Looking to Religion for Science Answers.

• Position: RESEARCH

When it comes to seeking answers to questions about science, Evangelical and black Protestants, as well as Mormons, are more likely than the general population to turn to religion, according to a study by researchers from Rice University, Houston, Texas; University of Nevada, Reno; and West Virginia University, Morgantown.

The study is the first to measure whether people actively would consult a religious authority or source of information with a question about science, says lead researcher Elaine Ecklund, founding director of Rice's Religion and Public Life Program and chair in Social Sciences. "Our findings suggest that religion does not necessarily push individuals away from science sources, but religion might lead people to turn to religious sources in addition to scientific sources.

"People have many places to look for scientific news and information--the Internet, books or documentaries by science popularizers, museums, and social media--but there is good reason to believe some look beyond these sources of information when questions arise about science. Some segments of the public, for example, are skeptical of the scientific community when it comes to topics like climate change, evolution, or vaccines."

Ecklund and colleagues found that the general survey population was more likely to consult a scientific source than a religious one when seeking answers to scientific questions. This also was true when the researchers looked at mainline Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, and other non-Christians.

For Evangelical Protestants, black Protestants, and Mormons, however, the gap...