September 2020 Newsletter
In this Clergy Letter Project update you’ll find the following nine items:
- You’ve Voted: We Have An Evolution Weekend 2021 Theme;
- Astrobiology News for September 2020: The Astrobiology Graphic Novel Series;
- More on a Possible Covid-19 Vaccine;
- A Christian Statement on Science for Pandemic Times;
- The Climate Crisis Letter: Specific Help Needed;
- A Personal Look at the Inner World of an Authoritarian Group;
- Scientists and Diverse Faith Communities;
- A Personal Creed; and
- The 2021 IRAS Conference
1. You’ve Voted: We Have An Evolution Weekend 2021 Theme
Voting has yielded an overwhelming favorite for a theme for Evolution Weekend 2021: Religion and Science in a Time of Denial: Neither will be Denied.
Thank you to all who voted and to all who suggested a theme. Indeed, every theme suggested received some votes!
At a time when both religion and science are being denied, often for different reasons (but occasionally for the same reasons), this theme seems particularly appropriate. Both offer a perspective that can help humanity move forward in these troubling times and both ask us not to turn away from the reality presented by the world around us. Using our knowledge and our faith, we can shape the world and make it into a better place. But to do so we must be honest and recognize that opinions are not the same as facts and that wishes are not the same as actions. Together we can build the future we want, one where equity is celebrated, the environment is honored, truth and expertise is praised, and health, both spiritual and physical, is promoted. We can make this happen if we care enough and are willing to act. I hope you agree.
_____ I love the choice of a theme so, yes, I plan to participate in Evolution Weekend 2021 (12-14 February 2021). Please sign us up!
Congregation (or related group):
Location:
Your Name:
2. Astrobiology News for September 2020: The Astrobiology Graphic Novel Series
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, shares some wonderful resources for families to use to explore science. