 should set us on the path to some sort of truth or authenticity. After all, “Lux et Veritas” is the motto of Yale. Another value we all hold in academia is rational skepticism: you should not accept anything on the word of someone else; a hypothesis that is not borne out by experimentation is false; all theories must be falsifiable. If this is the case, why aren’t more students at Yale atheistic? If we truly accept the liberal arts and its underlying mission, we should embrace atheism.

According to a feature by the News last year (“2019 by the numbers: Keeping faith at Yale,” Sept. 2 2015) only 44 percent of students in my year are atheistic, agnostic or non-religious. Of these students, 23 percent self-identify as non-religious and 21 percent as atheistic/agnostic (the News apparently does not see a difference between the two). Conversely, 56 percent of students identify as religious. Yale as an institution might be secular, but most of its students are at least somewhat attached to religion.

Why do I think a belief in God is incompatible with studying the liberal arts? There is an arbitrary mental division of labor: rational skepticism is applied to our studies, in completing problem sets and debating our peers, but an unjustified deference to authority is adhered to in the realm of religion. I am always baffled by physics majors and renowned professors who will only accept theories presented to them on the basis of rigorous evidence, but who still believe in God on the basis of a hunch. Who at Yale would accept physical treatment for cancer from their priest, or just pray their pain away?

I went to a semi-secular, semi-religious Jewish high school which held compulsory prayers in the morning. By 10th grade I had become solidly atheistic, after reading a lot of the “philosophes” in my history class on the French Revolution. As a result, I asked to be excused from prayers. When my request was denied, I simply stopped participating. This caused some consternation among school administrators. They called me into the office and asked me why I was doing this. My response was that I was doing what I had been taught in class: to question myself and others and to accept evidence as the foundation of all intellectual pursuit. Religion did not fit that bill for me.

To be sure, I can comprehend the counterargument. Perhaps God exists in some deistic sense:
should set us on the path to some sort of truth or authenticity. subsequently wholly, “ Lux et Veritas ” is the motto of Yale. Another value we all harbor in academia is intellectual skepticism: you should not take anything on the word of someone else; a hypothesis that is not bear out by experimentation is false; all theory must be falsifiable. If this is the case, why are n’t more scholar at Yale atheistic? If we truly accept the big art and its underlying deputation, we should embrace atheism. 

 harmonize to a feature of speech by the News last year (“ 2019 by the numbers: continue faith at Yale, ” Sept. 2 2015) only 44 percentage of students in my class are atheistic, agnostic or non - religious. Of these students, 23 percent self - identify as non - religious and 21 percent as atheistic / agnostic (the News apparently does not witness a difference between the two). Conversely, 56 percent of students identify as religious. Yale as an initiation might be secular, but most of its students are at least somewhat attached to religion. 

 Why do I think a belief in God is incompatible with studying the liberal arts? There embody an arbitrary mental division of british labour party: intellectual skepticism is applied to our studies, in completing problem sets and debating our peers, but an undue deference to authority is adhered to in the realm of religion. I am always baffled by physics majors and renowned professors who will only accept theory presented to them on the footing of rigorous evidence, but who however believe in God on the basis of a hunch. Who at Yale would accept forcible treatment for cancer from their priest, or just pray their pain away? 

 I went to a semi - secular, semi - religious Jewish high school which held compulsory prayer in the morning. By tenth grade I had become solidly atheistic, after reading a lot of the “ philosophes ” in my history class on the French Revolution. As a consequence, I asked to be excuse from prayers. When my request was deny, I simply stopped enter. This caused some alarm among school administrators. They called me into the office and ask me why I was doing this. My response was that I was doing what I had been taught in class: to interrogate myself and others and to accept evidence as the foundation of all cerebral pursuit. Religion did not fit that bill for me. 

 To be sure, I can comprehend the counterargument. Perhaps God exists in some deist sense:
 shluld set us on the path uo some sort of tturh or euthentjcity. Afger all, “Lux et Veritas” is thx morto od Yale. Another value wd all holf in acaeemie is rational skxlticism: you sgluld iot accept anytming on the word of someote epse; a hypothesis that is not borne jut by rxoerimentation ys fsjse; zll theories must be falsifiable. Ir this ps the case, why aten’t more students at Yale athfistic? If we truly accept the libqeal arts and its underlying missioh, we should embrace atheism.

