Do Scientists Believe in Hashem? The Answers Might Surprise You

So, who's right: religion or science? We hear this question all the time, but wait—why assume there's a conflict between them in the first place? Where did this idea come from?

It's fascinating that if you had asked someone a few generations ago, "Who’s right, religion or science?" they would've raised an eyebrow and asked, "What do you mean? What's the connection between religion and science? Why not ask who's right, musicians or doctors?"

The notion of a religion-science conflict was popularized by two American writers, White and Draper, who published books and articles framing the so-called "conflict between religion and science." It stuck, and now, you try changing a well-rooted stereotype that's so convenient for those who don’t believe. Having science on your side—what could be better?

In 2009, a comprehensive survey by the Pew Research Center revealed that belief in a religion-science conflict is mostly found among non-believers. Another intriguing find was that only a small minority of scientists actually perceive a contradiction between religion and science. It turns out scientists generally understand what science is, and it doesn’t clash with belief.

In 2006, well-known atheist and advocate Dawkins published a book claiming "real" scientists are necessarily atheists, implying all others are fakes. Yet that same year, three highly respected scientists in the U.S. published influential books: "God’s Universe" by Harvard astronomer Owen Gingerich proclaimed the universe was created with intentional purpose, stating this belief doesn’t hinder scientific pursuit. Francis Collins, the biologist leading the Human Genome Project, released "The Language of God," suggesting the wonder and meticulous order found in nature point to a Creator. And cosmologist Paul Davies introduced "The Goldilocks Enigma," posing the idea of fine-tuning in the universe.

A Pew survey conducted in 2009 among members of the American Association for the Advancement of Science found a slim majority of scientists who are believers: 41% defined themselves as atheists or agnostics (skeptics), while 51% expressed belief in Hashem or a higher power. Interestingly, among younger scientists aged 18-34, 66% believed in Hashem or a higher power.

The Pew Global Attitudes Project also demonstrated that scientists are influenced by the cultural climates of their countries. Thus, the real question isn't how many scientists believe, but in which countries they do. The survey, featuring 22,525 scientists from 8 countries, uncovered notable differences among nations. In Italy, Turkey, India, and Taiwan, over half of the scientists described themselves as somewhat religious. In Hong Kong, the proportion of atheists in the general population (55%) was twice that of scientists (26%); 39% of Hong Kong scientists identified as religious, compared to just 20% of the general populace. In Taiwan, 54% of scientists saw themselves as religious against 44% of the general population. Generally, the religious divide between scientists and the wider public is more pronounced in Western countries and less so in the East. Even in Britain, where scientists are the least religious, only a minority view religion and science as fundamentally conflicting.

Research by Auckland showed that only 34% of scientists described themselves as atheists (with 12% of these identifying as "spiritual"). 36% of scientists believe in Hashem or a form of a higher power. Over 70% of scientists believe science and religion complement each other and represent different aspects of reality.

We've learned four vital lessons:

a) More scientists are believers than we might think.

b) Religion and science are often found to overlap during scientific work.

c) Many scientists, even atheist ones, find spirituality in science.

d) The idea that religion and science conflict is largely a Western invention.