May 2021 Newsletter
In this Clergy Letter Project update you’ll find the following twelve items:
- Free Book Offer: The Original Frontier;
- Astrobiology News for May 2021: Mars Takes Center Stage;
- Christians and the Vaccine Project;
- Expensive Things: Full-Bodied Preconceptions;
- The Emergence of Planetary Intelligence;
- Celebrating 25 Years of DoSER;
- Creationism Bill Fails in Arkansas;
- Controversial Education in Arizona;
- Faith and Science Working Together;
- The Spiritual Decline of Skepticism;
- Would Wesley Get a COVID-19 Vaccine?; and
- Copernicus and Kepler.
1. Free Book Offer: The Original Frontier
I’m delighted to announce that Taiun Michael Elliston, a member of The Clergy Letter Project and Abbot at the Atlanta Soto Zen Center, has just published a superb book entitled The Original Frontier: A Serious Seeker’s Guide to Zen.
The publisher, Redfeather, an imprint of Schiffer Publishing, notes that The Original Frontier “lays out the ancient secrets of the irreducibly simple method of Zen meditation in easily accessible terms and digestible bites… and include[es] workarounds for all of your excuses.” Redfeather went on to say that “This ‘frontier,’ as a metaphor, captures the world of meditative insight that Buddha entered into some 2,500 years ago. But it is even more relevant for us today, living as we do in challenging times of international conflict and pandemic, a new Age of Uncertainty.”
Taiun Elliston said to me that his experience has led him to believe that “many religious leaders of today are looking for this kind of non-sectarian guide to introduce meditation to their congregations.” I think that many of you and many of your congregants might well find much in his book to be of great interest.
Redfeather has generously donated copies of The Original Frontier for distribution to members of The Clergy Letter Project. If you would like a free copy of the book, please let me know and I’ll award one (you pay for shipping and handling) to every fourth person who requests one until all donated copies are claimed. If you’re not lucky enough to receive a free copy, or if you’d like to purchase additional copies, Redfeather has generously opted to provide a discount of 25% to Clergy Letter Project members who purchase the book directly from them. Simply go to their website, where you can read more about The Original Frontier, and use the code ORIGINALFRONTIER at checkout to receive your discount. Do hurry, however, since the code is only good through 15 June 2021!
______ Yes, I’d love a free copy of this book and I agree to pay $5 for postage and handling if selected to receive one.
_______ And, yes, I plan to participate in Evolution Weekend 2022
Name:
Congregation or similar group:
Location:
______ I don’t need a copy of the book but I do plan to participate in Evolution Weekend 2022. Please add me to the list of participants.
Name:
Congregation or similar group:
Location:
2. Astrobiology News for May 2021: Mars Takes Center Stage
In this month’s Astrobiology News Grace Wolf-Chase, Senior Scientist and Senior Education & Communication Specialist at the Planetary Science Institute as well as a Clergy Letter Project consultant, describes some of the exciting news coming from Mars this month and explains how you can help train robotic rovers to navigate Mars more safely – without leaving home!
Mars has been in the news a lot this month, and understandably so! On May 7th, NASA’s Ingenuity Mars helicopter made its first one-way flight from “Wright Brother Field” to a new landing site,(1) entering a new phase of exploration that will test the utility of using rotorcraft to scout and conduct aerial observations of places that are inaccessible to rovers. These tests will benefit future aerial exploration of Mars as well as other worlds. On May 11th, NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover began its examination of Martian rocks.(2) Some of these rocks will ultimately be collected with the drill on the rover’s arm, stored in special tubes, and deposited in collections on the planet’s surface for eventual return to Earth. On May 6th, the Planetary Science Institute issued a press release about Research Scientist David Horvath’s study that identified volcanic activity in the Elysium Planitia region on Mars, which might indicate recent habitable conditions, raising the possibility of extant life in this region.(3)
Horvath’s research results are based on data from satellites orbiting Mars. The results are exciting because, until now, there’s been no evidence of recent volcanic activity on Mars. Volcanism is thought to have been common on Mars 3 - 4 billion years ago, with smaller eruptions occurring as “recently” as a few million years ago; however, the new results indicate that further eruptions may have taken place within the last 50,000 years. This may sound like a long time, but it’s not, geologically speaking that is! Horvath explains, “If we were to compress Mars’ geologic history into a single day, this would have occurred in the very last second.” The connection to possible extant life on Mars is that interaction between hot magma and subsurface ice could produce conditions favorable for microbial life.
