Do physicists believe in God?

Interesting question answered by physicists and scientists in the University of Nottingham, UK;

Do physicists believe in God? - Video;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7VcLCwnpt4

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In the video, all of the scientists answered "No" when asked if they believe in God.

I have been researching science and religion for several months now and the majority of people working in science don't believe in a God. Of coarse there are a few exceptions!

But what i have found most interesting in my research is that none of the scientists who are questioned ever even consider the possibility that the Bible or Koran or other holy text's might well be describing the very scientific method that guides their work today. The Bible could well be describing scientific events that people back then were simply unable to explain! All todays top science journals will not publish content that investigates bible science, its simply black listed.

My view is that we cannot fully rule out the possibility that intelligent people from a near-by planet did not interfere with the DNA history of life on this planet. We can't rule it out, but we also cannot rule it in either without proof!

John.

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Any form of organised earthly Religion is essentially a belief in nothing, not one ounce of proof of anything in any of them. Where religion gets itself into trouble is when it makes profound statements which are in conflict with scientific evidence.
Religions are highly dangerous because they tap deep into the human psyche but people seem to need them and others are capable of manipulating the masses using this powerful tool.
Personally, I am not an atheist but I prefer to think of myself as a Deist.
There is a bigger picture behind all that we know IMHO and I do personally believe this is attributable to a grand plan, concocted by whom I know not.
Basically religion should stay out of scientific affairs and visa versa.

I have always stated here that the universe as we know it is a cosmic incubator to bring forth life.

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*** Those who know, don't speak,
those who speak, don't know ***

Quote from one of my quantum mechanics lecturers
"God must be a spectroscopist - he made life so easy for us"

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

I agree with everything you say Gerard....Except this bit;

Basically religion should stay out of scientific affairs and visa versa.

I agree and i disagree. Instead i propose an alternative solution to the problem. Yes, science and religion do conflict with each other. People who are well educated in science and astronomy might be prone to thinking the whole religion thing is a bunch of lies and made-up stories.

I think religion needs to re-think its whole function. There IS a place for religion and spirituality in the lives of thinking people. Its a spiritual experience in itself the fact that we can "think and contemplate" life itself. In the next few centuries i think religion will take on a whole new meaning if we can learn from the past and move on to leave the old Bible stories behind. If religion can learn to focus on the true spirituality of being clever thinking humans, then it can move forward, hand-in-hand with science.

Scientifically minded people can't currently follow any religion because they are all based on stories that are probably not true. But Scientifically minded people also do need the same core principles that religion teaches. Things like spirituality.

Think about this;
The 10 commandments in the bible are essentially not a bad set of basic rules to keep human beings civilised. If we all followed the 10 commandments from the bible, the world would be a reasonably tolerant and nice place to live, for everyone. The 10 commandments might need a bit of modern tweaking but they are not too bad as they are.

Ten Commandments; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Commandments

I think we all do need religion, just not in its present form. Without some type of spiritual set of rules, science only gives us "Darwinian Natural Selection", which tells us to kill our next door neighbour and let all the weak people die. Thats no way to live. Darwinian Natural Selection tells us to rape as many women as possible to propagate your own genes. Darwinian Natural Selection tells us to rob, pillage and plunder as much as you can for your own personal gain. Darwinian Natural Selection tells us to to kill off all the other top predators that want to eat the animals we want for food.

Darwinian Natural Selection is capable of producing intelligent thinking beings. But, as humans, we need to leave Darwinian Natural Selection behind us.


John.

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I think there are much more scientists who believe in good marketing instead of supporting/following any specific religion/god. It has been made clear that everytime someone makes a comment about this issue, still lots of people get involved in harsh discussions.

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When people use the word GOD, they usually mean their god, not any god or someone else's god. Once you define GOD then the questions can be answered, until then it is just a waste of time and breath.

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Do physicists believe in God?

Some do, but I'm not sure if the reverse is true.

;>

The question "you 're asking" is the wrong question - IMHO. You should distinguish between faith and relegion, two things totaly different.

Relegion has always been dogmatic, saying:" do this, don't eat that, an eye for an eye ..." an so on. Few people trying to controll the masses, not better than the worst forms of communism.

Personal belief (in god -> E.T.? - however you define him/her/it) plus a healthy dose of reason is something totally different.

Most physicists need proof, or at least a good theory, before believing anything.

And belief in god might lessen your chances of employment, see this from the NY Times;

Astronomer Sues the University of Kentucky, Claiming His Faith Cost Him a Job