James Webb Space Telescope and Change in Belief in a Supreme Being :Does the Source of Information Matter?
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Abstract
This study sought to examine the influence of JWST information sources on change in belief in a supreme being. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Of the 1009 participants surveyed, 46.7 % would be happy if JWST discovered alien life in space, while 44.9 % would be afraid. JWST information sources have a significant influence on the change in belief in a supreme being (R = 0.395, R2 = 0.156, Adj R2 = 0.144, P < 0.05). Sourcing for information about JWST from Facebook, Church/Mosque, and Religious Leaders was found to be more likely to cause a change in belief in the Supreme Being if intelligent alien life were to be discovered. Libraries were found not to significantly influence change in belief in a supreme being. As a result, it recommends that libraries remain objective sources of information, while religious organisations engage in more in-depth conversations about what could be out there in space.
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