One of the shortcomings of my brief, monthly, columns for the CLP is that I can’t convey the science to you with visualizations. If you’re not already doing so, I urge you to explore the spectacular images and videos (including 3D) made possible by current Mars missions(4) - they are truly remarkable! NASA’s Astrobiology Program also provides many other resources; for example, if you need to relax, consider downloading NASA’s free Astrobiology Coloring Pages.(5) During the early phases of the pandemic, I discovered how coloring mandalas helped me to de-stress. The Astrobiology Coloring Pages provide an opportunity to apply your creativity to portraying Perseverance’s journey on Mars - try this out as a fun family activity!
Finally, as I do every month, I want to close by encouraging you to consider taking an active part in scientific exploration. For example, you can join other citizen scientists who are helping to train robotic rovers to navigate Mars more safely.(6) If you happen to lead a Christian congregation, you might want to check out my blog, Serving God and Neighbor through Citizen Science(7), which I recently wrote for Biologos(8), an organization founded by former Director of the Human Genome Project and current Director of the National Institutes of Health, Francis Collins. Whether you’re new to the Zooniverse citizen science platform or a frequent user, if you haven’t already done so, I humbly ask you to take a few minutes to fill out one of the participation surveys that are linked on the web page that the Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion has dedicated to Zooniverse.(9) Your responses to these surveys will enable us to improve the Zooniverse platform and make participating in science a better experience for everyone - thanks in advance! Also, please do contact me if you’d like to discuss possible ways to use Zooniverse in any of your programs.
Until next month,
Grace
Grace Wolf-Chase (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. https://mars.nasa.gov/resources/25898/ingenuitys-successful-fifth-flight/
2. https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/perseverance-s-robotic-arm-starts-conducting-science
3. https://www.psi.edu/news/recentmarsvulcanism
4. https://mars.nasa.gov/
5. https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/resources/coloring/
6. https://www.zooniverse.org/projects/hiro-ono/ai4mars
7. https://biologos.org/articles/serving-god-and-neighbor-through-citizen-science
8. https://biologos.org/
9. https://sciencereligiondialogue.org/projects/zooniverse/
3. Christians and the Vaccine Project
A new group, associated with Redeeming Babel, has been formed to help encourage evangelicals to take the COVID-19 vaccine. The group, Christians and the Vaccine Project, explains that they “have created a video series addressing the most common spiritual questions Christians have regarding the vaccine. We are also producing short video conversations with key Christian leaders providing their unique perspective and guidance. For pastors specifically, we have developed a Pastor’s Toolkit on the Vaccine to help them shepherd their congregations on this issue.” These resources might be very useful if you encounter vaccine-hesitant individuals in your congregations.
4. Expensive Things: Full-Bodied Preconceptions
In the last two newsletters, I had the privilege of sharing two thoughtful, moving and provocative essays written by The Reverend Ken Olson, a member of The Clergy Letter Project. (If you haven’t read them, I encourage you to set aside a bit of time and take a look at them here and here.) I’m delighted to say that he has taken the time to offer us another wonderful essay this month entitled “Expensive Things: Full-Bodied Preconceptions.”
His current piece is as wide-ranging and engaging as the first two and it taught me a great deal – about Socrates, John von Neumann’s “non” dog, the founding of the Confederacy, the nature of slavery and so much more.
Consider the final three sentences from his essay: “What do we see as being natural -- as opposed to sacred? Or is it that the truly Natural is, itself, Sacred all the way through and from top to bottom, and that these are not two different things, at all? I think I know. And I think the answer has a strong, full-bodied bearing on all those issues that divide people and could help to make us, not just in name, but more nearly in fact, one human family.”
I hope you enjoy what Ken has written and that you learn as much as I did.
5. The Emergence of Planetary Intelligence
I was going to announce a truly exciting upcoming webinar but discovered that Grace Wolf-Chase went to graduate school with the presenter so I’ll let her do the honors. This is an event you’ll not want to miss.
I am delighted to announce that distinguished astrobiologist Dr. David Grinspoon will present "The Emergence of Planetary Intelligence: Astrobiology and the Anthropocene Earth" on Thursday, June 3, at 5 p.m. Central Daylight Time. This is a free Zoom webinar co-hosted by the Center for Advanced Study in Religion and Science (CASIRAS) and the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC). Dr. Grinspoon's research focuses on climate evolution on Earth-like planets, potential conditions for life elsewhere in the universe, and the planetary-scale impacts of human activities on Earth. On a personal note - I've known David since our graduate-school days at the University of Arizona. I can tell you, without reservation, that in addition to being an award-winning science communicator and prize-winning author, David is also a talented musician and all-around nice person. Please join us on June 3 - you won't be disappointed!
