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Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science

ISSN Online: 2576-0548 Downloads: 763874 Total View: 5095733
Frequency: monthly ISSN Print: 2576-0556 CODEN: JHASAY
Email: jhass@hillpublisher.com
Article Open Access http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jhass.2025.05.001

Faith, Trust, and Divine Doubts—Israel’s Religion-Media-Government Tangle

Yuval Karniel, Amit Lavie-Dinur, Ela Blatt*, Tsahi (Zack) Hayat

School of Communications, Reichman University, Herzliya 4610101, Israel.

*Corresponding author: Ela Blatt

Published: May 21,2025

Abstract

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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How to cite this paper

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 Science9(5), 858-867.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jhass.2025.05.001