Professors less Godless than We are

A recent survey conducted by sociologists, Neil Gross of Harvard University and Solon Simmons of George Mason University found that, well, professors are way more into God than previously thought.

Facts derived from their nation-wide study:

• Faculty members at religious colleges made up about 14 percent of the sample in the survey and they were more likely to believe in God.

• While 52 percent of professors in non-religiously affiliated colleges believe in God either despite doubts or without doubt, 69 percent of those at religious colleges feel that way.

• Professors are most likely to be atheists or agnostics at elite doctoral institutions (37 percent) and less likely to be non-believers at community colleges (15 percent).

• Professors in psychology and biology are the least likely to believe in God (about 61 percent in each field are atheists or agnostics), with mechanical engineering not far behind at 50 percent.

• Professors most likely to say that they have no doubt that God exists are in accounting (63 percent), elementary education (57 percent), finance (49 percent), marketing (47 percent) and nursing (44 percent).

• 6 percent of professors view the Bible as the “word of God”
• 52 percent see it as “an ancient book of fables, legends, history and moral precepts”
• 42 percent see it as “the inspired word of God.”
• 75 percent oppose religion in the public schools in the form of school prayer.
• 84 percent disagree with a statement that intelligent design is a “serious scientific alternative” to evolution.