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How Do People Think About the Relationship Between Science and Religion? A Cross-Cultural Psychometric Investigation
Joshua A Wilt1, Julie J Exline1, Gulnaz Anjum2
1Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin
|May 3, 2025
Summary
This study reveals that views on science and religion compatibility, not just conflict, shape attitudes. Understanding these nuanced positions is key to depolarizing public discourse on science and religion.
Area of Science:
- Psychology of Religion
- Sociology of Science
Background:
- Limited research exists on diverse global perspectives regarding science and religion relationships.
- Previous studies predominantly focused on Western, Christian populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically measure diverse positions on the science-religion relationship across cultural contexts.
- To investigate the relationship between these positions and individual attitudes toward science and religion.
Main Methods:
- Data collected from 985 adults and undergraduates in Australia, China, and the United States.
- Utilized established self-report measures and novel items to assess science-religion positions and individual attitudes.
- Employed exploratory factor and cluster analysis, correlations, and moderated regressions.
Main Results:
- Identified multiple dimensions of compatibility and a single dimension of conflict in science-religion positions across samples.
- Compatibility dimensions correlated with depolarized attitudes toward both science and religion.
- The conflict dimension correlated with polarized attitudes toward science and religion.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a more comprehensive assessment of science-religion positions, extending beyond Western samples.
- Findings suggest that compatibility views are linked to more balanced attitudes, while conflict views are linked to polarized attitudes.
- This research offers valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of science-religion relationships and their impact on individual attitudes.
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