{"id":69480,"date":"2024-01-24T09:50:02","date_gmt":"2024-01-24T14:50:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/2024\/01\/24\/how-do-nones-view-science\/"},"modified":"2024-12-20T13:40:34","modified_gmt":"2024-12-20T18:40:34","slug":"how-do-nones-view-science","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/religion\/2024\/01\/24\/how-do-nones-view-science\/","title":{"rendered":"7. How do \u2018nones\u2019 view science?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Compared with U.S. adults who identify with a religion, \u201cnones\u201d have a more positive view of science. At the same time, most \u201cnones\u201d say that there are some things science cannot explain and that there\u2019s something spiritual beyond the natural world, even if we cannot see it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In our survey, 56% of \u201cnones\u201d say they think science does more good than harm in society, which is 16 percentage points higher than the share of religiously affiliated adults who take that position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Chart<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Religious \u201cnones\u201d are also far more likely than people who identify with a religion to say the \u201cnatural world is all there is\u201d and \u201cthere is a scientific explanation for everything, even if we don\u2019t understand how everything works.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, most \u201cnones\u201d don\u2019t<\/em> think the natural world is \u201call there is\u201d \u2013 63% of \u201cnones\u201d say \u201cthere is something spiritual beyond the natural world, even if we cannot see it.\u201d And 56% of \u201cnones\u201d say there are some things that science just can\u2019t explain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Views on whether science explains everything<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Table<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When asked to select which of two statements comes closer to their own view, a slight majority of \u201cnones\u201d (56%) choose \u201cthere are some things that science cannot possibly explain,\u201d while 44% pick \u201cthere is a scientific explanation for everything, even if we don\u2019t understand how everything works.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roughly eight-in-ten atheists say there is a scientific explanation for everything, compared with 54% of agnostics and 31% of those who describe their religion as \u201cnothing in particular.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the unaffiliated, men are more likely than women to say there is a scientific explanation for everything. And White and Asian \u201cnones\u201d are more likely than Hispanic or Black \u201cnones\u201d to say this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over half of \u201cnones\u201d who are college graduates say science offers an explanation for everything (55%), compared with a third of \u201cnones\u201d with a high school diploma or less education (34%) who say this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Views about impact of science on society<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Table<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A slight majority of religiously unaffiliated adults (56%) say science does more good than harm in society. Just 5% say science does more harm than good, and 37% say science does equal amounts of good and harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among atheists, 79% say science does more good than harm in society, while 69% of agnostics take the same position. Fewer Americans who describe their religion as \u201cnothing in particular\u201d say science does more good than harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unaffiliated men are more likely than unaffiliated women to say science does more good than harm. And unaffiliated adults who are college graduates express more positive views of science compared with those who have less education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Majorities of Asian and White \u201cnones\u201d say science does more good than harm. Fewer Hispanic and Black \u201cnones\u201d say the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Return to the report\u2019s Overview<\/a>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find answers to other questions: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n