October 2022 Newsletter
In this Clergy Letter Project update you’ll find the following seventeen items:
- Please Vote for Proposed Themes for Religion and Science Weekend 2023;
- Astrobiology: Protecting the Earth;
- Humility: Can it Exist in Science?;
- Physics and Faith;
- Seeking Awe and Wonder;
- Christianity and the Fate of American Democracy;
- Truth Matters: Think Hebrew;
- Declaring the United States a Christian Nation;
- Vaccines and the Internet;
- Biblical Literalism and the Constitution;
- Why I Could Never Be a Biblical Literalist;
- Creationism in the Service of Climate Change Denial;
- Creationism in Sweden;
- One Hundred Years of Anti-Evolution Legislation;
- Should Christians Dump Darwin?;
- Nature and the Camera; and
- Ecotheology.
1. Please Vote for Proposed Themes for Religion and Science Weekend 2023
It’s time to vote for a theme for Religion and Science Weekend 2023! Please read the list of possible themes below and vote for your two favorites. Indicate your first choice with a 1 and your second choice with a 2. Then simply return this newsletter to me and I’ll tabulate your vote. I want to thank all of you who offered suggestions. Please vote by 10 November 2022.
Possible Themes for Religion and Science Weekend 2023 – Please Vote for Your Two Favorites (1 for your first choice, 2 for your second choice)
_____ Living faithfully into an evidence-based future
_____ Faith and life: Living for the future now
_____ Mystery, Awe and Wonder in Religion and Science
_____ Partners of Meaning, Meaningful Partners for Change
_____ Religion and Science: Love and Compassion
_____ What do Religion and Science teach us about human equality?
_____ What do Religion and Science teach us is humankind's greater purpose?
_____ What Religion and Science can teach us about the natural world and our place in it
_____ Religion and Science -- Aids to Humility
_____ Religious Views on Vaccination
_____ Faith and Science: Meaning and Facts
And, now that you’ve marked your ballot, this would be the perfect time to sign up to participate in Religion and Science Weekend 2023. Remember that Religion and Science Weekend is scheduled for 10-12 February 2023 and you and your congregation can participate any way you deem appropriate. Thanks very much.
_______ I plan to participate in Religion and Science Weekend 2023 (10-12 February 2023). Please add my congregation (or other group) to the list of participants.
Congregation or similar group:Location:
Your Name:
2. Astrobiology: Protecting the Earth
Grace Wolf-Chase continues to make progress in her rehab from surgery and I’m optimistic that her wonderful Astrobiology News column will reappear soon. In the meantime, although I can’t compete with her insight and knowledge, I will continue to try and provide interesting astronomical tidbits to fill the massive gap her absence has created.
As you’ve likely heard, NASA recently conducted a test of planetary defense, sending a spacecraft to collide with an asteroid in an attempt to alter its course. Here’s a CNN story explaining the goals of the mission, somewhat hyperbolically entitled “The NASA mission that could potentially save all of humankind.” And here is a NASA video showing the actual collision. Finally, here’s an NPR piece explaining that NASA declared the mission a success; the asteroid’s course was altered due to the impact.
And, just for the fun of it – and completely unrelated to the above, here’s video of celestial objects to scale in size, speed and tilt. Enjoy!
3. Humility: Can it Exist in Science?
Dr. Agustin Fuentes is a professor of biological anthropology at Princeton University and was interviewed by DoSER (Dialogue on Science, Ethics & Religion at the American Association for the Advancement of Science). He talks about the importance of humility and recognizing hubris while discussing two critically important questions: What role does humility play in science? and What can scientists learn from religion?
4. Physics and Faith
Our good friends at Sinai and Synapses have posted a video arising from their highly successful Scientists in Synagogues program. The video features Dr. Thomas F. Rosenbaum, president of the California Institute of Technology, and Rabbi John Carrier. The program is entitled “Physic and Faith” and addresses such broad topics as the relativity of time, determinism and free will, and what really makes an act of faith.
5. Seeking Awe and Wonder
Our good friends at Sinai and Synapses have posted a remarkable sermon by Rabbi Mitchell Berkowitz, a member of The Clergy Letter Project and rabbi at B'nai Israel Congregation in Rockville, MD. Mitchell’s sermon is entitled “Seeking Awe and Wonder” and was delivered for Rosh Hashanah this year. (Like the previous item in this newsletter, this sermon is part of the Scientists in Synagogues program.)
