Understanding Science, Embracing Religion

A study by Timothy L. O'Brien at the University of Evansville finds that deeply religious people understand and even accept the practical applications of science and technology but rejects the scientific explanations of creation and evolution.

Professor O'Brien find that people who view both science and religion in a positive light are well educated and financially secure.

Although they accept scientific theories and explanations that covers geology, radioactivity, planetary motion, genetics, and probability, they reject the concept of evolution and the how the universe was formed; the Big Bang.

They even find that almost half of these people, known as post-seculars, believe that the Bible is the literal word of God. Post-seculars also report the greatest strength of religious affiliation as compared to traditionals and moderns.

The study does reveal that people's belief in science and religion is not a product of education or understanding since post-seculars are scientifically literate yet does not accept the concept of evolution as the origin of life or that the big bang created the universe.

The study is published in the American Sociological Review.

Religion is a Major Factor In Conflict Resolution

A peaceful way to end a social conflict or dispute is through conflict resolution. Group members attempt to resolve group conflicts by participating in collective negotiation. This is usually done by communicating information about their motives and disputes to the rest of the group. A wide range of methods and procedures for addressing conflict exist, including but not limited to, negotiation, mediation, diplomacy, and creative peacebuilding.

Religion is a potent force for cooperation and conflict, research shows

Across history and cultures, religion increases trust within groups but also may increase conflict with other groups, according to an article in a special issue of Science.

"Moralizing gods, emerging over the last few millennia, have enabled large-scale cooperation and sociopolitical conquest even without war," says University of Michigan anthropologist Scott Atran, lead author of the article with Jeremy Ginges of the New School for Social Research.

"Sacred values sustain intractable conflicts like those between the Israelis and the Palestinians that defy rational, business-like negotiation. But they also provide surprising opportunities for resolution."

Psychology of Religion: Analytic Thinking Decreases Religious Belief Among Believers and Skeptics Alike

Analytic thinking is done by going through all aspects of a problem, question, or situation. By breaking up the topic into smaller parts and each part is studied meticulously and see how it relates to the main topic.

Since the process follows a coherent and logical progression, it is sometimes called the scientific way of thinking. Analytic thinking starts by taking a problem and hypothesizing it. A hypothesis is a proposed explanation for the problem. Facts are collected and analyzed. After analysis of the facts (everthng has to be evaluated), it is compared to the hypothesis and matched. If it is a match, the person then looks if the hypothesis will still hold true if some conditions are changed. If the problem is an experiment, the experiment is done again to see if it will have the same results.

Analytic thinking is a skill that can be developed. The most important factors to consider is astute observation, and systematic thinking.

Analytic thinking can decrease religious belief: UBC study

A new University of British Columbia study finds that analytic thinking can decrease religious belief, even in devout believers.

The study, published today in the journal Science, finds that thinking analytically increases disbelief among believers and skeptics alike, shedding important new light on the psychology of religious belief.

"Our goal was to explore the fundamental question of why people believe in a God to different degrees," says lead author Will Gervais, a PhD student in UBC's Dept. of Psychology. "A combination of complex factors influence matters of personal spirituality, and these new findings suggest that the cognitive system related to analytic thoughts is one factor that can influence disbelief."