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This study examines relationships between religious beliefs, conspiracy theories, media trust, and government trust in Israel’s unique socio-religious context. An online survey of Israel’s internet-using population (N=381) explored these connections and the impact of religiosity and scientific literacy on attitudes. Findings suggest significant differences in media trust based on religiosity, aligning with compensatory control theory. Higher religiosity correlated with lower scientific literacy and trust in democratic institutions, suggesting religious beliefs influence perceptions of truth and openness to scientific information. This has implications for misinformation spread in Israeli society. The study contributes to understanding the dynamics between religious beliefs, institutional trust, and conspiracy theories. Results highlight the importance of considering religious diversity in communication strategies and promoting scientific literacy to counter misinformation and strengthen democratic processes. These findings are crucial for understanding the complex interplay of factors shaping public trust and beliefs in Israeli society.
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Faith, Trust, and Divine Doubts—Israel’s Religion-Media-Government Tangle
How to cite this paper: Yuval Karniel, Amit Lavie-Dinur, Ela Blatt, Tsahi (Zack) Hayat. (2025) Faith, Trust, and Divine Doubts—Israel’s Religion-Media-Government Tangle. Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science, 9(5), 858-867.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jhass.2025.05.001