A new study has challenged the prevailing notion that most scientists are atheists and the common assumption that science cannot intersect religion. Researchers at Rice University (in Houston, Texas) concluded that the first worldwide survey of how scientists look at religion has significant implications that can be applied not only to university hiring processes but also structuring classrooms and laboratories as well as making public policies.
The popular battle between science and religion is a war of words that has been fueled by scientists, religious individuals and even those in between, said the survey’s chief investigator, Elaine Howard Ecklund; who has also founded Rice University’s Religion and Public Life Program.
According to the survey, more than half of all scientists in India, Taiwan, Turkey and Italy identify themselves as religious. Ecklund said what is most striking is the fact that approximately twice as many definitive atheists exist among the general population of Hong Kong as compared to its scientific community. For their survey, Ecklund and her fellow researchers gathered information from over 9,000 respondents across eight regions, including India, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Turkey, France, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States. They also traveled to these areas to conduct detailed interviews with more than 600 scientists, thus carrying out the world’s largest survey and interview ever, of the intersection between science and faith.
By deciding to survey and interview scientists at various career stages, in elite as well as non-elite institutions from varied fields such as physics and biology, the researchers aimed to get a representative look at scientists’ views on ethics, religion and how both these facets intersect with their scientific work. The researchers found that scientists are generally less religious than the general population but there are also exceptions to this scenario. For example, 39 percent scientists in Hong Kong identified as religious in comparison to 20 percent of the general population while 54 percent scientists in Taiwan identified as religious in comparison to 44 percent of the general population.
Ecklund noted that such patterns were challenging the common assumption made about the irreligious character of scientists around the world. When asked about conflict between science and religion, Ecklund explained only a minority of scientists in each area believes that science and religion cannot intersect. In the United Kingdom, only 32 percent scientists said science and faith were in conflict while in the United States, and even smaller number of 29 percent said the same. On the other hand, 25 percent scientists in Hong Kong, 27 percent in India and 23 percent in Taiwan said science and religion could in fact coexist and even help one another.
“Science is a global endeavour,” Ecklund concluded. “And as long as science is global, then we need to recognise that the borders between science and religion are more permeable than most people think.”
A similar survey, conducted by Ecklund and her team in 2014, found approximately 50 percent evangelicals believe that religion and science can support one another. This was a striking contrast to the 38 percent Americans who felt that way during this survey.
“This is a hopeful message for science policymakers and educators, because the two groups don’t have to approach religion with an attitude of combat,” Ecklund said after the first survey on the same subject. “Rather, they should approach it with collaboration in mind.”
Photo Credits: Red Orbit