You can register for the webinar through either of these links:
https://www.lstc.edu/news-events/news/article-598
https://www.casiras.org/2021/05/11/astrobiologist-david-grinspoon-to-present-casiras-lstc-webinar-june-3-may-11-2021/
Grace Wolf-Chase
Senior Scientist, Planetary Science Institute
Senior Education & Communication Specialist, Planetary Science Institute
Vice President, Center for Advanced Study in Religion and Science
6. Celebrating 25 Years of DoSER
DoSER, Dialogue on Science, Ethics, & Religion, is celebrating its 25th anniversary by hosting a half-day virtual symposium entitled, “Forward Together: Where Science, Ethics, and Religion Intersect in a Changing World.”
The symposium is filled with interesting events, including a plenary session addressing the question, Why is the dialogue between science and religion important?, as well as breakout sessions on evolution, climate and the environment, public health, race and racial justice, and artificial intelligence.
The symposium is free and will take place on 15 June 2021 from 1:00 – 5:00 pm ET. You can learn more and register to attend by clicking here.
7. Creationism Bill Fails in Arkansas
After passage in the Arkansas house, a bill that would have permitted creationism to be taught in Arkansas public schools was narrowly defeated in the senate – failing to leave the education committee after receiving a 3-3 vote. You can read more about this case in a report published by our good friends at the National Center for Science Education.
8. Controversial Education in Arizona
The National Center for Science Education shared the troubling news that a bill in Arizona dealing with the teaching of “controversial issues” may well soon become law. The bill would require teachers dealing with such topics to "present these issues from diverse and contending perspectives without giving deference to any one perspective." Failure to do so could face fines up to $5,000. It appears that both climate change and evolution might fall within the bill’s definition of a “controversial issue.”
9. Faith and Science Working Together
The May issue of Covalence Magazine, published by the Lutheran Alliance for Faith, Science and Technology has a number of articles discussing the relationship between religion and science that you may well want to read. Rather than attempting to summarize the many fascinating pieces, let me simply direct you to it and encourage you to explore the contents for yourself!
10. The Spiritual Decline of Skepticism
The Reverend Jim Burklo, a long-time member of The Clergy Letter Project and the Senior Associate Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life at the University of Southern California, recently had a piece entitled “The Spiritual Decline of Skepticism” published in United Methodist Insight.
Jim explains that “Science is the disciplined distrust of science” because science is always open to new data and better interpretation. “In contrast to this process, disorganized skepticism of science is a mounting threat. Anti-vaxxers cling to disconnected shreds of evidence and discredited theories that confirm their convictions. The same applies to climate-change deniers. And to 6-day-creationists and ‘intelligent design’ advocates.”
You can read his full essay here.
11. Would Wesley Get a COVID-19 Vaccine?
I think you’ll find a recent article in Firebrand to be of interest. The piece asks the provocative question, Would John Wesley get a COVID-19 vaccine? while exploring the relationship between religion and science. While the essay is well worth your time, here’s the conclusion offered in the final paragraph:
Would Wesley get a COVID-19 vaccine if he were around today? I speculate that as Wesley trusted the advancements of science and the medical profession of his day, so would he today as well. I venture that he would receive the vaccine. More so, when I think of his innovative use of the electric machine, I think he might have been one of the first in line!
12. Copernicus and Kepler
The Rev. Bill Graham, a member of The Clergy Letter Project, shared the following with me:
May 23rd is the day in which Nicolaus Copernicus and Johannes Kepler are commemorated on the Episcopal Church’s calendar. The write up in Holy Women, Holy Men includes:
“Both men, through their life’s work, testified to the extra-ordinary presence of God in creation and maintained, in the face of both religious and scientific controversy, that science can lead us more deeply into an understanding of the working of the Creator.”
This is just one of the reasons why so very few of us Episcopalians see no conflict between science and religion.
Concluding Thoughts
As vaccines are spreading and case numbers are falling in the United States, it is well worth remembering that COVID-19 is still running rampant in many parts of the world. I hope the United States is able to increase the help it can provide to those in most distress recognizing that defeating this virus is a global necessity if we are to remain safe. Similarly, I have been pleased to see some meaningful progress being made on the climate front this month even while noting that so much more remains to be done. Along those lines, if you’ve not yet added your signature to our Climate Crisis Letter, please do so by dropping me a note at mz@theclergyletterproject.org.
Finally, as always, I want to thank you for your continued support and 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.
Stay safe and healthy.
Michael
Michael Zimmerman
Founder and Executive Director
The Clergy Letter Project
www.theclergyletterproject.org
mz@theclergyletterproject.org