Freethinking Physicians More Philanthropic. A major cross-sectional survey of U.S. physicians found that doctors who are more religious are slightly less likely to work with the underserved than physicians with no religious affiliation. Researchers from the University of Chicago and Yale New Haven Foundation published a report (Annals of Family Medicine, July/August) showing that 31% of more religious doctors practiced among the underserved, compared to 35% of physicians described as atheist, agnostic or none. Source: University of Chicago News Office, July 30, 2007
Religion Causes Harm. YouGov poll, commissioned by UK writer/broadcaster and self-described doubter” John Humphreys, found that 42% of 2,200 Brits polled consider religion has a harmful effect. About 16% of those polled call themselves atheists and 9% agnostic, but only 28% say they believe in God (26% believe in “something” but they’re not sure what). Only 17% thought the influence of religion is beneficial. Nearly half (43%) never pray, 31% hardly pray, and only 10% pray every night. Source: London Times, Sept. 2, 2007
Least Religious Candidates Ahead. “Candidates for the White House need not be seen as very religious to be broadly acceptable to the voting public.” More people expressed reservations about voting for a Mormon (25%), than for an evangelical Christian (16%), Jew (11%) or Catholic (7%). Six in 10 Americans (61%) would be less likely to vote for a candidate who does not believe in a god, with 45% reluctant about voting for a Muslim. A majority (69%) said it is important for a president to have strong religious beliefs, yet 43% are uncomfortable when politicians talk about how religious they are. Most (63%) are opposed to churches endorsing presidential candidates (which is illegal). Even 52% of conservative Republicans expressed opposition to such politicking at churches.Source: Pew Research Center Survey Report, Sept. 6, 2007
