How Religious Intolerance Predicts Science Denial Now

Author: PNAS Nexus
Published: 30 Apr 2024 - Updated: 17 Sep 2026
Publication Details: Peer-Reviewed | Findings

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This peer-reviewed report investigates the correlation between religious intolerance and the rejection of scientific findings. The authors hypothesize that individuals exhibiting high levels of religious intolerance are more prone to deny science, viewing it as a competing belief system. Utilizing local religious diversity as a proxy for tolerance, the study reveals that U.S. counties with greater religious diversity practiced more social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly, countries with higher religious diversity scored better on international science assessments and were less likely to favor religion over science for truth. Surveys among Christians in the U.S., Hindus in India, and Muslims in Pakistan indicated that those intolerant of other religions also reported higher levels of science denial. These insights are valuable for understanding the dynamics between religious tolerance and science acceptance, offering implications for public health strategies, especially for communities including people with disabilities and seniors.*

At a Glance

• 1 - Researchers used local religious diversity as a stand-in measure for religious tolerance. Their reasoning was that areas lacking diversity tend to show lower tolerance.
• 2 - Countries with greater religious diversity scored higher on the PISA high school science test. They were also less likely to say religion is a better guide to truth than science on the World Values Survey.
• 3 - Cellphone location data showed religiously diverse US counties practiced more social distancing in April 2020, even after controlling for how religious each county was. Vaccination uptake followed the same pattern.
• 4 - The authors note that believers have often been at the forefront of science, but usually those from minority faiths with wide exposure to other beliefs. People without such exposure may come to see their faith as trumping all others and science too.

Topic Definition

Religious Intolerance and Science Denial

Religious intolerance and science denial describes the observed relationship in which people who reject or dismiss faiths other than their own are also more likely to reject scientific findings. The underlying idea is that science can be treated as a rival belief system, so those who view their own religion as the single, absolute truth may extend that same exclusivity to the way they weigh scientific evidence. Researchers studying this pattern often use local religious diversity as a practical measure of tolerance, on the reasoning that communities exposed to many faiths tend to be more open to differing viewpoints, including scientific ones. The concept helps explain why greater religious diversity has been linked to behaviors such as social distancing during a pandemic, higher performance on international science assessments, and a greater willingness to accept science as a guide to truth, and it carries real consequences for public health efforts that depend on broad acceptance of evidence.

Overview

Predicting Science Denial Through Religious Intolerance

Yu Ding and colleagues hypothesize that people with high levels of religious intolerance are more likely to reject science, which can be conceptualized as a competing belief system. The authors used local religious diversity as a proxy for religious tolerance, reasoning that where religious diversity is lacking, religious tolerance will be low.

Among the Findings

Aggregated cellphone location data revealed that religiously diverse US counties engaged in more social distancing in April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, even when controlled for the percentage of religious people in each county. Vaccination uptake followed a similar pattern.

Countries around the world with higher religious diversity showed higher scores on a high school science test known as the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA).

Countries with higher religious diversity were less likely to say that religion is a better guide to truth than science when filling out the World Values Survey.

In surveys of Christians from the United States, Hindus from India, and Muslims from Pakistan, those who described themselves as intolerant of other religions also reported higher levels of science denial.

According to the authors, there have always been religious believers at the forefront of science, but usually those from minority faiths who have wide exposure to people of other faiths.

The authors note that people who don't have exposure to individuals of other faiths can grow up regarding their religion as the one true faith that trumps all others - and also trumps science.

Frequently Asked Questions

NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)

Who conducted this research

The study was led by Yu Ding and colleagues and published through PNAS Nexus. It drew on data from several countries and multiple religious groups.

What is religious tolerance

Religious tolerance is the willingness to accept and respect beliefs and practices that differ from one's own. It generally grows when people are regularly exposed to those of other faiths.

What is the World Values Survey

The World Values Survey is a large international research project that measures people's beliefs, values, and attitudes across many countries. Researchers use it to compare social and cultural views worldwide.

What is the PISA science test

PISA, the Program for International Student Assessment, is an international test that measures the skills and knowledge of high school students. Its science section is often used to compare science literacy between countries.

Does the study claim religion causes science denial

No, it identifies a correlation between religious intolerance and science denial rather than proving direct cause. The authors stress that factors like education and culture also play a role.

Why was religious diversity used as a measure of tolerance

Researchers reasoned that places with many faiths give people more contact with differing beliefs, which tends to build tolerance. Where diversity is low, that exposure and tolerance are often lacking.

How can communities encourage science acceptance

Fostering exposure to diverse beliefs and inclusive environments appears to support greater openness to scientific evidence. Education and respectful dialogue between faith and science can also help.

Why does this matter for public health

Acceptance of science affects how widely measures like vaccination and distancing are adopted during health crises. Understanding what drives denial can help design more effective public health strategies.

Hyperreligiosity: When Faith Becomes a Clinical Sign: Hyperreligiosity explained: how neurological disease, psychosis and rigid belief turn devotion into measurable harm, disability and preventable death.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: The intersection of religious intolerance and science denial presents a significant challenge to public health initiatives. Recognizing that exposure to diverse beliefs can enhance acceptance of scientific evidence underscores the importance of fostering inclusive communities. For vulnerable populations, such as individuals with disabilities and the elderly, promoting environments rich in diversity and tolerance is crucial. This approach not only broadens perspectives but also ensures that critical health measures are more widely accepted and implemented, safeguarding the well-being of these groups. While this research opens new avenues for dialogue between religion and science, it's crucial to approach these findings with nuance. The complex relationship between religious beliefs and scientific acceptance requires further investigation, considering factors such as education, cultural background, and individual experiences. As we navigate an increasingly interconnected world, embracing diversity in both religious and scientific spheres may prove key to addressing global challenges and fostering a more inclusive society.*

Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by PNAS Nexus and published on 30 Apr 2024, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.

* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.