Title |
Tolerating the “doubting Thomas”: how centrality of religious beliefs vs. practices influences prejudice against atheists
|
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Published in |
Frontiers in Psychology, September 2015
|
DOI | 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01352 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Jeffrey Hughes, Igor Grossmann, Adam B. Cohen |
Abstract |
Past research has found a robust effect of prejudice against atheists in largely Christian-dominated (belief-oriented) samples. We propose that religious centrality of beliefs vs. practices influences attitudes toward atheists, such that religious groups emphasizing beliefs perceive non-believers more negatively than believers, while groups emphasizing practices perceive non-practicing individuals more negatively than practicing individuals. Studies 1-2, in surveys of 41 countries, found that Muslims and Protestants (belief-oriented) had more negative attitudes toward atheists than did Jews and Hindus (practice-oriented). Study 3 experimentally manipulated a target individual's beliefs and practices. Protestants had more negative attitudes toward a non-believer (vs. a believer), whereas Jews had more negative attitudes toward a non-practicing individual (vs. a practicing individual, particularly when they had a Jewish background). This research has implications for the psychology of religion, anti-atheist prejudice, and cross-cultural attitudes regarding where dissent in beliefs or practices may be tolerated or censured within religious groups. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 2 | 12% |
United States | 2 | 12% |
Switzerland | 2 | 12% |
Canada | 2 | 12% |
Norway | 1 | 6% |
New Zealand | 1 | 6% |
Turkey | 1 | 6% |
Hong Kong | 1 | 6% |
Unknown | 5 | 29% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 11 | 65% |
Scientists | 4 | 24% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 2 | 12% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 25 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Bachelor | 7 | 28% |
Student > Master | 6 | 24% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 4 | 16% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 2 | 8% |
Professor > Associate Professor | 2 | 8% |
Other | 3 | 12% |
Unknown | 1 | 4% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Psychology | 15 | 60% |
Social Sciences | 5 | 20% |
Business, Management and Accounting | 1 | 4% |
Philosophy | 1 | 4% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 1 | 4% |
Other | 1 | 4% |
Unknown | 1 | 4% |