From: Howard J. Van Till (hvantill@chartermi.net)
Date: Tue Jul 15 2003 - 08:53:42 EDT
> Scott Jorgenson <dscottjorgenson@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> General theistic belief (not necessarily
>> Christian) among US
>> scientists as a whole was surveyed to be about 40%,
>> and among NAS members
>> particularly it was surveyed to be only about 7%.
>> Personally, I attribute
>> the disproportionately-high NAS numbers [for non-belief] more to the
>> hubris that humans too
>> often acquire when showered with intellectual
>> affirmation and stardom, than to
>> any native intelligence.
The question: Why might NAS members be less inclined than other categories
of people (scientists generally, John Q. Public, etc.) toward theistic
beliefs ? Several possibilities:
1. Dawkins/Dennett: Higher intelligence among NAS membership.
2. Scott Jorgenson (with agreement from Blake Nelson): The human hubris that
often accompanies praise for intellectual accomplishment.
3. Yet another possibility: Intelligent persons who are well acquainted with
what the sciences have learned about the evolutionary history of the
universe see that the majority of Christians choose to ignore that
scientific evidence and cling to some form of episodic creationism
(entailing the rejection of the RFEP, and asserting that at least some life
forms required episodes of form-conferring supernatural intervention to
actualize). Given their informed judgment regarding the credibility of the
scientific concept of evolution, and given that the example set by the
majority of Christian theists entails a rejection of that informed judgment,
these intelligent and well-informed persons are less inclined to join with
the theists.
There was a time when I joined the chorus of persons who were quick to
demonize those awful atheists as the epitome of stubborn arrogance and
extreme hubris. Perhaps it is now time to listen more respectfully to learn
what they themselves would say. It's just possible that their choices have
been made thoughtfully, humbly, and on the basis of warranted
considerations.
Howard Van Till
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