Comments on: Social Science Cuts Religiosity http://www.overcomingbias.com/2009/08/social-science-cuts-religiosity.html Overcoming Bias is economist Robin Hanson’s blog, on honesty, signaling, disagreement, forecasting, and the far future. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:20:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: fburnaby http://www.overcomingbias.com/2009/08/social-science-cuts-religiosity.html#comment-431445 fburnaby Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:16:43 +0000 http://www.overcomingbias.com/?p=19348#comment-431445 It's ambiguous in the post, but I'm reading this to say that the <em>change</em> in religiosity after starting college is being reported. But this is very sensitive to initial conditions. In an absurd extreme case, say major 1 starts out at 0% religiosity, and major 2 at 100%, then they each only have one way to go. A "random-drift model would be biased, showing up. This sensitivity to initial conditions would still exist for intermediate values not equal to 50% (or maybe it's whatever the equilibrium value is, which presumably is higher than 50%). It’s ambiguous in the post, but I’m reading this to say that the change in religiosity after starting college is being reported. But this is very sensitive to initial conditions.

In an absurd extreme case, say major 1 starts out at 0% religiosity, and major 2 at 100%, then they each only have one way to go. A “random-drift model would be biased, showing up. This sensitivity to initial conditions would still exist for intermediate values not equal to 50% (or maybe it’s whatever the equilibrium value is, which presumably is higher than 50%).

]]> By: Taimyoboi http://www.overcomingbias.com/2009/08/social-science-cuts-religiosity.html#comment-431374 Taimyoboi Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:03:34 +0000 http://www.overcomingbias.com/?p=19348#comment-431374 Perhaps the explanation is a little more basic. Religious belief generally invovles believing in absolute truths and morals. Physical sciences tend to also be non-relativistic at their core. Humanities are not. Perhaps the explanation is a little more basic. Religious belief generally invovles believing in absolute truths and morals. Physical sciences tend to also be non-relativistic at their core.

Humanities are not.

]]> By: Overcoming Bias : Social Science Cuts Religiosity | kozmom news http://www.overcomingbias.com/2009/08/social-science-cuts-religiosity.html#comment-431310 Overcoming Bias : Social Science Cuts Religiosity | kozmom news Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:31:01 +0000 http://www.overcomingbias.com/?p=19348#comment-431310 [...] The rest is here: Overcoming Bias : Social Science Cuts Religiosity [...] [...] The rest is here: Overcoming Bias : Social Science Cuts Religiosity [...]

]]> By: Phil Goetz http://www.overcomingbias.com/2009/08/social-science-cuts-religiosity.html#comment-431291 Phil Goetz Sun, 09 Aug 2009 15:24:44 +0000 http://www.overcomingbias.com/?p=19348#comment-431291 I think the best evidence against religion isn't evidence against its claims, such as a physical scientist would make; but explaining-away its evidence. If you investigate religion seriously, you'll find many, many accounts of very strong empirical evidence of miracles. You can only dismiss them when you understand how unreliable humans are. I think the best evidence against religion isn’t evidence against its claims, such as a physical scientist would make; but explaining-away its evidence.

If you investigate religion seriously, you’ll find many, many accounts of very strong empirical evidence of miracles. You can only dismiss them when you understand how unreliable humans are.

]]> By: Tim Tyler http://www.overcomingbias.com/2009/08/social-science-cuts-religiosity.html#comment-431282 Tim Tyler Sun, 09 Aug 2009 07:36:09 +0000 http://www.overcomingbias.com/?p=19348#comment-431282 Evidence that "education" is bad for your brain ;-) Evidence that “education” is bad for your brain ;-)

]]> By: Interessantes woanders (2009.08.09) › Immersion I/O http://www.overcomingbias.com/2009/08/social-science-cuts-religiosity.html#comment-431275 Interessantes woanders (2009.08.09) › Immersion I/O Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:03:56 +0000 http://www.overcomingbias.com/?p=19348#comment-431275 [...] Social Science Cuts Religiosity [...] [...] Social Science Cuts Religiosity [...]

]]> By: John Maxwell IV http://www.overcomingbias.com/2009/08/social-science-cuts-religiosity.html#comment-431267 John Maxwell IV Sat, 08 Aug 2009 18:48:36 +0000 http://www.overcomingbias.com/?p=19348#comment-431267 Do students shift to the left politically in a similar pattern? Do students shift to the left politically in a similar pattern?

]]> By: MattMc http://www.overcomingbias.com/2009/08/social-science-cuts-religiosity.html#comment-431262 MattMc Sat, 08 Aug 2009 17:58:13 +0000 http://www.overcomingbias.com/?p=19348#comment-431262 I almost went into philosophy to study theories of ethics and morality that were missing from my rejected religious background. I would guess that the religous avoid those humanities type subjects because they so often directly touch on religion in an analytical way. The sciences really only give you trouble if you are a fundamentalist. I almost went into philosophy to study theories of ethics and morality that were missing from my rejected religious background. I would guess that the religous avoid those humanities type subjects because they so often directly touch on religion in an analytical way. The sciences really only give you trouble if you are a fundamentalist.

]]> By: Tyrrell McAllister http://www.overcomingbias.com/2009/08/social-science-cuts-religiosity.html#comment-431261 Tyrrell McAllister Sat, 08 Aug 2009 17:53:11 +0000 http://www.overcomingbias.com/?p=19348#comment-431261 But how is it that the "conflicts between the views" have any causal effect? The most natural answer is they have effects via arguments and evidence: Arguments grounded in one view decrease the believability of the other view. Is there a status-signaling account that does away with arguments altogether. But how is it that the “conflicts between the views” have any causal effect? The most natural answer is they have effects via arguments and evidence: Arguments grounded in one view decrease the believability of the other view. Is there a status-signaling account that does away with arguments altogether.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.overcomingbias.com/2009/08/social-science-cuts-religiosity.html#comment-431260 Kevin Sat, 08 Aug 2009 17:05:18 +0000 http://www.overcomingbias.com/?p=19348#comment-431260 That's cool. But do you have a signaling story for evidence/truth? If so, I'm eager to hear it! That’s cool. But do you have a signaling story for evidence/truth? If so, I’m eager to hear it!

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