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Re:Why Don’t Americans Elect Scientists? by cobrausn on Thursday September 06, 2012 @05:37PM (#4486411)
The last study on this I read said that only 20% of scientists believe that science and religion are in constant conflict with each other. So the pool is not as small as you might think, if that is your requirement.
Re:Why Don’t Americans Elect Scientists? by akirn on Thursday September 06, 2012 @06:12PM (#4486557)
Even if it's true that only 20% of scientists believe that science and religion are in constant conflict (citation?), it does not follow that the remaining 80% believe in a supernatural overlord or are members of any mainstream cult.
Re:Why Don’t Americans Elect Scientists? by cobrausn on Thursday September 06, 2012 @06:30PM (#4486630)
http://www.ehecklund.rice.edu/raas.html http://shambhalasun.com/sunspace/?p=23056

The second link indicates that the study found out that about half of those scientists surveyed express a religious identity, yet only 15% say they are always in conflict. My guess is most of those in the middle count themselves as 'deists'.

Re:Why Don’t Americans Elect Scientists? by akirn on Thursday September 06, 2012 @07:35PM (#4486886)
Ecklund's claims are greatly exaggerated, if not blatantly false. See http://scienceblogs.com/evolutionblog/2010/05/20/scientists-... for the debunking and http://metamagician3000.blogspot.com/2010/06/sciencereligion... for a more detailed examination of the compatibility of science and religion. Or go straight to the source and try to find an angle that supports your original statement, 'cause I can't: http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/8594/ecklund2.jpg.
Re:Why Don’t Americans Elect Scientists? by cobrausn on Friday September 07, 2012 @12:57PM (#4490043)
I never stated the viability of the entire thing, just that many scientists do consider themselves religious, regardless of compatibility. I personally don't think they are completely compatible unless you are looking at your religion as more of a cultural identity than a book of 'truths', or if you are Buddhist (http://tricycleblog.wordpress.com/2007/10/26/einsteins-quote...).