April 2024 Newsletter
In this Clergy Letter Project update you’ll find the following 18 items:
- Pastors Opposing Christian Nationalism;
- Astrobiology News for April 2024: Experiencing Awe: Reflections on a Total Solar Eclipse;
- Intelligent Design Comes to West Virginia;
- John Calvin and Science;
- Creating Tools to Combat Online Misinformation;
- Beyond Christian Nationalism;
- Attitudes Toward Science;
- Preaching in a Climate-Changed World;
- Religious Change in America;
- Why Character Doesn’t Matter Anymore;
- Rising Ocean Temperatures;
- Science, Truth, and Christian Faith in a Time of Eco-Crisis;
- The Role of Data Science in Astronomy and Interstellar Exploration;
- Orthodox Science as a (Mostly Good) Religion;
- Public Trust in Science;
- Attacking Science Textbooks in Texas;
- The Power of Conversation; and
- The Trump Bible.
1. Pastors Opposing Christian Nationalism
A group of Christian pastors participating in Yale Divinity School’s first Public Theology and Public Policy Conference signed a declaration opposing Christian Nationalism. “The declaration commits Christian leaders to preaching on moral issues and rejecting a political movement it says is exploiting traditional values to undermine democracy.” You can read more about this exciting movement in an
article published by Religion News Service.
2. Astrobiology News for April 2024: Experiencing Awe: Reflections on a Total Solar Eclipse
In this month’s Astrobiology News essay, Grace Wolf-Chase, Senior Scientist and Senior Education & Communication Specialist at the Planetary Science Institute as well as a Clergy Letter Project consultant, shares her personal reflections (and observations) on the recent total solar eclipse.
On April 8, 2024, my spouse and son piloted our 70-year old twin-engine Cessna 310 to a small airport in Perryville, MO, enabling five of us to view a magnificent total solar eclipse! Having access to a small airplane is a luxury for such an event, since we had some last-minute flexibility as to which airport to land and we didn’t have to make overnight reservations anywhere.(1) A few highlights of our experience of totality included the 360-degree view of "dusk," with Jupiter and Venus both prominent to either side of the eclipsed sun; incredible binocular views of the Sun's chromosphere and corona during totality, plus a breathtaking "diamond-ring effect" just as the total phase ended; and great partial views through my son’s telescope (with a solar filter, of course!). As twilight descended, local birds started singing, becoming quiet during totality, and briefly taking up their chorus again during post-totality twilight.
A total solar eclipse may not seem to have much to do with astrobiology; however, the fact that human beings can experience such an event is due to the extraordinarily similar angular sizes of the Sun and Moon in the sky – something that was not true when our pre-human ancestors roamed the Earth. As tidal interactions cause the Moon to spiral away from the Earth, any far future observers will see an annular eclipse at best.(2) We live during a remarkable time when it is possible to conduct some unique physics experiments, and to study the impact of eclipses on human and non-human Earth life; including (to name just a few), tests of General Relativity, critical measurements of the Sun’s shape and corona,(3) and the effects of eclipses on animals and ecosystems.(4)
To read more about “Science in the Shadow,” as well as to submit your own eclipse experiences, take a look at the special series of eclipse articles some of my colleagues at the Planetary Science Institute have assembled for the Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society!(5)
Until next month,
Grace
Grace Wolf-Chase (she/her/hers) (gwolfchase@gmail.com)
Senior Scientist & Senior Education & Communication Specialist, Planetary Science Institute (www.psi.edu/about/staffpage/gwchase)
Vice President, Center for Advanced Study in Religion and Science (CASIRAS: www.casiras.org)1. I posted just a few photos on Instagram, @gwolfchase, more on FB: grace.chase12
2. https://spacemath.gsfc.nasa.gov/earth/4Page28.pdf
3. See https://eclipsemegamovie.org/ and https://sunsketcher.org/ for cool citizen-scientist contributions.
4. https://eclipsesoundscapes.org/
5. https://baas.aas.org/science-inthe-shadow/
3. Intelligent Design Comes to West Virginia
As many of you know, a federal court in 2005 found that intelligent design cannot be considered to be a scientific theory. Now, 19 years later, West Virginia has enacted legislation designed, according to the law’s lead sponsor, to “protect the teaching of intelligent design.” The National Center for Science Education said that the legislation is “threatening the integrity of science education in the state's public schools." You can read more about this disgraceful promotion of creationism here.
