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=== Survey of the religious beliefs  of NAS scientists ===

=== Survey of the religious beliefs  of NAS scientists ===

[[Atheism|Atheist]] apologists often point out that a 1088 survey published in the science journal ''Nature'' by Edward J. Larson and Larry Witham found that 93 percent of the members of the National Academy of Sciences do not believe in a personal God (The term personal God refers to a God who answers prayers and who communicates actively and effectively with people).<ref>[http://randalrauser.com/2013/06/are-top-scientists-overwhelmingly-atheists/ Are Top Scientists Overwhelmingly Atheists?] by Randal Rauser</ref><ref>[http://atheismexposed.tripod.com/modern_scientists_NAS_God.htm  NAS Scientists, God and Atheism]<ref><ref>[Leading scientists still reject God] by  Edward J. Larson and Larry Witham, ''Nature'', 1988</ref>  

[[Atheism|Atheist]] apologists often point out that a 1088 survey published in the science journal ''Nature'' by Edward J. Larson and Larry Witham found that 93 percent of the members of the National Academy of Sciences do not believe in a personal God (The term personal God refers to a God who answers prayers and who communicates actively and effectively with people).<ref>[http://randalrauser.com/2013/06/are-top-scientists-overwhelmingly-atheists/ Are Top Scientists Overwhelmingly Atheists?] by Randal Rauser</ref><ref>[http://atheismexposed.tripod.com/modern_scientists_NAS_God.htm  NAS Scientists, God and Atheism]</ref><ref>[Leading scientists still reject God] by  Edward J. Larson and Larry Witham, ''Nature'', 1988</ref>  

However, they fail to point out:

However, they fail to point out:

The questions were worded poorly.6 So much so, that [[Eugenie C. Scott]], executive director of the [[National Center for Science Education]], examined the study and concluded that the questions were so poorly worded  that that the survey was “not well designed for investigating the religious views of scientists (or anyone else).<ref>[http://randalrauser.com/2013/06/are-top-scientists-overwhelmingly-atheists/ Are Top Scientists Overwhelmingly Atheists?] by Randal Rauser</ref>}}

The questions were worded poorly.6 So much so, that [[Eugenie C. Scott]], executive director of the [[National Center for Science Education]], examined the study and concluded that the questions were so poorly worded  that that the survey was “not well designed for investigating the religious views of scientists (or anyone else).<ref>[http://randalrauser.com/2013/06/are-top-scientists-overwhelmingly-atheists/ Are Top Scientists Overwhelmingly Atheists?] by Randal Rauser</ref>}}

Scott also declared: "The title of the recent Larson and Witham article in Nature, 'Leading scientists still reject God' is premature without reliable data upon which to base it."<ref>[http://atheismexposed.tripod.com/modern_scientists_NAS_God.htm  NAS Scientists, God and Atheism]<ref>

Scott also declared: "The title of the recent Larson and Witham article in Nature, 'Leading scientists still reject God' is premature without reliable data upon which to base it."<ref>[http://atheismexposed.tripod.com/modern_scientists_NAS_God.htm  NAS Scientists, God and Atheism]</ref>

[[File:AlvinPlantinga.JPG|thumbnail|200px|right|The majority of philosophers of religion, or those who have extensively studied the existence of God, are [[theism|theists]] (72 percent).<ref>[http://www.strangenotions.com/atheist-scientists/ Does it matter that many scientists are atheists?}</ref>

[[File:AlvinPlantinga.JPG|thumbnail|200px|right|The majority of philosophers of religion, or those who have extensively studied the existence of God, are [[theism|theists]] (72 percent).<ref>[http://www.strangenotions.com/atheist-scientists/ Does it matter that many scientists are atheists?}</ref>