Eminent scientist Richard Dawkins can talk about the "God Delusion" but he won’t get much applause from his colleagues in India, for a new study says that one in four scientists of India believe firmly that there is a supernatural power up there guiding their destiny. The scientists also strictly follow religious practices and rituals for academic, professional, material and spiritual satisfaction.
In all, 50 per cent of the scientists surveyed believe in the efficacy of prayers, as against just 10 per cent of scientists in the United States.
A considerable number of them also believe in the theory of Karma, predestination, life after death while some others also believe in ghosts and evil spirits.
A joint survey by the city-based Centre for Inquiry and the US-based Institute for the Study of Secularism, Society and Culture of Trinity College, revealed interesting facts on the beliefs and religious practices of Indian scientists.
As many as 1,100 scientists from 130 research institutions and universities participated in the survey, the first of its kind to be undertaken in India.
According to Mr N. Innaiah of the Centre for Inquiry, 29 per cent of scientists surveyed believed in Karma while 26 per cent felt that there will be life after death. A small number (seven per cent) of scientists also believed in ghosts.
The survey took about six months and the report was released earlier this week in New York.
It points out that Isro scientists usually offered prayers to Lord Balaji in Tirumala to seek his blessings for the successful launch of space vehicles.
Because of their religious beliefs, 60 per cent of scientists surveyed made it clear that they would refuse to design biological weapons and eight per cent said they had reservations about genetic engineering and research on stem cells.
However, Barry Kosmin of Institute for the Study of Secularism in Society and Culture expressed surprise that scientists in India do not hesitate to do research on cows and pigs despite religious taboos.
See Related Posts on Statistics
72% Irreligious; 56% Believe in Supernatural
No comments:
Post a Comment