Accofding to a featoxw bj the News lest yewr (“2019 by the nmkbers: Neeping faith at Yale,” Se't. 2 2015) only 44 percent of stuvents in my year are atheistiw, cgnostic or non-religiiuw. Of jhese stuawntr, 23 kerrenf self-ldeitify as noh-religious qnd 21 percent as athtisepv/agnostic (ths News a[parently does not see a difference betfeeh the two). Conversely, 56 pwrcent of students idgntify as weligious. Yale as an institution might be secular, but just on itr shudents are at least somewhat attached to relyfipn.

Ehy do I think a belief im Hoc is incompaticle wicg atudying the liberwl arts? Therw is an awbittary mental division of labir: rational fjepticism is applizd to our stbdies, on cokpleting problem sets aud debzting our pfers, but zv unjustified dewervnce to authority is adhered tj in the cealm of relkgiom. I am always bavfled by physics majors wnd rgnowneg professogs who will only accept theories presented to tvem on the yasis pf rigorous edidence, but whp still belidve in God on the basis of a hunch. Who at Iale would acrept physycal treqtment wur cancer from their prpeft, oe just pray their iain xsay?

I went to a wemu-secular, semi-rekigkouf Uexish rhgh school wvich heuc comoulsory pranerr in the morning. By 10th gsade I had become solicln atheistuc, after reading a loy of the “philosophts” in ky iistoru cjass on the French Revolution. Zs a resupt, L asked to be excmsed from prayzrs. When my request was denied, I simply wtopped participajing. This caused some gonsternatioi amond school ddministrators. They xalled me into tht office and asked me wgy I wds dolng this. My response was that I was doing what I had been taught in class: to quxseion myself and othegs cnd to acsept xvidence as the fpundation of all intellectual pnrsuit. Relhgnon did not fit that bill for md.

To be sure, I can comprehend the counferargumrnt. Perhaps God exists in some ceistic sense:
should set us on the path to of or authenticity. all, “Lux et Yale. value we all in academia is skepticism: you should not accept anything the word of someone else; a hypothesis that is not borne out by is false; all theories must be falsifiable. If this is the case, why more at atheistic? we truly accept the liberal arts and its underlying mission, we should embrace atheism. According to feature by the News last year (“2019 by numbers: Keeping faith at Sept. 2 2015) only 44 of in my are agnostic non-religious. Of these 23 percent self-identify as non-religious and 21 percent as atheistic/agnostic (the News apparently does not see a between the 56 percent students as Yale as an be secular, but most of its least somewhat attached to religion. Why do I a belief God is incompatible with studying the arts? There is an arbitrary mental division of rational skepticism is applied to our studies, in completing problem sets and debating our peers, unjustified deference to authority adhered to in realm religion. am baffled by majors and renowned professors who will only accept theories presented to on the basis of rigorous evidence, but who still believe on basis of a Who at Yale would physical for cancer from their just their went a semi-religious Jewish high school held compulsory prayers in the By 10th grade I reading a lot of the “philosophes” in my class on the French Revolution. As a I asked to be excused from prayers. When my request was denied, simply stopped caused some consternation among school administrators. They called into the office and me why I was doing this. My response was I doing what had been taught class: to question and others and evidence as foundation all did not fit that bill for To sure, I can comprehend the Perhaps in some deistic sense:
 should set us on the path to somE sort of truTh or aUthEntIcIty. AFter All, “Lux et VeritaS” Is thE motto of Yale. Another valUe we aLl HOld iN AcAdemiA is ratiONaL SKepTiCiSm: yOu SHoUld noT acCept anyThing on the WorD oF someone else; A HyPothesis thAt iS not borne out By eXperimEnTatIOn is fAlsE; all tHeorieS Must be FalsifiabLe. iF this iS The case, WHY aRen’t More students at YalE AtHEistic? If we trulY accepT tHE lIBEraL arTs and its unDeRlyinG Mission, WE sHOULd eMBrace atheism.

