Why do some people say that scientists are Atheists?

Question

When the research doesn't support this? Overall only 31.2 do not believe in God ....


http://www.buffalo.edu/reporter/vol38/vol38n43/articles/EcklundReligiousScientists.html

Answer 1

I don't know why they seem to think that. I am a scientist. Specifically I am a biologist who does research in molecular evolution. I am also a Christian and a creationist. The two are not incompatible in my mind.

Answer 2

I would think it is because the atheist scientists are a)more vocal, and b)more often supported in the media.

I would also like to point out 2 things from the article. 1 There is a difference between being affiliated to a religion, and believing in God; and 2 young scientists are more likely to be afffiliated to a religion.

Answer 3

I have read that most scientists believe in some form of deity, 'It' may not be the traditional God of the Christians with His pompous baggage of dogmas and traditions, but they do not proclaim to be atheists. The latest book I read addressing your question is titled 'The Varieties of Scientific Experience: A personal view of the search for God" by the late Carl Sagan and edited by his widow. Carl Sagan was in my opinion a brilliant planetary scientist.

Answer 4

Every atheist I met claimed science as their own and I understand that because they all believe that science is only for smart people and that religions are for delusional ones. But somewhere between that is the truth. Newton is not an atheist, and there are really really smart people out there that are Christians and really really stupid atheists. I see some here on R&S. But you can also blame the narrow minded Christians who are against science that they laugh even at the mention of it. I think we'll just blame some people on both sides.

Answer 5

Here's what I saw in the article:

"They concluded that academics in the natural and social sciences at elite research universities are significantly less religious than the general population. Almost 52 percent of scientists surveyed identified themselves as having no current religious affiliation compared with only 14 percent of the general population.

And while nearly 14 percent of the U.S. population who responded to the GSS describe themselves as "evangelical" or "fundamentalist," less than 2 percent of the RAAS population identifies with either label."

Answer 6

Triple the general population I feel is still a good indication.

If 90% of the american population believes in some god. Then it would be safe to assume that the scientific community would reflect that very closely. But if in fact only 68.8 of scientist say they believe in god it seems to me that atheists are dispropotiantly smarter.

Answer 7

I see it more and more often, people think atheists are scientists and believers are incults. This kind of generalisations are not only wrong but pretty much ignorant. Belief is a personal and subjective thing and I met a lot of very intelligent people who believed in their religion, or at least believed in a diety. I also met young atheists who just liked to rebel, and that didn't have much knoledge about life or anything.

Answer 8

Where?

This sounds like it must have been a survey of US scientists only... Because I know the rate is higher in other countries. (Sorry, the link doesn't say where this study was done. And the percentage sounds a bit off to me.)

Answer 9

This claim is generally made by Fundamentalists who do not understand either science or the word Atheist.

They should be pitied.

Answer 10

People always make wrong judgments.