[fr_freak]

There is a definite correlation between years of schooling and loss of religious faith.

To the extent that this is true, the real question should be whether there is a correlation between the acquisition of actual knowledge and loss of religious faith. For example, there are quite a number of degree programs these days which consist wholly of complete and utter crap, within which there is not a single word of actual, real-world knowledge that would be applicable in any setting other than some academic circle-jerk. Categories like "Women's studies", "Black studies", "Chicano studies", etc. would fall into this category. In these colleges, nothing is real; it is all pure propaganda and indoctrination. There is no knowledge there that is applicable in the real world. Therefore, since the thrust of the degree is political indoctrination, it is easy to see how such indoctrinated people would be less likely to resist the anti-religious elements of the indoctrination the longer they are exposed to it.

What I would find fascinating is what correlation there is between years of hard science and religious faith. For example, whether those who pursue a physics graduate degree and do real work in the area are less likely to have religion. From my understanding, many have begun to believe in God after studying the universe, or have had their faith strengthened. I emphasize the term "real work", because those who simply acquire the degree and then turn around and teach never progress beyond the spoon-fed pablum that they got from whichever professional academic was their instructor, whereas those who do real work in the field learn and grow beyond the mediocre limits of academia, and the inherent social bias.

[Sherman Logan]

Good points. I am unaware of any study along the lines you mention.

Although it is quite obvious that most “real” scientists are not “men of faith.”

This is merely an observation of a statistical fact, not a comment as to whether the scientists are right to hold this opinion.

For some obscure reason, if you mention the negative correlation between years of schooling and religious faith, many seem to take it as an attack on religion. As if somehow more schooling necessarily equals greater wisdom.

It is also a fact that the higher the level of education the greater the likelihood of a person being a liberal. That doesn’t make them right.

[fightinJAG]

I find reading in quantum physics incredibly inspiring. So many of the things the physicts "discover" and seem to struggle with, seem to me to have a rather compelling "spiritual" explanation that squares with the Biblical account.

I also find that the more I read and research, the more vivid the life and times of Jesus becomes. A wonderful overview of what is known about Jesus from the Bible is T.R. Glover's The Jesus of History.