Skip to main content
. 2023 Feb 24;18(2):e0282243. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282243

Table 4. Scientists’ views about the science-religion relationship and its communication.

Theme Class description Exemplary quote
Conflict actors Groups or institutions collectively Religion’s really not the promoter of science. […], there will be conflicts, definitely. (34)
Single individuals I think in some people beliefs are very contradicting, but I think […] they can complement each other. (17)
Own role in conflict Advance specific side If we do our jobs well we will be able to prove one day that the origin of life didn’t have to be mystical, it didn’t have to be created by God. (9)
Provide information I think we should engage these people […] and say, “[…] Earth is four and a half billion years old. And after 3.8 billion years there was life […]” And maybe they’ll just walk away and not believe you but at least they heard it. (33)
Actively try to defuse conflict Why not to make connection with what was traditionally explained […] and what is the scientific explanation or interpretation? [A]lso science is an interpretation of reality. (40)
Determine which side is right [W]e can just generate facts and if questions come, then we have to think about it. (27)
Cause of conflict Lack of information If you think that God created the Earth in seven days […] that’s not gonna work. (11)
There is no conflict [S]cience and the beauty of mathematics, […], of how the world works, and how beautiful and how logical everything is, this is for me the best proof that there’s some God. (5)
Active (willing) violation of rules or boundaries There’s a lot of conflict, but there doesn’t have to be. […] If there were to be no conflict, it would be religion who would have to accommodate. (9)
Own role in communication Patrols boundaries between institutions I think already showing that the origin of life research is not just research to disprove that God exists. (12)
Presents all facts transparently But in principle, historically spoken, it’s. . . it’s. . . of course it’s important and one should consider and keep in mind. (32)
Promotes an institution [N]ot so much as an equivalent theory, because […] one is popular belief, and the others are being tested through the scientific method. (22)