Timothy L. O’Brien|Shiri Noy
Traditional, Modern, and Post-Secular Perspectives on Science and Religion in the United States
University of Evansville|Wyoming Department of Education|University of Wyoming
using general social survey data examine perspectives science religion united states latent class analysis reveals three groups based knowledge attitudes science religiosity preferences certain religious interpretations world traditional perspective 43 percent marked preference religion compared science modern perspective 36 percent holds opposite view third perspective call postsecular 21 percent views science religion favorably however faced competing accounts events creation evolution postseculars root views religion rather mainstream science regression models indicate perspectives science religion simply mirror denominational ideological differences furthermore religioscientific perspectives shape attitudes political issues scientific religious communities diverge including abortion rights stem cell research overall individuals favor either scientific religious ways understanding many scientifically inclined individuals prefer certain religious accounts suggests public divisions related science religion cultural epistemological article underscores complexity boundary reason faith highlights roots political conflict perspectives science religion united states