Perspectives

Do You believe in God?

<From here>

Scientific American, September 1999 "Scientists and Religion in America" "Whereas 90% of the general population has a distinct belief in a personal god and a life after death, only 40% of scientists on the B.S. level favor this belief in religion and merely 10 % of those who are considered 'eminent' scientists believe in a personal god or in an afterlife." % believe in God & afterlife 90% 40% 10% professions general population scientists with B.S. scientists eminent Contrary to the notion fostered by so-called 'creation-scientists', Albert Einstein did not believe in a personal god.

 

Nature, 394(6691):313, 23 July 1998 "Leading Scientists Still Reject God" A recent survey of members of the National Academy of Sciences showed that 72% are outright atheists, 21% are agnostic and only 7% admit to belief in a personal God. Survey answers among "greater" scientists  % NAS members 7% 21% 72% belief in God agnostic atheists Belief in personal God 1998 Personal belief    7.0 % Personal disbelief    72.2 Doubt or agnosticism    20.8 Belief in human immortality 1998 Personal belief    7.9 % Personal disbelief    76.7 Doubt or agnosticism    23.3

Skeptic, vol.6 #2 1998 "Do You Believe in God?" In multiple studies, there is a negative correlation between theism and morality.  By Franzblau's 1934 study, there's a negative correlation between religiousity and honesty.  Ross 1950 shows atheists and agnostics are more likely to express their willingness to help the poor than the deeply religious.  1969 Hirschi and Stark found no correlation in lawbreaking by churchgoing children and non-churchgoing children. This same Skeptic published the results of another study that compared professions and likelihood of believing in God.  The general public was just over 90% likely to believe in God.  Scientists in general were just under 40% likely.  Mathematicians were just over 40% likely, biologists just under 30%, and physicists were barely over 20% likely to believe in God. % believe in God 90+% 40-% 40+% 30-% 20+% professions general public scientists in general mathe- maticians biologists physicists