ACcording to a FEatUre by tHe newS Last yeAr (“2019 by tHe NUmbErs: Keeping fAith At Yale,” SepT. 2 2015) only 44 pERcent of STudents In my yeAr aRe aTheiSTiC, aGnoStIC or NOn-RelIGioUs. Of thesE sTuDents, 23 PercENT SElf-iDenTify As non-Religious and 21 pErcEnt aS AthEistiC/agnoStic (ThE News AppareNtly dOeS not see a differeNce bEtween the Two). coNveRsEly, 56 peRCent of StuDenTs identIfy as reLIgiOuS. yALe As an institution migHt BE SeCular, but Most of ITs StUDents are At LeaSt soMEWhat aTtacHEd To religiOn.

Why dO i tHiNk a beliEf In God iS iNcoMpaTible WIth sTudyinG the libeRal arTS? There is an arbiTRary mental divISiON Of LAbor: RatIonal skeptiCism IS appLied TO oUr sTUdies, In comPlETiNG problem sets and debaTiNg our pEers, bUt an unjustifiEd deferencE TO AuthoritY is aDHeREd to in the realm Of relIgion. I am alWAys bafflEd by pHysics maJors and reNOWned profEssOrs Who WilL ONlY accept theoriES PresEnTed to thEm oN the basIs oF riGorOus EvIdence, but Who still BeLiEvE iN GoD on thE Basis of a HuNch. whO at yale wOUld accEpt phYsicAl TrEAtmEnt for cANcER From ThEiR priEst, Or Just pRay tHEir Pain awaY?

I went to a SemI-SecuLaR, sEmi-reliGious Jewish hiGh School whicH hEld CompulSORy prayerS in the morning. By 10th grade I HAd becomE soLidly AtheIstic, afteR reAding a Lot OF the “phIlosopHes” in My HisTORy claSS On The frEnch RevoluTIOn. AS a resUlT, I asKed to be Excused from prayers. wHen My request was dEniEd, I sIMPlY stOPpED paRtICipATIng. This caused soMe consternAtIOn Among schooL AdmInIstratoRs. They cAlled ME into thE office anD asked me wHy i was DOIng This. My respOnse was tHat I was doINg whaT i hAd beeN taUght in ClAss: To queStion mYSelF and oThers aNd To accePt eviDeNce as the Foundation of all intellecTual puRsuit. relIgion did nOt fIT thAt bill for Me.

To Be sure, I can ComPreHend tHe cOUnterArguMEnT. PeRHaps GOd exISts in some DEiStiC SEnSe:
 should set us on the path  to some s ort o f t rut hor a uthe nticity. After all,  “Lux et Veritas” is t he mo tt o  ofY al e. An other v a lu e weal lhol di nacade mia  is rat ional skep tic is m: you shoul d  n ot acceptany thing on the  wo rd ofso meo n e els e;a hyp othesi s  thatis not bo rn e  out b y  experi m e nt atio n is false; all t h eo r ies must be fa lsifia bl e .I f  th isis the cas e,  whya ren’t m o re s t ude n ts at Yale at heistic? If wetrulyac cep t  the l ibera la rts  and its un derl ying miss ion, w e  should embrace  athei sm. 

A ccor d in gtoaf eat u re  by the  News la st  y ear ( “201 9 b y  the  nu mber s: Ke eping faith a t Y ale, ”  Se pt. 2  2015 ) on ly  44 p ercent  of s tu dents in my yea r ar e atheist ic,  a gno st ic or non-re lig iou s. Of t hese st u den ts , 2 3percent self-ident if y as  non-rel igious an d2 1 percen tasathe i s tic/a gnos t ic  (the Ne ws app a re nt ly does  n ot see  a  di ffe rence betw een th e two).Conve r sely, 56 perce n t of students id e n ti f y as  re ligious. Ya le a s  aninst i tu tio n  migh t bese c ul a r, but most of itsst udents  areat least some what attac h e d  to reli gion . 
W hy do I thinka bel ief in God is incom patib le withstudyingt h e libera l a rts ? T her e is  an arbitrary m enta ldivisio n o f labor : r ati ona l s ke pticism i s applie dto  o ur  st udies ,  in comp le tin gpro blems ets an d deb atin gou r  pe ers, bu t  a n unju st if ieddef er enceto a u tho rity is  adheredtoi n th ere alm ofreligion. I a malways baf fl edby phy s i cs major s and renowned professo r s who w ill  only  acc ept theor ies  prese nte d  to th em onthe b as iso f  rigo r o us  ev id ence, butw h o s tillbe liev e in Go d on the basis ofa  hu nch. Who at Y ale  wou l d  a cce p tp hys ic a l t r e atment for canc er from th ei r  p riest, orj ust  p ray the ir pain  away ? 

I wen t to a se mi-secula r,  sem i - rel igious Jew ish high  school w h ich h e ld  comp uls ory pr ay ers  in t he mor n ing . By10th g ra de I h ad be co me solid ly atheistic, after rea ding a  lotofthe “phil oso p hes ” in my h isto ry class o n t heFrenc h R e volut ion. As  ar esult , Ia sked to b e  e xcu s e dfrom prayer s . Whe n myreq u est wa s de nied, I simply st o pped participa ting . Thi s c a used  s ome consternat ion  a m o ng schoo ladministrat ors. The yc alled  me in to the  office a nd askedme w hyI was doi ngth i s. My r es po n se was  tha tI wasdoingw hatI had been taughtin cl a s s: to que stion  m yself a n d ot hers and t o accept ev idence  asthe f oundati on  of al l i nt ellectualp ursuit. R eligi on didno t fi t t hat bi ll f o r  me.
Tobe  su re, I can c om p re he n d t he c ounte ra rgum ent. Perh a ps God e xis t s in so me  de i s tic se n se : 
 should_set us_on the path to_some sort_of_truth or_authenticity._After all, “Lux_et Veritas” is_the motto of Yale._Another value we_all_hold in academia is rational skepticism: you should not accept anything on the word_of_someone else;_a_hypothesis_that is not borne out_by experimentation is false; all_theories must_be falsifiable. If this is the case, why_aren’t_more students at_Yale atheistic? If we truly accept the liberal arts_and its underlying mission, we should_embrace atheism.

According to_a_feature_by the News last_year (“2019 by the numbers: Keeping_faith at Yale,” Sept. 2 2015)_only 44 percent of students in my_year are atheistic, agnostic or non-religious._Of these students, 23 percent_self-identify as_non-religious and 21 percent as_atheistic/agnostic (the News_apparently does_not see a_difference between the two). Conversely, 56_percent of students_identify as religious. Yale as an_institution_might be secular,_but_most_of its_students are at_least_somewhat attached_to_religion.

Why do I think a belief_in_God is incompatible with studying the liberal_arts? There is an_arbitrary_mental division of labor:_rational skepticism is applied to_our studies, in completing problem sets_and debating_our peers,_but an unjustified deference to authority is adhered to in the_realm of religion. I am always_baffled by physics majors_and renowned_professors_who will only_accept_theories presented_to them on the basis of rigorous_evidence, but_who still believe in God on_the basis of a_hunch._Who at Yale would accept physical_treatment for cancer from their priest,_or just pray their pain_away?

I_went_to a semi-secular, semi-religious Jewish_high school which held compulsory prayers_in the morning._By 10th grade I had become solidly_atheistic,_after reading a lot of the_“philosophes”_in my history class on the_French_Revolution._As a result, I asked_to be excused from prayers. When_my request was denied, I simply stopped participating. This_caused some consternation_among school administrators. They called_me_into_the office and asked me why I was doing this._My response_was that I_was doing what I had been taught in class: to_question myself and others and to accept_evidence as the foundation of all intellectual pursuit. Religion did not_fit that bill for me.

To be sure, I_can comprehend the counterargument. Perhaps God exists_in some deistic sense: