Religious Understandings of Science

Contrary to polarized media reports covering religious attitudes toward science, initial interview data from the Religious Understandings of Science study reveals that many religious people think that their faith can be harmonious with science and share narratives about the positive intersections between belief and science. Through the combined depth of personal interviews and the breadth of a survey, we explore how religious Americans think through complex scientific issues. This project involves observing religious services, as well as several hundred personal interviews with religious people from a variety of traditions, including Catholics, Jews, Evangelicals, Muslims, and Mainline Protestants. To complement these personal interviews, we are conducting a nationally representative survey of 10,000 Americans. We will present our findings to academic scientists and suggest how they might more effectively communicate with religious communities. We will also provide the findings to congregations who participated in the study. This study is furthering productive conversation in the ongoing dialogue about science and religion.