fbpx Do we depend too much on faith and not enough on science? | Science in the net

Do we depend too much on faith and not enough on science?

Primary tabs

di Antonio Pilello
Pubblicato il 27/11/2013Read time: 3 mins

On November 13th 2013, a new Eurobarometer survey showed a wide public support for responsible research and innovation in the European Union. According to the document Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), Science and Technology, 77% of citizens from EU27 countries think that science and technology have a positive influence on society. However, they would like to take more into account ethical principles (76%), gender balance (84%) as well as public dialogue (55%). Between April 26th and May 24th 2013, 27563 citizens were interviewed.

In particular, 1016 Italian citizens were contacted face-to-face. Only 29% of them feels informed enough about science and technology (EU27=40%), but they are quite interested in their developments (IT=50%, EU27=53%). In general, they get less information than EU27 people through different media: television (IT=56%, EU27=65%), newspapers (IT=24%, EU27=33%), websites (IT=19%, EU27=32%), magazines (IT=20%, EU27=26%), radio (IT=8%, EU27=17%), books (IT=13%, EU27=14%) and social media (IT=10%, EU27=10%). Furthermore, 37% of Italians (EU27=31%) thinks that people should only been informed about decisions involving science and technology. On the other hand, 34% (EU27=39%) would like to be consulted or participate directly in the decision processes (IT=9%, EU27=12%).

According to the data evolution from 2010 to 2013, the best qualified Italian persons or organizations able to explain the impact of scientific and technological developments on society should be the scientists working at universities or government laboratories (IT=61%, -5% compared to 2010, EU27=66%), the scientists working in private company laboratories (IT=38%, +2%, EU27=35%), the environmental protection associations (IT=18%, -5%, EU27=21%) and journalists from television (IT=18%, +3%, EU27=20%). In general the three-years trend was positive for newspapers journalists (IT=15%, +2%, EU27=15%), industries (IT=4%, no variation, EU27=9%), writers and intellectuals (IT=4%, +1%, EU27=7%), but was negative for consumer organizations (IT=16%, -5%, EU27=20%), medical doctors (IT=14%, -10%, EU27=19%) and government representatives (IT=6%, -8%, EU27=6%).

Finally, In Italy the overall influence on science and technology is totally positive for 71% (EU27=77%) and negative for 15% (EU27=10%). In general, young people (82% of 15-24 years old) are more optimistic than 55+ years old people (65%). Other citizens (25-54 years old) are quite positive with more than 70%. The responsibility towards society exercised by paying attention to the impact of their science and technology related activity should be taken, first of all, by the environmental protection associations (IT=77%, EU27=81%), the scientists (IT=72%, EU27=82%) and the consumer organizations (IT=71%, EU27=76%). The government representatives could be good only for 34% (EU27=44%).

One of the questions of the new Eurobarometer was particularly interesting: Do we depend too much on science and not enough on faith? As reported in Fig. 1, people in Eastern and Mediterranean countries are more likely to agree that we depend too much on science and not enough on faith. This sentiment in these countries is more negative compared to 2010. In our country, 42% of respondents (+5% compared to 2010, EU27=39%) agree with it. On the other hand, 24% (-6%, EU27=32%) totally disagree. Finally, it is interesting to see that this picture is quite similar to the map of traditional religious majorities by region in Europe (see Fig. 2). Perhaps we could wonder if there are some differences due to Protestantism and Catholicism / Orthodox Christianity?

Fig. 1 - Do we depend too much on science and not enough on faith? Answer: Total agree (Credit: Eurobarometer 401).

Click to enlarge

Fig. 2 - Map of traditional religious majorities by region in Europe (Credit: Eupedia).

Click to enlarge


Scienza in rete è un giornale senza pubblicità e aperto a tutti per garantire l’indipendenza dell’informazione e il diritto universale alla cittadinanza scientifica. Contribuisci a dar voce alla ricerca sostenendo Scienza in rete. In questo modo, potrai entrare a far parte della nostra comunità e condividere il nostro percorso. Clicca sul pulsante e scegli liberamente quanto donare! Anche una piccola somma è importante. Se vuoi fare una donazione ricorrente, ci consenti di programmare meglio il nostro lavoro e resti comunque libero di interromperla quando credi.


  • 20718 reads

prossimo articolo

My Portrait of Anthony Fauci

di Guido Poli
Pubblicato il 05/08/2026

Anthony Fauci, at 85, has been called to testify before the Senate committee investigating the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic, in what feels like a settling of scores by the very party that, at the time, was recommending chloroquine as a defence. The eminent physician is once again at the centre of controversy, not least for choosing to invoke the Fifth Amendment rather than answer questions. Guido Poli, immunologist at the San Raffaele Hospital and president of Patto Trasversale per la Scienza, who worked with him for many years, recalls in this article Tony Fauci's battles in the history of American and international public health, from AIDS to the pandemic. The image is taken from the footage (public domain) of A. Fauci's hearing on 29 July 2026 before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Global Health

In recent days, Anthony (“Tony”) Fauci has once again become a prominent figure in the international media, and to some extent in Italy as well. As the physician-scientist who has played one of the leading roles in U.S. public health over the past several decades, he became known throughout the world during the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Having had the privilege and good fortune to work with him from 1986 to 1993, I would like to offer my personal account of the scientist and the man.