Threatening Morality: Religious and Political Opposition to Science in the United States

Recent research suggests that religious opposition to science in the United States is rooted in a belief that science threatens morality. We test this claim using a survey of United States adults (n = 3,763). Regression results indicate that the religious are more likely than the nonreligious to bel...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: O'Brien, Timothy L. (Author) ; Noy, Shiri (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Wiley-Blackwell 2021
In: Journal for the scientific study of religion
Year: 2021, Volume: 60, Issue: 3, Pages: 628-644
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B USA / Religiosity / Science / Rejection of / Moral sense / Danger
IxTheo Classification:AD Sociology of religion; religious policy
CB Christian life; spirituality
CF Christianity and Science
KBQ North America
NCA Ethics
Further subjects:B Public Opinion
B United States
B Science
B Politics
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Description
Summary:Recent research suggests that religious opposition to science in the United States is rooted in a belief that science threatens morality. We test this claim using a survey of United States adults (n = 3,763). Regression results indicate that the religious are more likely than the nonreligious to believe that science breaks down people's understanding of right and wrong, which we call moral opposition to science. However, the strength of this relationship varies by political ideologies. While moral opposition to science is relatively high among conservatives regardless of religiosity, secular and religious liberals differ widely in their beliefs about science's moral meaning. In fact, moral opposition to science among religious liberals is nearly as high as it is among secular conservatives. These findings accentuate the moral dimension of the science–religion interface and they underscore the importance of religion for understanding political opposition to science.
ISSN:1468-5906
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal for the scientific study of religion
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1111/jssr.12731