Rethinking “religion” and “science” to cultivate mutual trust in the United States

In many Western societies such as the United States, "science" is considered a polarizing and controversial topic along political and religious lines. Although religious and politically conservative individuals are generally less trusting of science than non-religious and politically liberal individuals, we argue that there are more nuances to religion, science, and the religion-science relationship than is typically assumed. Stereotyping religious individuals as "anti-science" and scientists as "anti-religion" is both inaccurate and has the potential to exacerbate divisions between religious and scientific communities. By contrast, addressing misconceptions about who most religious people are and what they tend to believe, as well as who scientists are and what "science" entails, may cultivate both public trust in science and scientists' willingness to welcome multiple identities and perspectives among their ranks.