Recognizing Compatibility, but Hesitant about In-Class Discussion: Nonreligious Biology Graduate Teaching Assistant Perceptions of the Relationship between Religion and Evolution.

ABSTRACT: Perceived conflict between religion and evolution drives evolution rejection among religious undergraduate biology students. Though most biology undergraduates at secular institutions are religious, the majority of biology graduate students and faculty are nonreligious. Thus, nonreligious instructor perceptions of religion and its relationship with evolution may impact how they teach evolution, and ultimately their students' evolution acceptance. We interviewed 35 nonreligious biology graduate teaching assistants (TAs) across the United States to investigate their perceptions of the relationship between religion and evolution and to discuss that relationship in class. We found that most TAs did not perceive inherent conflict between religion and evolution. However, TAs had mixed opinions a

SUBMITTER: Edwards BA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12699790 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature