Naked Science Forum

General Discussion & Feedback => Just Chat! => Topic started by: enidjane on 08/04/2005 20:54:49

Title: Tendency of scientists to be non-religious/liberal
Post by: enidjane on 08/04/2005 20:54:49

There's an interesting article by Paul Krugman, a NY Times columnist, about how university professors, including hard scientists, tend to be liberal and not religious.  He argues that scientists/academics must have open minds and be able to reject dogma, and these characteristics are not associated with conservatism or reliosity.

Link:
http://www.pkarchive.org/column/040505.html

Pretty controversial, eh?  I thought it might interest this community since there are several threads devoted to the role of science and religion.

/And I'm a left-leaning professor - my students were evenly split between Bush and Kerry election buttons.  *sigh*

Title: Re: Tendency of scientists to be non-religious/liberal
Post by: chimera on 08/04/2005 21:30:11

"Soon, biology professors who don't give creationism equal time with evolution and geology professors who dismiss the view that the Earth is only 6,000 years old might face lawsuits."

Nice.

I think there will be quite a few American scholars looking for positions elsewhere, Europe for one. Talk about self-inflicted brain-drain.

One wonders when the US will re-introduce compulsory Mayflower-type headdresses for women [:)]

Title: Re: Tendency of scientists to be non-religious/liberal
Post by: Ultima on 09/04/2005 11:42:56

Har har the US sucks, the idea that the Earth is only 6,000 years old is so counter intuitive, since we can get artifacts from Egypt that are older… Or just look at the field of Geology… what more do you need? If they have a problem with evolution, fine, but that still doesn't get rid of the fact that 6,000 years is just a blink of an eye!

wOw the world spins?