4. John Calvin and Science
Our good friends at Science for the Church have published an interesting essay exploring John Calvin’s views on religion and science. The piece is well worth reading and offers a take that might be surprising to some of you. It open by quoting Calvin as writing, “If we regard the Spirit of God as the sole fountain of truth, we shall neither reject the truth itself, nor despise it wherever it shall appear, unless we wish to dishonor the Spirit of God.” Take a look at the full essay here.
5. Creating Tools to Combat Online Misinformation
There’s little doubt that online misinformation is a serious problem. It turns out that scientists are using AI technology to discern ways to better identify and block the most dangerous examples of disinformation. As Thi Tran, assistant professor of management information systems at Binghamton University and the lead researcher in this effort, notes, “the perils of fake news have prompted news outlets, social media platforms, and government bodies to adopt new strategies, emphasizing fact-checking and flagging misleading content. But not all misinformation is equal.” You can learn more about his efforts here.
6. Beyond Christian Nationalism
Religion News Service published a fascinating essay by Matthew Taylor entitled “The peril radicalizing some evangelicals goes beyond Christian Nationalism. The piece’s subheading, “Christian supremacists are plotting the end of America as we know it,” explains the essay’s thesis concisely. Take a look!
7. Attitudes Toward Science
In a short piece, Laurence Hurst, professor of evolutionary genetics at the University of Bath, explores the varying attitudes people hold toward science and discusses ways to improve dialogue – both topics of central interest to the goals of The Clergy Letter Project. Here’s his main thesis:
Research over the last 5 years has revealed some common differences between people who report not accepting consensus science and those who do. Repeated studies find that the non-trusters believe themselves to be more scientifically expert than objectively they are. They commonly assume that many more share their viewpoint than actually do. And when questioning the science, they also tend to impugn the messenger not the message.
You can read his four strategies for dealing with this problem here.
8. Preaching in a Climate-Changed World
Lexington Theological Seminary is sponsoring an Earth Week webinar entitled “Preaching in a Climate-Changed World: Engaging Climate Science, the Bible, and Theology.” The webinar will address the following critical questions: “What does it mean to be the church in a climate-changed world, and how can preachers embrace an approach to sermons that nurtures biblical, theological, and ecological imagination?” The event is scheduled from 6-8 pm Eastern, on Tuesday, 23 April 2024. You can read more about the webinar and sign up to participate here.
9. Religious Change in America
A recent survey examined the changes in religious attitudes in the United States. The opening paragraph of the report’s executive summary explains the framework of the study:
America encompasses a rich diversity of faith traditions, and “religious churning” is very common. In 2023, PRRI surveyed more than 5,600 adults across the United States about their experiences with religion. This report examines how well major faith traditions retain their members, the reasons people disaffiliate, and the reasons people attend religious services. Additionally, this report considers how atheists and agnostics differ from those who say they are “nothing in particular.” Finally, it analyzes the prevalence of charismatic elements as well as prophecy and prosperity theology in American churches and the role of charismatic Christianity in today’s Republican Party.
It's well worth your time to take a look at the study.
10. Why Character Doesn’t Matter Anymore
Christianity Today ran an opinion piece entitled “Why Character Doesn’t Matter Anymore.” The article’s subheading provides insight into the argument presented: “The ‘cheerful prudery’ of Ned Flanders has given way to vulgarity, misogyny, and partisanship. What does this mean for our witness?” You can read the piece here.
11. Rising Ocean Temperatures
Almost every day you can encounter frightening statistics demonstrating the dangers and reality of climate change. And yet some statistics are even more frightening than others. With that introduction, let me encourage you to take a look at the latest data on sea surface temperatures over the past 40 years. These data and their implications should shock all of us into taking action to combat climate change.
12. Science, Truth, and Christian Faith in a Time of Eco-Crisis
Rick Lindroth, Vilas Distinguised Achievement and Sorenson Professor Emeritus of Entomology at the University of Wisconsin Madison and a member of The Clergy Letter Project’s list of scientific consultants, gave this year’s Luther Seminary "Rutlen Lecture on Faith and Creation." His presentation was entitled “Science, Truth, and Christian Faith in a Time of Eco-Crisis.” You can watch his fabulous lecture here.