Mitchell argues that “Judaism holds the key to unlocking the wonder of the world and once again infusing our lives with awe.” (I would only add that any religion should be able to accomplish this worthwhile goal!) He concludes by encouraging his congregants (and, by extension, you): “Let this be your year to be awestruck and amazed. Find moments to elevate the seemingly mundane with words of blessing, and realize just how amazing this world truly is.”
6. Christianity and the Fate of American Democracy
Historian David Hollinger was recently interviewed by Claire Potter, co-executive editor of Public Seminar. The interview is entitled “Why Christianity and the Fate of American Democracy are Intertwined.” You can get a sense of this fascinating interview from one of the first statements David made: “We’re now confronted with a remarkable paradox. Our increasingly secular society is saddled with increasingly religious politics. Religion is ever-more prominent in Supreme Court decisions and in the statements that candidates for political office make. Politics are not only more religious, they are more Christian.” I trust you’ll find this interview as interesting as I did.
7. Truth Matters: Think Hebrew
Dr. Larry Collins is a retired professor of geology and a member of The Clergy Letter Project’s list of scientific consultants. He regularly debunks creationist ideas and one of his recent articles is entitled “Truth Matters: Think Hebrew.”
He makes a simple but critical point: “I am suggesting that in reading the Bible, the reader must ‘think Hebrew’ and understand that their limited scientific understanding was the way Hebrews thought in their time and culture and is not the way people living in our time of modern science should believe.” Using this perspective, he explains why the Bible can’t be read literally and discusses the tentative nature of scientific knowledge.
You’re likely already familiar with Larry because I’ve mentioned his book, A Christian Geologist Explains Why the Earth Cannot Be 6,000 Years Old: Let's Heal the Divide in the Church, numerous times since its publication last year.
8. Declaring the United States a Christian Nation
John Nichols, a correspondent for The Nation, has written a troubling piece entitled “Republicans Are Ready to Declare the United States a Christian Nation.” The essay’s subheading explains his main thesis: “Sixty-one percent of the party’s base now favors ending the separation of church and state, as do a growing number of prominent Republicans.” He does end his piece on a more positive note: “The good news is that the vast majority of Americans respect religious pluralism every bit as much as the founders did. By a solid 62-38 margin respondents to the Critical Issues Poll said they opposed officially declaring the United States to be a Christian nation.”
9. Vaccines and the Internet
Right Wing Watch said the following and linked to a video clip showing the craziness: “Steven Hotze, a Texas-based religious-right activist and doctor, says that those who have received COVID-19 vaccines ‘become connected to the internet of things and you can be mind-controlled by artificial intelligence through maybe 5G.’" I urge you to take a look at the 58 second clip and then read the Wikipedia entry on Hotze. These are the people we’re up against; they’re wealthy, influential, and extreme.
10. Biblical Literalism and the Constitution
A while back, Vance Morgan published an essay entitled “Don’t Read the Constitution Like Literalists Read the Bible” on his blog, “Freelance Christianity with Vance Morgan.” While the essay is a bit dated given how much has happened in the past two years, it is still pertinent. I hope you agree.
11. Why I Could Never Be a Biblical Literalist
Matthew Distefano published a somewhat tongue-in-cheek blog post on the Progressive Christian site entitled “10 Reasons I Could Never Be a Biblical Literalist.” While it might not be great theology, it is fun to read.
12. Creationism in the Service of Climate Change Denial
Paul Braterman, a member of The Clergy Letter Project’s list of scientific consultants and a retired professor of chemistry, has written a fascinating blog post entitled “Creationism in the Service of Climate Change.” He opens his piece by writing, “Young Earth creationist organizations are united in rejecting the secular science of climate change,” and, after providing a comprehensive recap of the situation, he concludes by writing, “Creationist biology is just a bad joke. Creationist climatology is toxic.”
He also provides an abbreviated summary of this article and issues a call to action on the Panda's Thumb blog. If you pardon the pun, let me say that his information is chilling.
