Thesis ID: CBB001561359

Scientific Vision and Spiritual Sense: Scientists' Attitudes toward Religion, Science and Their Own Work (2007)

unapi

Gioia, Dorothy Ann (Author)


Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Shapiro, Warren


Publication Date: 2007
Edition Details: Advisor: Shapiro, Warren
Physical Details: 383 pp.
Language: English

This dissertation is a cognitive study of scientists' attitudes about the relationship between religion and science, and the relationship between personal religious belief and scientific work. Ninety-five academic and industrial scientists, working in a wide range of fields, participated in this qualitative and quantitative study, conducted between 1979 and 1981. Each scientist was interviewed and given a comprehensive questionnaire. The theories of religion and science developed by Comte, Frazer, Durkheim and Malinowski formed the basis for this study. Sociological and psychological studies by Leuba, Roe, Mitroff, and Glock and Stark helped isolate the variables important for understanding the participants' attitudes. Analysis of variance, cross tabulations, and cluster analysis were employed to analyze the quantitative data. Chapters discuss the participant's beliefs on science, religion, nature, origin, design, and the scientific workplace. Personality characteristics such as independence of thought, tolerance for ambiguity and doubt, penchant for precision, and helpfulness are also discussed. Two-thirds of my informants describe themselves as religious, one-third as nonreligious. Among the religious scientists, 69 percent believe in the existence of God. Religious scientists tend to view the relationship between religion and science as complementary. From their perspective, the scientific endeavor is revealing the wonders of God's creation. Nonreligious scientists, by contrast, tend to view religion and science as either unrelated or incompatible. From their perspective, the importance of religion diminishes as science advances. The views of non-traditionally religious scientists tend to fall between these groups. Forty percent of religious scientists appreciate science more because of their religious beliefs. However, when asked whether a strong religious background is conducive to doing good scientific research, only a third of participants agree. Eighty percent of participants think there are certain religious beliefs and practices which, if observed, would hinder a scientist from doing good scientific work. One in seven scientists had to chose between pursuing a career in science and following their personal religious beliefs. One in four know someone who steered away from science because of their religious beliefs. Only 14 percent know someone who pursued science because of their religious beliefs.

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Description Cited in Diss. Abstr. Int. A 68/08 (2008). Pub. no. AAT 3277292.


Citation URI
https://data.isiscb.org/isis/citation/CBB001561359/

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Authors & Contributors
Halfon, Saul E.
Thomas, Renny
Gundelach, Peter
Zhang, Daqing
Taylor, Charles
Stoll, Mark R.
Concepts
Science and religion
Religious beliefs
Social surveys
Natural philosophy
Belief and doubt
Scientists
Time Periods
20th century, late
19th century
17th century
18th century
Renaissance
Ancient
Places
England
Greece
Denmark
China
Rome (Italy)
India
Institutions
Rockefeller Foundation
Oxford University
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