Do Scientists Believe In God?
Kazi Nasir | Oct 12, 2025, 11:41 IST
Divine Revelation Encounter
( Image credit : Times Life Bureau )
The debate between science and religion has existed for centuries — are they rivals or two lenses viewing the same reality? This article explores how science and religion answer different kinds of questions: science explains how the universe works, while religion seeks to understand why it exists. Science relies on evidence, experiments, and observation, whereas religion deals with faith, meaning, and purpose. We also look at research showing that many scientists still believe in a higher power, blending logic with faith.
People love debating on the Scientific vs. religious temperament. The world we share today, this sort of antagonism reached at its climax where it seems believing in one means denying the other. However, they both try to provide us with answers to different questions from very different domains. Before answering the question "Do scientists believe in God?" It's imperative to know the purpose of science and religion. So here it begins.
In science, explanations are derived from evidence which are drawn from observing the natural world while conducting experiments. Scientific explanations are based on evidence so a scientist from one part of the world can independently check or verify evidence that may be cited by another scientist from another part of the world.
Scientific questions or hypotheses are framed in a way so that they can be confirmed or rejected based on evidence. After research if evidence comes up proving the hypothesis is wrong then the hypothses must be reframed and tested again and again to reach a conclusion or be rejected.
So science is a really powerful medium to understand or explain the physical world, its dynamics and mechanisms. But here is the limitation of science, it can't answer the purpose of the universe. And from here begins the realm of theology (religion) or philosophy. It is not for religion to answer the number of protons present inside an atom, for that science is there which try to explain only the natural world. But when it comes to God, that becomes supernatural. Questions like, where do we come from? What happens when we die? are fall inside the realm of religion.
Science does not have the processes to prove or disprove the existence of God. So putting science and religion against one another means confining one's understanding and depriving oneself of experiencing the more meaning of the world.
There are many scientists who believe in God. According to a study of Pew Research Centre in 2009 there are 51% of scientists believe in some form of higher power, among them 33% believe in God and 18% in universal spirit. Interestingly that time in America 95% people believe in a higher power with 83% directly believing God and 12% in universal spirit. Another surface of the study shows that 41% of scientists said they don't believe in any higher power or God compared to just 4% of masses.
For many scientist, they don't find any contradiction between their faith and their scientific work. Even they find God when they go through the explanation of science.
Yes, there are scientists who believe that science and religion operate in separate and different domains. As science focuses on explaining the "How" of physical world and religion addresses purpose and meaning.
Purpose of Science and Religion
Science and Religion
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Scientific questions or hypotheses are framed in a way so that they can be confirmed or rejected based on evidence. After research if evidence comes up proving the hypothesis is wrong then the hypothses must be reframed and tested again and again to reach a conclusion or be rejected.
Science Based on Evidence
( Image credit : Freepik )
So science is a really powerful medium to understand or explain the physical world, its dynamics and mechanisms. But here is the limitation of science, it can't answer the purpose of the universe. And from here begins the realm of theology (religion) or philosophy. It is not for religion to answer the number of protons present inside an atom, for that science is there which try to explain only the natural world. But when it comes to God, that becomes supernatural. Questions like, where do we come from? What happens when we die? are fall inside the realm of religion.
Science does not have the processes to prove or disprove the existence of God. So putting science and religion against one another means confining one's understanding and depriving oneself of experiencing the more meaning of the world.
Do Scientists Believe in God?
Science and God
( Image credit : Freepik )
For many scientist, they don't find any contradiction between their faith and their scientific work. Even they find God when they go through the explanation of science.
Yes, there are scientists who believe that science and religion operate in separate and different domains. As science focuses on explaining the "How" of physical world and religion addresses purpose and meaning.