Sabine Hossenfelder debunks 10 myths about quantum physics. A bit hard to follow, tbh. Maybe the worst myth is quantum physics itself?
Not sure about this. The band is probably well-meaning, but it simply doesn´t sound as magickal in English as it would in, I don´t know, Sanskrit, Old Tibetan or whatever...
YouTube videos of skeptics going after some really low hanging fruit.
The first clip tells us what happens if a fairly well-educated skeptic (in a black mask) decides to seriously comment a confused spouter of quasi-quantum woo-woo. It´s funny, after a fashion.
Next, that South Korean guy who pretends to have the world´s highest IQ is apparently still at it. Just wait until the more serious Christians realize that he´s a "heretic". But sure, maybe flat earthers will still take him at face value?
And then there´s some fake "time traveler" who claims he´s the next emperor of North America or something to that effect. LOL. He´s also afraid of catching diabetes because he drinks too much soda?!
The ride never ends. And I want a tastier fruit salad!
Is this why I never have spiritual experiences?
Yes, there is strong evidence from psychology, sociology, and religious studies that women are, on average, more religious and/or spiritual than men across a wide range of cultures and belief systems. This trend has been observed consistently in many large-scale surveys, such as those by Pew Research Center, Gallup, and the World Values Survey.
Multiple studies show that women are more likely than men to:
Believe in God or a higher power
Pray regularly
Attend religious services
Report having religious or spiritual experiences
Say religion is “very important” in their lives
These findings hold across different cultures and religions, although the gender gap is often wider in more religious societies.
Several personality and cognitive traits have been linked to this difference:
Women tend to score slightly higher on fantasy-proneness, absorption, and emotional openness.
These traits are associated with:
Greater susceptibility to spiritual or mystical experiences
Vivid inner imagery and emotionally resonant beliefs
These traits also correlate with paranormal belief, spiritual encounters, and belief in non-traditional religious phenomena.
Women generally score higher on empathy, which may increase receptivity to moral teachings, care-based ethics, and a sense of connection to others—values often emphasized in religion.
Some theories propose that religious belief helps reduce existential anxiety (e.g. fear of death or chaos).
Women tend to report greater anxiety and lower tolerance for uncertainty, which could contribute to a higher rate of religious engagement as a coping or meaning-making strategy.
Women are often socialized into more nurturing and relational roles, especially in traditional cultures.
These roles align well with many religious teachings about family, caregiving, and community.
The causes are likely complex and multi-layered:
Cultural norms influence how men and women express beliefs.
Biological sex differences (e.g. in temperament, neurobiology) may contribute to receptivity to spiritual or emotional experiences.
Gender differences are not absolute—there is always significant overlap between male and female populations.
Women are more likely to identify as both religious and spiritual.
Men who are not religious are more likely to be secular or atheistic rather than "spiritual but not religious."
| Trait / Tendency | Women (on average) | Men (on average) |
|---|---|---|
| Religious belief & practice | Higher | Lower |
| Spiritual experiences | Higher | Lower |
| Fantasy-proneness | Slightly higher | Lower |
| Absorption (TAS) | Higher | Lower |
| Empathy / care orientation | Higher | Lower |
| Preference for rationalism / skepticism | Lower | Higher |
| Paranormal belief (e.g., ghosts, astrology) | Higher | Lower |
Would you like links to major studies, or a breakdown by country, religion, or age group?
In the United States, the gender gap in religion is well-documented and pronounced, consistent with global patterns. On virtually every measure of religiosity, women report higher levels than men. Here's a detailed look at how this plays out:
According to Pew Research Center (2014, 2018):
69% of women say they believe in God with absolute certainty, compared to 57% of men.
Women are more likely to describe religion as “very important” in their lives.
40% of women say they attend religious services at least weekly vs. 32% of men.
Women are more likely to pray daily and participate in religious activities outside of worship (Bible studies, choirs, charity work).
Women are less likely to be religiously unaffiliated ("nones"):
About 23–25% of U.S. women identify as religiously unaffiliated.
Around 30–34% of men do.
Women are more likely to identify as "spiritual but not religious."
They more frequently report personal religious experiences, such as feeling the presence of God, or having answered prayers.
Historically, U.S. culture emphasizes religion as a source of family and moral structure, and women have often been seen as the spiritual caregivers of the home.
American women are more involved in volunteerism and community support, often through religious organizations.
The gender gap is most pronounced among Black Americans:
Nearly 80% of Black women say religion is "very important" vs. about 60% of Black men.
Latina women also show higher religiosity than Latino men.
| Religion | Gender Gap |
|---|---|
| Evangelical Protestant | Large (more women) |
| Black Protestant | Large (more women) |
| Catholic | Moderate (more women) |
| Muslim | Present, but smaller |
| Jewish (Reform/Conservative) | Small to moderate |
| Religiously unaffiliated | More men |
Atheists in the U.S. are overwhelmingly male:
~68–75% male, depending on the study
Women who leave religion are more likely to identify as spiritual or explore alternative spiritual paths (New Age, astrology, energy healing)
The reasons behind these patterns in the U.S. likely involve:
Socialization and role expectations
Psychological traits (e.g. higher empathy, openness to emotion)
Institutional ties (churches often provide community, support, identity)
And possibly biological predispositions, although these are harder to isolate.
| Domain | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Religious belief | Higher | Lower |
| Church attendance | Higher | Lower |
| Daily prayer | Higher | Lower |
| "Nones" (no religion) | Lower | Higher |
| Atheist identity | Lower | Higher |
| "Spiritual but not religious" | Higher | Lower |
Would you like graphs or data sets from Pew or Gallup, or comparisons to other countries like Sweden or Iran?
