing in science just because someone with a lab coat said it is science.