A demographic survey of TED Conference attendees [1] showed that very few scientists selected any kind of religious affiliation (e.g., Christian 1.6%, Jewish 1.9%, Buddhist 1.6%, etc. [2]

Could this mean that the higher intellectual status of TED attendees is the cause for them not being religious?

Not.

Many other researches have shown that the percentage of scientists who are religious or believe in some kind of spirituality remain constantly high and about 60-70% of the total number of scientists surveyed. It is of great importance to note that this percentage went up to 90% for medical doctors. [3, 4, 5]

It seems that the hostility of the people who dictate mainstream science is the reason behind most of the scientists in specific cases not crying out loud their faith.

It is not the first time it happens. It will not be the last. The oppression and censorship of the few often intimidate the many. It is now “in fashion” to be an atheist. And very few people have the stamina and will to put their career on the line just in order to state the obvious – they they believe they are more than a lifeless set of flesh and bones…

So the next time you are with fellow scientists think twice before denying your faith in your own existence. Believing in “nothing” is much more unscientific. Why hide behind lies just due to “social pressure”? Unless you think it is more “logical” to claim publicly that everything came to be from nothing for no reason and due to a random process with no purpose at all….

Additional resources

• See “Religion and Science Unification” for more statistics on scientists religiosity statistics (see the final chapter).
• Βλ. το “Φιλοσοφία της Επιστήμης και της Θρησκείας” για ποσοστά των επιστημόνων που πιστεύουν στο Θεό (κοίτα το τελευταίο κεφάλαιο).