4 ms·
When I was a senior at my university I took a biology class. It was mostly freshmen. The class was lectured by a professor and graded by a teachers assistant wh
by mfer 4y ago
When I was a senior at my university I took a biology class. It was mostly freshmen. The class was lectured by a professor and graded by a teachers assistant who was a PhD student.
Being 22 as a senior, I would regularly head out to the bar at night and on the weekend. I got to know the TA for the class. One night he admitted that the professors would not let students going for a PhD get one if they had any religious belief of any kind. They only allowed atheists or strong agnostics through.
I've heard about this kind of thing happening. That was the first time I had someone in the system point blank tell me about it.
It's worth knowing there is merit to the accusations about the beliefs in this area being filtered or otherwise shaped.
- lisper 4y ago> One night he admitted that the professors would not let students going for a PhD get one if they had any religious belief of any kind. And how would he know? That doesn't seem like the sort of thing a professor would confide to a grad student. It could end the professor's career. I think it's much more likely that your TA was lying to you in service of his own political agenda. In any case, it is manifestly untrue that this is widespread because half of all working biologists profess to hold religious beliefs.
- maria2 4y agoEven if this anecdote were true, it’s just an anecdote. It’s important not to let anecdotes influence you emotionally. All types of individuals, religious or otherwise, do messed up things. Cherry picking examples that fit your world view is a great way to succumb to confirmation bias.