20% of Atheist Scientists Are Spiritual
2011 05 10
By Natalie Wolchover | LiveScience.com
The pursuit of science can be compatible with spirituality.
This conclusion comes out of a new study in which 275 elite scientists were interviewed by a team of sociologists. One in five atheistic scientists who were interviewed self-identified as "spiritual."
"These spiritual atheist scientists are seeking a core sense of truth through spirituality — one that is generated by and consistent with the work they do as scientists," said Elaine Howard Ecklund, a sociologist at Rice University and lead author of the new study, which will appear in the June issue of the journal Sociology of Religion.
The pursuit of science can be compatible with spirituality.
This conclusion comes out of a new study in which 275 elite scientists were interviewed by a team of sociologists. One in five atheistic scientists who were interviewed self-identified as "spiritual."
"These spiritual atheist scientists are seeking a core sense of truth through spirituality — one that is generated by and consistent with the work they do as scientists," said Elaine Howard Ecklund, a sociologist at Rice University and lead author of the new study, which will appear in the June issue of the journal Sociology of Religion.
According to Ecklund, many of the scientists viewed both science and spirituality as "quests for meaning" that do not invoke faith. Religion, on the other hand, requires belief without empirical evidence, and is thus incompatible with the pursuit of science.
"There’s spirituality among even the most secular scientists," Ecklund said in a press release. "Spirituality pervades both the religious and atheist thought. It’s not an either/or.
"This challenges the idea that scientists, and other groups we typically deem as secular, are devoid of those big ’Why am I here?’ questions. They too have these basic human questions and a desire to find meaning."
Another difference between religion and spirituality, according to the atheistic scientists who were interviewed, is that the former is a communal, collective endeavor, while the latter is personal.
This article was provided by Life’s Little Mysteries, a sister site to LiveScience.
Article from: livescience.com
Also tune into:
Bruce Lipton - The Biology of Belief
Lynne McTaggart - The Intention Experiment
Paul Levy - George W Bush & our Collective Psychosis
Robin Falkov - Herbs, Health and Food Freedom & Radiation Defense
Sonia Barrett - The Cosmic Game in 3D
Nigel Kerner & Andrew Silverman - Shroud of Turin & The Grey Aliens
Gary Schwartz - Communication With the Deceased & Life After Death
Jay Weidner - Kubrick’s Odyssey & The Brotherhood of Saturn
Aaron Franz - The Philosophical Roots of Transhumanism
Related Articles
Scientists Abuzz Over Controversial Rumor that God Particle Has Been Detected
Last Supper was a day earlier, scientist claims
Near-Death Experience: Religion or Science?
White House Science Advisor: Climate Change Skeptics Are ‘Heretics’
The invocation of ’Science’ by defenders of the matrix
Earth must prepare for close encounter with aliens, say scientists
Canadian Scientists predict DOOM!! in the year 3000
US physics professor: "Global warming is the greatest and most successful pseudoscientific fraud I have seen in my long life"
Neuroscience: You’re Just a Machine & There’s No Free Will
Israeli government scientist fired for his views on evolution and climate change
Latest News from our Front Page
|
"Stockholm’s not burning"
2013 05 25
Video here: ctvnews.com
With international media swooping on the Stockholm riots from every angle, The Local’s Oliver Gee explains why Stockholm’s not burning, and how the story has been blown out of proportion.
Day five into the Stockholm riots and the world, as viewed from our Stockholm office, has gone crazy. The UK and the US have issued travel warnings for ... |
Britain’s MI5 Connection to Woolwich Slasher Michael Adebolajo
2013 05 25
What a difference a day makes…
People are still in a state of shock and disbelief following a recent attack branded as a ‘terrorist” event by the UK media establishment and echoed in political corridors. It seemed so random…
Aside form appearing random, the brutal Woolwich attack this past week was one of the most bizarre and strangest of its kind yet, ... |
Somali reporter: Swedish journalists are more dangerous than al-Shabab
2013 05 25
This article is translated by google and slightly improved for clarification.
This short story (the tip of the iceberg) is a great example of the media climate in Sweden and the lack of proper Journalism. An extremely dangerous one sided view is constantly presented by the government subsidized media.
Swedish journalists and their lies are more dangerous than the cruel Somali terrorist ... |
Germany’s Merkel shrugs aside new book about communist-era past, says she never hid anything
2013 05 25
Chancellor Angela Merkel has shrugged aside a book that suggests she may have been closer to East Germany’s communist system than previously thought, saying she’s never hidden anything.
The 58-year-old Merkel grew up in East Germany and entered politics as communism crumbled in 1989. It’s long been known that, like many, she joined the communist youth organization. She has said she ... |
‘Lack of public debate on immigration caused Stockholm riots’
2013 05 25
Mishra Mrutyuanjai raises some points that we discussed with Mikael Jalving about in our Red Ice Radio program, in January earlier this year.
Sweden should put its political correctness aside and start an open debate on immigration as it’s the only way to avoid a repeat of the Stockholm riots, Mishra Mrutyuanjai, Swedish Democrats movement member, told RT.
Stockholm is reeling as ... |
| More News » |
|
|
|
|