13. The Role of Data Science in Astronomy and Interstellar Exploration
A teacher recently wrote to me and indicated that her students found our web page helpful in their studies. A student did an extra credit project about astronomy and interstellar resources and came across an interesting article she thought members would find useful. She asked if I would share it with members to demonstrate to her students that their efforts can make a difference. I’m delighted to do so. The piece is entitled “The Role of Data Science in Astronomy and Interstellar Exploration” and you can read it here.
14. Orthodox Science as a (Mostly Good) Religion
Mike Klymkowsky, professor of biology at the University of Colorado and a member of The Clergy Letter Project’s list of scientific consultants, recently published a blog post discussing the power and limitations of science. The piece is entitled “Orthodox Science as a (Mostly Good) Religion,” and it makes a number of points that are critical to the understanding of the nature of science. You can read it here.
15. Public Trust in Science
A fascinating longitudinal study examining the public’s attitudes toward science was published in Science and Public Policy in January. The article is entitled “Citizen attitudes toward science and technology, 1957–2020: measurement, stability, and the Trump challenge.” While the full article is well worth reading, Science discussed the piece’s import in a recent news article. The opening paragraph presents what is perhaps the most important and most surprising finding:
Public trust in scientists rose in the United States during the presidency of Donald Trump, a new study finds, despite his repeated attacks on individual scientists and federal research agencies. The increase occurred across the political spectrum and more than offset a simultaneous rise in mistrust.
16. Attacking Science Textbooks in Texas
The latest issue of Reports of the National Center for Science Education has just been released and it includes a comprehensive account of the process by which science textbooks were approved by the State Board of Education this past year. The article notes that Texas Values, an anti-evolution organization, complained to the Board that:
“When it comes to Science classes and instructional materials, Texas Values has traditionally fought to make sure that Creationism ... is given just as much attention as the theories of Evolution, and the Big Bang Theory,” and criticizing textbooks for presenting evolution and the Big Bang without any mention of supposed alternatives.
Ultimately “textbooks from eight of the 22 publishers submitting textbooks for approval were rejected” by the Board despite being recommended by science education experts. “Creationism and climate change denial were on display as various members of the board criticized the textbooks for not including alternative views on the Big Bang, the origin of life, evolution (to which creationism was explicitly mentioned as a supposed alternative, though it is unconstitutional to teach creationism in the public schools), and climate change.”
17. The Power of Conversation
The latest issue of Covalence focuses on the power of conversation. As editor Susan Barreto notes, “This month’s issue is a timely reminder that faith and science is a two-way conversation that is often quietly powerful for all involved.” Read more here.
18. The Trump Bible
While I am loathe to provide any attention to Donald Trump, I couldn’t help but share this opinion piece published by Religion News Service. The piece is entitled “The Trump Bible is the Bible America deserves.” As you can see from the subheading, “A $60 ‘God Bless the USA’ Bible to help pay off Trump’s legal fees is evangelicalism’s inevitable culmination,” the essay is high on sarcasm. Read it here.
Concluding Thoughts
Intelligent design has been resurrected from the dead in West Virginia, textbooks in Texas are editing out evolution, Donald Trump is selling bibles, and character apparently no longer matters in society or American politics. This is the world in which we’re living. But, with the good efforts of members of The Clergy Letter Project, we can envision and create a better future. We can promote high quality science, thoughtful religion, and a greener world – if we work together. I hope you see the threats and promises embedded in this month’s newsletter. Thanks for all of your efforts.
Finally, as I do every month, I urge you to take one simple action. Please share this month’s Newsletter with a colleague or two (or post a link via any social media platform you use) and ask them to add their voices to those promoting a deep and meaningful understanding between religion and science. They can add their signatures to one of our Clergy Letters simply by dropping me a note at mz@theclergyletterproject.org. Spread the word; change the world. Together we are making a difference.
Michael
Michael Zimmerman
Founder and Executive Director
The Clergy Letter Project
www.theclergyletterproject.org
mz@theclergyletterproject.org