What the study found
The study found that more scientists and inventors were born in Italian provinces with a strong Catholic Church presence and high religious tolerance. Provinces with low religious tolerance showed the opposite pattern. The study also found that places with strong Church presence, high tolerance, and better higher education infrastructure were more likely to attract scientists and inventors from elsewhere.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that the Catholic Church supported the development of science when its behavior was mainly driven by tolerance. They also suggest that when the Church was characterized by intolerance, it hampered the spread of new ideas and scientific discoveries.
What the researchers tested
The researchers examined the long-term relationship between the Catholic Church and science in Italy using historical data from the twelfth to the mid-twentieth century at the local level. They used the number of scientists and inventors as a proxy for the development of science.
What worked and what didn't
The results showed a positive association between strong Catholic Church presence, high religious tolerance, and the birth of scientists and inventors. The opposite pattern appeared in provinces where religious tolerance was low. The study also found that higher education infrastructure was linked with attracting scientists and inventors from elsewhere when combined with strong Church presence and high tolerance.
What to keep in mind
The abstract describes historical associations and does not state that the Church directly caused these outcomes. It also uses the number of scientists and inventors as a proxy for science, so the summary is limited to that measure. No additional limitations are described in the available abstract.
Key points
- More scientists and inventors were born in provinces with strong Catholic Church presence and high religious tolerance.
- Provinces with low religious tolerance showed the opposite pattern.
- Areas with strong Church presence, high tolerance, and better higher education infrastructure were more likely to attract scientists and inventors from elsewhere.
- The authors conclude that tolerance was associated with the Church supporting scientific development.
- The abstract uses scientists and inventors as a proxy for the development of science.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Catholic Church presence and religious tolerance shaped science in Italy
- Authors:
- Alfredo Del Monte, Sara Moccia, Luca Pennacchio
- Institutions:
- Parthenope University of Naples, University of Naples Federico II, University of Naples Federico II
- Publication date:
- 2026-02-14
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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