Observational analysis shows confidence in scientific consensus is shaped by attitudes in adults, suggesting faith in science plays a key role.
Previous studies have examined the relationship between religion and science, but the role of secular belief systems in shaping attitudes toward scientific findings remains understudied. This research tested the leap of faith hypothesis, suggesting that secular individuals may accept scientific claims based more on faith in science than on scientific literacy. In Study 1 ( N = 202) and a preregistered Study 2 ( N = 300), Indonesian adults completed measures of secular beliefs, faith in science, scientific literacy, and confidence in scientific consensus. Across both studies, faith in science consistently mediated the effect of secular beliefs on confidence in scientific consensus, whereas scientific literacy did not. These findings suggest that secular individuals may place trust in scientific claims through conviction—indicating that confidence in science can operate as a faith-like commitment rather than a cognitive understanding.
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Hudiyana et al. (2025) studied this question.
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