Ciência, religião, psicologia: conhecimento e comportamento

Abstract

Answers given by scientists in 1916, 1933, 1996, and 1998 to Leuba’s Questionnaire about their beliefs in God and personal immortality are compared. Some recent proposals of mutual acknowledgment between science and religion follow, with emphasis on Barbour’s, Haught’s, and Hefner’s analyses, that suggest overcoming confrontation and indifference with dialogue and integration. Finally, scientists’ personal relations to religion are discussed from a psychological, not epistemological, perspective based on an empirical study with Brazilian researchers in the areas of physical, biological and human sciences. Keywords: Psychology of religion; science and religion; conflict; dialogue.