Rob wrote:
"my point was; theists are less motivated to deceipher the mysteries of the universe because they believe that they will ultimately gain this knowledge when they die. I know this from personal experience because i was once a theist."


That may be true for many theists. I'm not sure it's true for all theists. I also was once a theist (raised a Baptist). I was a strong believer till I was about 15 or so. But I was interested in finding out long before that. I knew I wanted to be a scientist as early as 5 and have never waivered in that aspiration.

There was a part I read in the bible. I don't recall the passage. I can't say it gave impetus to my interests, but it did inspire them. It was something about how we should go out and try to understand the world the Lord created. I'm sure that many practicing scientists have been similarly inspired.

On average, though, it could be that religion closes more minds than it opens. I'm not sure.