Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

EEO

(1,620 posts)
Wed Sep 3, 2014, 03:19 PM Sep 2014

Study: More Religion Means Less Scientific Innovation (Mother Jones)

Study: More Religion Means Less Scientific Innovation

Are science and religion doomed to eternal "warfare," or can they just get along? Philosophers, theologians, scientists, and atheists debate this subject endlessly (and often, angrily). We hear a lot less from economists on the matter, however. But in a recent paper, Princeton economist Roland Bénabou and two colleagues unveiled a surprising finding that would at least appear to bolster the "conflict" camp: Both across countries and also across US states, higher levels of religiosity are related to lower levels of scientific innovation.

"Places with higher levels of religiosity have lower rates of scientific and technical innovation, as measured by patents per capita," comments Bénabou. He adds that the pattern persists "when controlling for differences in income per capita, population, and rates of higher education."


Yes. Try not to be shocked.

The religious right wants to turn us into a theocracy and opposing science is the best way to do it. What they do not understand is that they will turn us into a third world country in the process.
10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Study: More Religion Means Less Scientific Innovation (Mother Jones) (Original Post) EEO Sep 2014 OP
Duh. nt valerief Sep 2014 #1
Why do you even need science when you have religion? Never really understood that. rhett o rick Sep 2014 #2
That's right. Gravity is only a theory. It's really the Devil trying to suck us into Hell. EEO Sep 2014 #5
"a surprising finding" ? Bwahahaaaa Duppers Sep 2014 #3
NP. I also did not find it very surprising... EEO Sep 2014 #9
People who take things on faith are bad at questioning things... Okay then :D Rassah Sep 2014 #4
Obviously true as we see from the earlier whistler162 Sep 2014 #6
Thank you, Captain Obvious sakabatou Sep 2014 #7
Less Scientific Innovation? Less thinking, period. Thor_MN Sep 2014 #8
^^^^ +1000 Duppers Sep 2014 #10
 

Thor_MN

(11,843 posts)
8. Less Scientific Innovation? Less thinking, period.
Thu Sep 4, 2014, 12:55 AM
Sep 2014

When the answer to to every "Why?" that leaders don't want to answer is "god's will", eventually there is no need to think.

Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»2016 Postmortem»Study: More Religion Mean...