Quote from: Ghost03 on July 20, 2010, 06:33:25 PM
There are many religious scientists, it's actually surprising how compatible the two can be, I also recently read an article about this issue.
I am an Atheist and I wouldn't date someone who pushed their beliefs onto me and tried to convert me, but if they were prepared to have the occasional civilised conversation about it then I don't see a problem, in fact I'd enjoy that as I've always been extremely interested in religion even though I'm an Atheist and was brought up that way.
It's compatible until you get to the debate over the origins and development of life. (Not to mention souls, the afterlife, miracles, demons, angels etc).
I always thought this article published by the Pew Research Center was very telling:
" How can Americans say that they respect science and even know what scientists believe and yet still disagree with the scientific community on some fundamental questions? The answer is that much of the general public simply chooses not to believe the scientific theories and discoveries that seem to contradict long-held religious or other important beliefs.
When asked what they would do if scientists were to disprove a particular religious belief, nearly two-thirds (64%) of people say they would continue to hold to what their religion teaches rather than accept the contrary scientific finding, according to the results of an October 2006 Time magazine poll. Indeed, in a May 2007 Gallup poll, only 14% of those who say they do not believe in evolution cite lack of evidence as the main reason underpinning their views; more people cite their belief in Jesus (19%), God (16%) or religion generally (16%) as their reason for rejecting Darwin's theory.
This reliance on religious faith may help explain why so many people do not see science as a direct threat to religion. Only 28% of respondents in the same Time poll say that scientific advancements threaten their religious beliefs. These poll results also show that more than four-fifths of respondents (81%) say that "recent discoveries and advances" in science have not significantly impacted their religious views. In fact, 14% say that these discoveries have actually made them more religious. Only 4% say that science has made them less religious.
These data once again show that, in the minds of most people in the United States, there is no real clash between science and religion. And when the two realms offer seemingly contradictory explanations (as in the case of evolution), religious people, who make up a majority of Americans, may rely primarily upon their faith for answers."
As for the scientists themselves, they're probably more along the lines of deists than anything or are pressured by peers/family. We don't really know because when they are polled the question of "god" isn't really laid out fully. People have different definitions of god. Even Hawking uses the term god much like Einstein did. They weren't religious however. They used the term to mean "an abstract principle of order and harmony, a set of mathematical equations". I wish they would stop using the term god that way, it just confuses people.
