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leoofno
Skeptic Friend
USA
346 Posts |
 Posted - 02/08/2007 : 08:14:20
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I was reading a somewhat disturbing article regarding the number of doctors who would withhold information about treatments that conflicted with their moral beliefs (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17026169/) when I came across this quote:
"Curlin noted prior research by his team found doctors may be a bit more religious than others — 46 percent of doctors said they attend religious services at least twice a month, compared with 40 percent of the general public."
I think that religion is a crock, that one's exposure to a good education and the development of critical thinking skills lessens the likelihood of religious belief. That seems borne out by statistics regarding scientists vs. the general population. This was discussed in a thread here recently.
Yet here we have very well educated segment of the population, doctors, who ought to know a thing or two about critical thinking, apparently being MORE religious than the general population.
I don't understand this. Are doctors onto something, or is there (probably) a more mundane explanation? I can think of two ideas:
1. The religious more likly to become doctors.
2. Doctors are more concerned with their "image", and so feel the need to go to services.
Any other ideas/comments?
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"If you're not terrified, you're not paying attention." Eric Alterman
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Edited by - leoofno on 02/08/2007 08:15:32
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Gorgo
SFN Die Hard
USA
5310 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2007 : 08:26:14 [Permalink]
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| They go to church more often. That doesn't necessarily equate to being more religious, so I wonder if it's the second choice. Might be that GP's need to go to satisfy their public. |
I know the rent is in arrears
The dog has not been fed in years
It's even worse than it appears
But it's alright-
Jerry Garcia
Robert Hunter
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tomk80
SFN Regular
Netherlands
1278 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2007 : 10:43:50 [Permalink]
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Perhaps 3: They come in contact with human suffering more often and hence are more prone to develop coping mechanisms, of which religion might be one?
What I would find interesting in this respect would be a comparison of other emergency-service personel. Data on the religious distribution of first-year medical students might also be interesting. |
Tom
`Contrariwise,' continued Tweedledee, `if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic.'
-Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Caroll- |
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BigPapaSmurf
SFN Die Hard
3192 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2007 : 11:06:50 [Permalink]
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It has solely to do with the belief that humans are the most precious thing in the universe. See Ishmael
Edit:Well, maybe not solely... |
"...things I have neither seen nor experienced nor heard tell of from anybody else; things, what is more, that do not in fact exist and could not ever exist at all. So my readers must not believe a word I say." -Lucian on his book True History
"...They accept such things on faith alone, without any evidence. So if a fraudulent and cunning person who knows how to take advantage of a situation comes among them, he can make himself rich in a short time." -Lucian critical of early Christians c.166 AD From his book, De Morte Peregrini |
| Edited by - BigPapaSmurf on 02/08/2007 11:07:59 |
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beskeptigal
SFN Die Hard
USA
3834 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2007 : 14:45:16 [Permalink]
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Depends if the data was correct. Could be any number of flaws in the survey.
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Neurosis
SFN Regular
USA
675 Posts |
Posted - 02/08/2007 : 15:14:20 [Permalink]
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I agree with Tom. I also think that is has alot to do with field of study. Doctors are not taught to be critical any more than any other science group. Instead, they are taught diagnostics. How to recognize the signs of a disease or physical problem and what to do when they present. Basically, I think that anyone can need reassurance that life has a point, the universe had an origin, and that the suffering they see (especially true of a physician like an oncologist)will be reconciled somehow.
We should also recognize that this is American doctors most likely. |
Facts! Pssh, you can prove anything even remotely true with facts.
- Homer Simpson
[God] is an infinite nothing from nowhere with less power over our universe than the secretary of agriculture.
- Prof. Frink
Lisa: Yes, but wouldn't you rather know the truth than to delude yourself for happiness?
Marge: Well... um.... [goes outside to jump on tampoline with Homer.] |
| Edited by - Neurosis on 02/08/2007 15:15:12 |
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beskeptigal
SFN Die Hard
USA
3834 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2007 : 01:57:19 [Permalink]
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How do you know that, Neurosis? It may have been true in the past but currently there's a big movement toward critical thinking in medicine. I see critical thinking reflected in many medical settings but especially in how current research implications are considered.
If you have the time, watch these 2 medical conferences (1 hr each). See if the research results as presented aren't indeed being interpreted in a most critical way.
Alzheimer's Disease Part 1
Part 2
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| Edited by - beskeptigal on 02/09/2007 01:57:52 |
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Ricky
SFN Die Hard
USA
4907 Posts |
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Neurosis
SFN Regular
USA
675 Posts |
Posted - 02/09/2007 : 11:04:40 [Permalink]
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quote:
How do you know that, Neurosis? It may have been true in the past but currently there's a big movement toward critical thinking in medicine. I see critical thinking reflected in many medical settings but especially in how current research implications are considered.
I did not mean to say that doctors are not critical, I meant that they are taught a repetoire of cause and effect lines for them to reason through to get a diagnosis and treatment. I am saying that thinking critically about one subject does not mean you can think critically about another. I am a medical student and what I have been taught is how the body should work and how to know when it is not working properly, and familiarizing myself with presentations of the problems that could be causing the improper function or lack of it. There is nothing wrong with the workings of the planet, no cause and effect lines to consider. It isn't the same thinking process to me. In order to be an atheist, to me, means considering only what is relevant and has evidence. As a doctor, one can rule out a problem with the kidneys for lack of evidence but you still must keep thinkig about what is the problem and how to tell if there is none. It is a difference that I can see making all the difference when trying to compare professions to atheist trends. The god question is not a problem, it is a non-issue, so problem solving skills may not help with getting past it, similar to a intuitive riddle like the following:
A thousand pound pyramid is balnced on the tip, under which is 100 dollar bill. How do you get the bill?
The answer is to rip the bill, but an engineer is no more capable of solving the riddle than a regular construction worker, or anyone else really. I think it is a similar situation. |
Facts! Pssh, you can prove anything even remotely true with facts.
- Homer Simpson
[God] is an infinite nothing from nowhere with less power over our universe than the secretary of agriculture.
- Prof. Frink
Lisa: Yes, but wouldn't you rather know the truth than to delude yourself for happiness?
Marge: Well... um.... [goes outside to jump on tampoline with Homer.] |
| Edited by - Neurosis on 02/09/2007 11:05:12 |
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