Religious Scientists Sense The Divine In Their Work

Many detect a new openness to finding a synergy between the realms of laboratory research and theology From the days of Galileo, the public perception that scientific tenets are antithetical to religious doctrine has been a strong one. Yet many researchers who hold strong religious beliefs maintain that science and religion are not incompatible. The view that most scientists are atheists, while perhaps closer to urban legend than demonstrable fact, remains a popular one. A Wall Street Journ

Written byBilly Goodman

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Many detect a new openness to finding a synergy between the realms of laboratory research and theology

From the days of Galileo, the public perception that scientific tenets are antithetical to religious doctrine has been a strong one. Yet many researchers who hold strong religious beliefs maintain that science and religion are not incompatible.

The view that most scientists are atheists, while perhaps closer to urban legend than demonstrable fact, remains a popular one. A Wall Street Journal article on three recently published books on science and religion (J. Holt, Oct. 10, 1994, page A10), for example, stated that "the great majority of scientists polled describe themselves as atheists"-- however, no such poll could be produced by the Journal upon a reporter's request.

Ian Barbour, a professor, emeritus, of religion and of physics at Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., recognized as one of the leading thinkers in this area, speculates ...

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