Alie Ward

Got it.

Okay.

Old Uncle Dad word here popping in to say everyone is entitled to their own spiritual beliefs, just so long as it's not oppressing or screwing up other people's lives.

But if you're wondering if scientists tend to be atheists at a higher rate than the general public, that's a yes.

Rice University sociologist, Dr. Elaine Howard-Uckland had the same question.

And in her 2010 paper, she said,

science versus religion.

What scientists really think?

She crunched the numbers.

So only 2% of the general US population says, I don't believe in God.

But over a third of what she describes as elite scientists are atheists.

But Uckland continues, 22% of the scientists who identified themselves as spiritual also described themselves as atheists.

So wait, what is a spiritual atheist?

Dr. Uckland interviewed one biologist who described spirituality this way, said, that feeling you get by the seashore looking over the endless expanse of water, or the feeling you get considering the age of all things in existence and how long it could go on, sort of an awe at the totality of things.

If that's what spirituality is, then I get it, said the biologist.

So while the narrative of what's controlling our existence is,

Is it a sentient shadowy figure in a cloud watching over us, getting pissed when we lie?

Or is it chaos mixed with chance, mixed with logic and a heavy proportion of mystery?

Those sources may change.

They might be different for each individual, but in the end, perhaps what matters most is the awe that keeps you inspired and the respect that you show to the fellow lumps of molecules with whom you share the universe.