Gallup: U.S. church membership dips below 50% for first time

Re:Gallup: U.S. church membership dips below 50% for first time by wing-_-nuts on Monday March 29, 2021 @12:53PM (#26624682)

To expand on my moral philosophy, I think someone should be free to do as they please unless there is evidence that it harms someone else. Harm is defined by the preponderance of evidence. A few contrarian papers sponsored by big corporate interests aren't going to change that. I take a fairly firm stance on what constitutes evidence, and when in doubt, lean towards individual freedom over society's view of something.

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Re:Gallup: U.S. church membership dips below 50% for first time by umvi on Monday March 29, 2021 @01:39PM (#26625414)

> A few contrarian papers sponsored by big corporate interests aren't going to change that.

It's more than that. Not just big corps but sometimes prominent scientists, or political movements have agendas and biases that influence research (studies related to racism, sexism, and diversity/equity come to mind). There are also research "cabals" that won't let you publish research contrary to the groupthink. And on top of all that there is a "reproducibility crisis" that especially impacts social science/medicine.

> and when in doubt, lean towards individual freedom over society's view of something.

I think this is the right stance. Too many people (in my opinion) cherry pick papers on topics that do not have a "preponderance of evidence" (or have even been reproduced a single time) in order to fight for policy changes or otherwise bolster their stance.

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