MWF
It is precisely these kinds of exchanges where it is easy to
slip in to a confusion caused by the equivocal nature of the G word, and
the C word isn't much better.
"Most scientists" may use the G word, but what they individually
mean varies much between the individuals, but most importantly bears
almost no resemblance to what Walt Jr. means by that word. So, when Walt
says:
TILL
The latest issue of *Freethought Today* reports the results of a survey of
scientists, which was conducted by Edward Larson of the University of
Georgia and published in *Nature* and reported in *The New York Times.* The
religious beliefs of one thousand scientists selected at random from
*American Men and Women of Science* were surveyed with the following
results: (1) 45% reported that they were atheists, (2) 15% reported that
they were agnostics, and (3) 40% reported that they believed in a god with
whom communication is possible.
The survey found that the highest percentage of theistic beliefs were found
in mathematicians (44.6%) but that only 22.1% of physicists and astronomers
had theistic beliefs. (Since much of Walt's philosophical argumentation
centers on issues that physicists and astronomers would be most familiar
with, perhaps he could tell us if he considers the low incidence of theistic
beliefs in physicists and astronomers compelling evidence that God doesn't
exist.)
Only 38% reported a belief in immortality, and only 9.9% reported an
"intense desire" for immortality. I suppose this would have to be
considered compelling evidence that there is no such thing as immortality.
At any rate, the fact that 40% are theistic but only 38% believe in
immorality and even a much lower percentage has an intense desire for
immortality would seem to confirm Fisher's observation: When scientists use
the G word, what they individually mean varies much among the individuals,
but, most important, bears almost no resemblance to what Walt, Jr., means by
that word.
Farrell Till
Skepticism, Inc.
jftill@midwest.net