Cute, but while I don't have the data to say if it's accurate or not, the implication that as you learn more about science, its ability to explain the world is antagonistic to belief in a higher power seems to not jibe with the religious beliefs of many people I've met who are well-educated in science. In particular, it seems to set up a false dichotomy between religion and science for such cases. I've met a lot of religious people who are well-educated in one or more scientific fields and who both fully expect science to be able to explain everything about the natural world and who don't think that that's at all at odds with their religious beliefs. The bumps at the right of the diagram especially seem to be trying to set up some kind of argument that people can only have religious faith if they believe that there are things in the natural world which can't be explained by science, and as mentioned I haven't found that to be the case.
There's pretty strong evidence (studies, etc.) that as science education (read: ability to explain the world) rises, belief in the supernatural falls. And anecdotally, I have literally lost count of the number of believers (my past self included) whose chief argument (or one of a number of chief arguments) in favor of a higher power was the inexplicability of one or more natural phenomena. Which is to say, the cartoon totally works for me.
A datapoint to add to your collection: I don't really believe in a "higher power" now, but when I did, it had nothing to do with me (or other humans) not understanding how any particular phenomenon worked.
Opinion: "Belief in the supernatural" and "religious belief" are not necessarily the same thing, especially to people who believe in one or both of them. (I understand many atheists consider them the same thing.) I would want to know how the studies in question tested belief.
I'm an atheist who has no belief in the supernatural, but probably a significant religious component to zir personality, although I don't know if "religious belief" is the right description. I don't remember ever believing in a higher power, so I can't comment on the cartoon other than be amused by it, it certainly reflects some people's experience.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2010-02-16 06:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-16 11:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-02-17 05:14 am (UTC)Opinion: "Belief in the supernatural" and "religious belief" are not necessarily the same thing, especially to people who believe in one or both of them. (I understand many atheists consider them the same thing.) I would want to know how the studies in question tested belief.
no subject
Date: 2010-02-19 11:39 am (UTC)