Like others engaged in paleontological and evolutionary sciences (Thomas Huxley, Stephen Gould, and Richard Dawkins among them), Gregory Paul became increasingly involved in matters concerning theism and atheism. Around the turn of the century, he was especially frustrated with the failure of Creationists and other theists–and their right wing think tanks–to scientifically support their implications that lacking a specific type of God-belief (or acceptance of Evolution) is the leading cause of national chaos. Nontheists have seemed unable to counter this societal bias, and sociology has evaded the conflict. Greg, however, began to conduct the first fully-comprehensive technical studies in peer-reviewed literature demonstrating the economic advantage of pro-science democracies. When Greg began this unique work, he had no idea how far it would lead him into exploring a host of fascinating questions about theism, including why it is or isn’t popular as cultures change over time. Starting with the very origins of religion and god-worship, he discovered the moral history of churches included direct and traceable ties to slavery, anti-Semitism, fascism, and criminality. This information led Greg to devastating calculations on the numbers of dead due to religious oppression, and to explore the serious implications this has for the ethical viability of theism in future societies.
Greg holds that only objective, science-based analysis can provide the foundation of functional, moral knowledge. Having long understood the need for the secular community to be supported by research and outreach, he is delighted to be launching the next level of reporting as a Fellow for the Global Secular Council. In his efforts to figure out how things really work, he has already published an array of groundbreaking studies in both religious and scientific journals, as well as making numerous media appearances. (For an ongoing list, visit http://gspaulscienceofreligion.com.)