_______ This information convinces me that I want to add my signature to the Climate Crisis LetterName and Title:
Congregation/Denomination/Religion (optional):
City, State, Country
13. Creationism in Sweden
Our good friends at the National Center for Science Education (NCSE) shared information about creationism in Sweden including comments made by Glenn Branch, deputy director of NCSE. The good news is that evolution acceptance hovers around 83 percent. The bad news is that there seems to be a bit of an intelligent design movement in the country.
14. One Hundred Years of Anti-Evolution Legislation
The fall issue of Reports of the National Center for Science Education has just been posted. While there’s a great deal of interesting material in it, I want to draw you attention to an article entitled “One Hundred Years of Anti-Evolution Legislation Are More Than Enough” written by Glenn Branch.
As Glenn explains it, “2022 marks a centenary which, although obscure, is worth celebrating: the defeat of Kentucky’s House Bill 191. Introduced in the Kentucky General Assembly on January 23, 1922, the bill would have prohibited ‘the teaching in public schools and other public institutions of learning, Darwinism, atheism, agnosticism or evolution as it pertains to the origin of man.’” He concludes his brief summary of anti-evolution legislation by noting, “When it comes to evolution education, the very last thing American science teachers need from their state legislatures is interference motivated by fundamentalist antipathy to evolution.”
15. Should Christians Dump Darwin?
The Reverend Ted Peters, a member of The Clergy Letter Project, recently published an essay entitled “Evolution and Religion: Should Christians Dump Darwin?” Not surprisingly, his answer is a resounding “No!” Here’s his opening sentence: “There is no war between faith and science, but the Christian faith is still losing.” He goes on to do an impressive job of explaining the difference between science and scientism. Take a look.
16. Nature and the Camera
The Reverend Ken Olson, a member of The Clergy Letter Project, shared a wonderful new essay he’s written with me. It’s entitled “Nature and the Camera” and it discusses how we view the natural world – and how we distance ourselves from it. As he has done so often in his previous essays, he successfully brings a wide range of voices together to create a fascinating whole. In the present essay he combines ideas set forth by John Steinbeck, Groucho Marx, Teddy Roosevelt, and Helen Macdonald, to name just a few.
Please take a look at his work; I’m confident that you won’t be disappointed. And to help you savor his writing, I’ve created an archive page for all of his essays that have been published in our newsletter. Enjoy – and please join me in thanking Ken for sharing his work with us.
17. Ecotheology
Philip Clayton, president of the Institute for Ecological Civilization, will be hosting an on-line event entitled "Ecotheology, or Why Climate Crisis and Eco-Anxiety Require a Radically Different Kind of Theology” on 10 November 2022 at 7:00 pm EST. The event is sponsored by the Institute for Religion and Science. With respect to climate change, Philp notes that “Perhaps there is no other contemporary topic where theology and the natural (and social) sciences come together in more profound and important ways - and certainly none on which the fate of the world’s ecosystems more urgently depend.” You can read more about the event and register to participate here.
Concluding Thoughts
I want to focus for a minute, again, on the Covid-19 situation. While the data are not getting much attention, case numbers and hospitalizations are increasing dramatically in Europe. The fear is that the pattern in the United States will follow suit in a month or so, as has been the case with all other waves so far. Here’s what Dr. Katelyn Jetelina has written in her informative newsletter: “The height of a U.S. wave is partially dependent on the number of people who get a fall booster. A new Kaiser Family Foundation survey found 40% of Americans are unsure if the booster is recommended for them, including about half of fully vaccinated rural residents (54%), Hispanic adults (51%), and those without a college degree (49%). There is clearly a failure of communication and outreach.” While I suspect that all who are reading this are well aware that the bivalent booster should be taken by virtually everyone of an appropriate age, over 12 years for the Pfizer version and over 18 years for the Moderna version, I want to remind you that you are in a position to share this information with people who might not yet be aware of its importance. Spreading the word will save lives. And while I’m mentioning vaccination, please don’t forget to get this year’s flu shot! Stay safe and healthy – and keep your family and communities safe and healthy.
You can sign up for Dr. Jetelina’s free newsletter, Your Local Epidemiologist, here.
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.
Michael
Michael Zimmerman
Founder and Executive Director
The Clergy Letter Project
www.theclergyletterproject.org
mz@theclergyletterproject.org