That isn't the takeaway emphasized by the Blog Emperor or the study's author, but it's surely what must leap out at any person knowledgeable about the academy. For example, more than 50% of law professors generally believe in God or a "higher power" (21% are absolutely certain that God exists), while only 24% are atheists. By contrast, 73% of academic philosophers are atheists (CORRECTED: I linked to the wrong data first time around). Similarly, 92% of the members of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) are atheists. Admittedly, NAS members are the most distinguished and accomplished scientists, so a fairer comparison would be something like religious belief among the most elite and distinguished legal academics. Would that approach the 92% figure? An interesting question!
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