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Do most scientists believe in God? [Spirituality & Religion]

About two-thirds of scientists believe in God, according to a new survey that uncovered stark differences based on the type of research they do.

The study, along with another one released in June, would appear to debunk the oft-held notion that science is incompatible with religion.

Those in the social sciences are more likely to believe in God and attend religious services than researchers in the natural sciences, the study found.

The opposite had been expected.

Nearly 38 percent of natural scientists -- people in disciplines like physics, chemistry and biology -- said they do not believe in God. Only 31 percent of the social scientists do not believe.

In the new study, Rice University sociologist Elaine Howard Ecklund surveyed 1,646 faculty members at elite research universities, asking 36 questions about belief and spiritual practices.


"Based on previous research, we thought that social scientists would be less likely to practice religion than natural scientists are, but our data showed just the opposite," Ecklund said.

Some stand-out stats: 41 percent of the biologists don't believe, while that figure is just 27 percent among political scientists.

In separate work at the University of Chicago, released in June, 76 percent of doctors said they believed in God and 59 percent believe in some sort of afterlife.

"Now we must examine the nature of these differences," Ecklund said today. "Many scientists see themselves as having a spirituality not attached to a particular religious tradition. Some scientists who don't believe in God see themselves as very spiritual people. They have a way outside of themselves that they use to understand the meaning of life."

Ecklund and colleagues are now conducting longer interviews with some of the participants to try and figure it all out.
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cycleman · 61-69, M
.... and a Brain washing we go.
Carazaa · F
@cycleman Scientists are very intelligent and are not brainwashed.
cycleman · 61-69, M
@Carazaa show the sources of the info you provide. what you are saying is just rhetoric to persuade others to be suckered into following Gods word.
Carazaa · F
@cycleman The source is in the article, please read it!
cycleman · 61-69, M
@Carazaa I read and it just basic generalization without any true studies to back it up. Brainwashing 101!
Carazaa · F
@cycleman [quote]"In the new study, Rice University sociologist Elaine Howard Ecklund surveyed 1,646 faculty members at elite research universities, asking 36 questions about belief and spiritual practices.


"Based on previous research, we thought that social scientists would be less likely to practice religion than natural scientists are, but our data showed just the opposite," Ecklund said.

Some stand-out stats: 41 percent of the biologists don't believe, while that figure is just 27 percent among political scientists.

In separate work at the University of Chicago, released in June, 76 percent of doctors said they believed in God and 59 percent believe in some sort of afterlife."
[/quote]
Research has to be valid and here is the findings of this one, I copied it from the article. $76 of research doctors at the best major universities believe in God, and more biologists than social scientists believe in God, which is surprising.
http://www.elainehowardecklund.com/

Her bias...
We need the list of names of the PhDs who responded...


@Carazaa
newjaninev2 · 56-60, F
@Texasgurl Those who responded were self-selecting.

She cannot know the beliefs (or lack thereof) of those who did not respond.

Right there her research becomes nonsensical.
Carazaa · F
@newjaninev2 Why wouldn't atheists want to share their views?