Academia might not be quite the bastion of atheism and humanism it’s reputed to be, according to a recent study of faculty religious beliefs at American colleges and universities. Believers in God outnumber atheists, although their religious beliefs do not necessarily align with the religious right and evangelical mainstream. A few interesting items:

In terms of disciplines, professors in psychology and biology are the least likely to believe in God (about 61 percent in each field are atheists or agnostics), with mechanical engineering not far behind at 50 percent. Professors most likely to say that they have no doubt that God exists are in accounting (63 percent), elementary education (57 percent), finance (49 percent), marketing (47 percent) and nursing (44 percent).

I never guessed that mechanical engineers were such a heathen lot! More seriously, as the article itself notes, it’s difficult to know exactly what this surprisingly widespread belief in God means—even familiar phrases like ‘born-again Christian’ (a label which a surprising 19% of professors claim) can encompass a wide range of belief. But it’s a useful reminder that religion is quietly important even in sectors of society traditionally dismissed by evangelicals as compromised or godless. (Hat tip: In the Agora.)