AAAS Revisits Evolution & Religion

Fundamentalist beliefs contribute to the low acceptance of evolution in the US, according to a report given at the most recent meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Jon Miller, the Hannah Professor of Integrative Studies at Michigan State University, discussed his data that show about 40% of US residents reject evolution, while another 20% are unsure about it. This puts the US acceptance of evolution below that of every European country except for Turkey, according to Miller.

Recommended Blogs

At long last, I've decided to add a few sidebar links to connect you with other blogs that are related to the psychological study of religion. If you have a favorite blog or two that deals with psychology and / or religion, let me know about it. I'll add the best you suggest to my sidebar to help spread the word. Send me an email at
mnielsen /at/ georgiasouthern.edu
or leave a comment to this post, and I'll share the news with others.

Thanks!

Clergy and Belief in God

According to a brief report in Ode Magazine, one in six Dutch clergy either do not believe in God or question whether God exists. Seven in 10 report their perspective on God has changed since they joined the ministry. Of the 680 Protestant and Catholic clergy in the study, belief in God was more common among younger than among older respondents. The study was performed by Hijme Stoffels, sociologist at Amsterdam's Free University, in conjunction with the broadcaster Ikon. (This info comes from Ode, March 2007, p. 18. I sought, but didn't find, a more academic source in English.)

Study in Belgium this Summer

UCSIA Summer School on "Religion, Culture and Society"

Antwerp, Belgium
Summer, 2007

Religion, culture and society are strongly interwoven and are crucial for understanding the contemporary world. It is the aim of the interdisciplinary UCSIA summer school to learn and reflect on this interconnection. The program invites applications from graduate students, postgraduate students, and scholars in theology, the social sciences, or other disciplines, who are likely to be interested in active research work pertaining to this subject matter. Applicants should expect to stay for the entire summer program. Tuition, accommodation and meals are provided by the organizer. Participants bear only their own travel expenses and personal expenses. Applications are due no later than April 15. More information is available at http://www.ucsia.org/summerschool.

Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda

You will find an interesting article in Newsweek on Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda, a Puerto Rican living in Florida who claims to have "integrated" with Jesus Christ after a vision. His followers adore him as Christ incarnate, while others consider him a charlatan. There is also a video introducing him, and a brief interview with him describing such things as the establishment of the government of God on earth, and why some of his former followers protest him. About the establishment of God's earthly government, he says, "I will be the first to be transformed, and, yes, I will be the head of that government." (The video is in two segments. Don't close it after the first segment is over.)

Fascinating stuff here! If you teach a class in psych of religion, you'll see many interesting things for your class to discuss.

Time's Brain

Time magazine has a set of articles about the brain. You can find a quick multimedia history of brain studies, as well as articles about mapping the brain, the mystery of consciousness, and how the brain rewires itself. These are perfect for your Friday afternoon slump, when you feel as though you should "be productive" but what you really want to do is surf the net! Enjoy!