In sum, the developmental data suggest that resistance to science will arise in children when scientific claims clash with early emerging, intuitive expectations. This resistance will persist through adulthood if the scientific claims are contested within a society, and will be especially strong if there is a non-scientific alternative that is rooted in common sense and championed by people who are taken as reliable and trustworthy. This is the current situation in the United States with regard to the central tenets of neuroscience and of evolutionary biology. These clash with intuitive beliefs about the immaterial nature of the soul and the purposeful design of humans and other anima...

In sum, the developmental data suggest that resistance to science will arise in children when scientific claims clash with early emerging, intuitive expectations. This resistance will persist through adulthood if the scientific claims are contested within a society, and will be especially strong if there is a non-scientific alternative that is rooted in common sense and championed by people who are taken as reliable and trustworthy. This is the current situation in the United States with regard to the central tenets of neuroscience and of evolutionary biology. These clash with intuitive beliefs about the immaterial nature of the soul and the purposeful design of humans and other animals — and, in the United States, these intuitive beliefs are particularly likely to be endorsed and transmitted by trusted religious and political authorities. Hence these are among the domains where Americans' resistance to science is the strongest.

Dr. Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802, grandfather of the better-remembered Charles) wrote in "Zoonomia IV" that Philosophy, or experimental science: "... has in all ages endeavored to oppose [the progress of ignorance and credulity] and to loosen the shackles they had imposed; philosophers have on this account been called unbelievers: unbelievers of what? Of the fictions of fancy, of witchcraft, hobgoblins, apparitions, vampires, fairies; of the influence of the stars on human actions, miracles wrought by the bones of saints, the flight of ominous birds, the predictions from the bones of dying animals, expounders of dreams, for...

Dr. Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802, grandfather of the better-remembered Charles) wrote in "Zoonomia IV" that Philosophy, or experimental science: "... has in all ages endeavored to oppose [the progress of ignorance and credulity] and to loosen the shackles they had imposed; philosophers have on this account been called unbelievers: unbelievers of what? Of the fictions of fancy, of witchcraft, hobgoblins, apparitions, vampires, fairies; of the influence of the stars on human actions, miracles wrought by the bones of saints, the flight of ominous birds, the predictions from the bones of dying animals, expounders of dreams, fortune-tellers, conjurors, modern prophets, necromancy, cheiromancy [chiromancy/palmistry], animal magnetism, metallic tractors, with endless varieties of folly? These they have disbelieved and despised, but have ever bowed their hoary heads to Truth and Nature..."

Life is hard and tough as nails
That's why we need fairy tales.
I'm all through with logical conclusions
Why should I deny myself illusions?
-- Cabaret Songs, London Digital 452 849-2

I don't believe in ghosts, yet you will never get me to visit a graveyard at night!

"There is a long tradition that commercial American movies challenge conventional piety at great risk. For a long time, any movie dealing with religion had to be run past Hollywood's resident monsignors, ministers and rabbis for approval (the habits of actual orders of nuns could not even be portrayed, which led to great ingenuity in the costume department). On the other hand, nobody has any problem with a...

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I don't believe in ghosts, yet you will never get me to visit a graveyard at night!

"There is a long tradition that commercial American movies challenge conventional piety at great risk. For a long time, any movie dealing with religion had to be run past Hollywood's resident monsignors, ministers and rabbis for approval (the habits of actual orders of nuns could not even be portrayed, which led to great ingenuity in the costume department). On the other hand, nobody has any problem with a movie that treats spiritual matters on the level of the supernatural. This has led to an emerging anti-religion based on magic, ghosts, reincarnation, mediums and other new age voodoo. Talk shows allow "psychics" to answer your questions over the phone, but God forbid they would put on a clergyman to supply thoughtful spiritual advice. And if a movie dares to deal with what people actually believe, all hell, so to speak, breaks loose." -- Roger Ebert, review of "Dogma"