In Sweden, the gender gap in religion exists, but it is smaller and less pronounced than in the United States—primarily because Swedes overall are far less religious. Sweden is one of the most secular countries in the world.
Roughly 6–8% of Swedes attend religious services regularly.
Around 45–50% identify as non-religious, agnostic, or atheist.
Despite this, a majority are still nominal members of the Church of Sweden (Svenska kyrkan), although mostly for cultural reasons.
Women are still more likely than men to:
Identify with a religious tradition (even culturally)
Say they believe in some form of higher power
Engage in spiritual practices (e.g. prayer, mindfulness, astrology)
But the absolute numbers are low for both genders compared to global averages.
Regular attendance is rare for both genders.
More women than men attend church, but this is often for:
Life events (baptisms, weddings, funerals)
Holidays like Christmas and Easter
Cultural or musical interest (e.g. Lucia celebrations)
Swedish women are more likely than men to:
Express belief in some kind of spiritual force or energy
Engage in New Age or alternative spirituality (e.g., Reiki, astrology, healing crystals)
This parallels global trends where women, even in secular countries, are more likely to retain spiritual beliefs even when rejecting organized religion.
In secular cultures like Sweden, gender differences are more visible in spirituality than formal religion.
Swedish women often score slightly higher in:
Openness to experience
Absorption (tendency toward intense imaginative engagement)
Fantasy-proneness
Use of spirituality as a coping mechanism
These traits correlate with greater spiritual engagement, even in a secular context.
| Measure | Sweden – Women | Sweden – Men | U.S. – Women | U.S. – Men |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Believe in God | ~30–35% | ~25% | ~70% | ~60% |
| Church attendance (monthly+) | ~10–12% | ~6–8% | ~40% | ~30% |
| Spiritual but not religious | Higher | Lower | Higher | Lower |
| Atheist/agnostic ID | Lower | Higher | Lower | Higher |
In Sweden, secularism is dominant, but gender differences in spirituality persist, especially in non-traditional or alternative forms. Swedish men are more likely to be:
Atheists or agnostics
Interested in science and skeptical worldviews
Swedish women are more likely to:
Express belief in vague spiritual forces
Use rituals, astrology, or mindfulness practices for emotional support
Would you like a deeper look at Sweden's Church-state history, or gender patterns in New Age movements?
Gender patterns in New Age movements show a clear and consistent trend: women are significantly more involved than men. This has been observed in multiple countries, including the U.S., Sweden, and across Europe.
Women make up 60–80% of participants in most New Age and alternative spiritual activities.
Examples include:
Astrology
Energy healing (e.g. Reiki, chakras)
Tarot and oracle card reading
Crystals and crystal healing
Spirit guides, angels, past lives, and reincarnation
Mindfulness, yoga, and wellness retreats
Women, on average, score higher in traits that correlate with New Age interest:
| Trait | Description | Gender Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Absorption | Deep involvement in inner imagery, trance states | Higher in women |
| Fantasy-proneness | Vivid imagination, engagement with non-ordinary realities | Slightly higher in women |
| Empathy | Emotional attunement to others and the environment | Higher in women |
| Openness to experience | Receptivity to novel or unconventional ideas | Higher in women |
These traits make New Age frameworks (which emphasize intuition, healing, emotional insight, and cosmic connectedness) especially attractive.
New Age spirituality often emphasizes:
Healing and self-care
Intuition and feminine wisdom
Connection to nature and cycles (moon phases, seasons)
Non-hierarchical, inclusive approaches to the divine
The movement has become a space where many women find:
Empowerment outside patriarchal religious traditions
A blend of psychological support, identity exploration, and spiritual fulfillment
Argues that New Age is part of a “self-spirituality” movement.
Women tend to be more involved in inner work, emotional healing, and relational growth, which fits New Age models.
Notes that traditional religion often places women in submissive roles, while New Age spirituality often elevates the feminine.
Some women see it as a form of resistance or reclaiming female spiritual power.
Men are more likely to:
Be skeptical of non-empirical claims
Value hierarchical or doctrine-based systems (e.g. organized religion, science)
Avoid emotionally expressive or intuitive frameworks, due to cultural norms
Men who do join New Age groups may be more interested in:
Shamanism
Esotericism, occultism, or Gnosticism
Meditation and martial arts with spiritual components
| Aspect | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Participation in New Age activities | High | Low |
| Spiritual healing and energy work | Very common | Rare |
| Emotional/spiritual self-help books | Majority of readers | Minority |
| Interest in astrology, crystals, chakras | Strong | Weak |
| Interest in structured esotericism (e.g. Thelema, Gnosticism) | Lower | Higher |
| Role of intuition and emotional insight | Valued | Less emphasized |
Would you like examples of gender-specific New Age communities or a breakdown by country (e.g., Sweden, U.K., U.S.)?
