Re: Evolution is alive and well

Gary Collins (etlgycs@etl.ericsson.se)
Fri, 9 Oct 1998 07:46:29 +0100 (BST)

> > > Although professors, scientists, and other highly educated
> > > Americans
> > > >are less religious than the general population, the magnitude of this effect
> > > >is similar to those associated with gender, race, and other demographic
> > > >traits. Moreover, "hard" science faculty are more often religious than
> > > faculty
> > > >in the humanities or social sciences.
> > >
> >
> > Really?
>
>
> In my experience, yes.
>
>

> [snip]
>
> This "study" was discussed a few months ago. I don't remember if it was
> on this listserver or another.
>
> I'll ask again what I asked then: Did Larson et. al. control for the very
> simple factor of the scientists' age? (Has anyone read their methodology?)
>
> There is a generational change going on in the natural sciences.
> Religious beliefs seem far more common among younger scientists than older
> scientists. (There is certainly a lot less hostility towards religion
> among younger scientists.) And the "greater scientists" --- members of
> the NAS --- would tend to be older-generation scientists.
>
>
> Loren Haarsma
>
That's very encouraging - Thanks, Loren.

/Gary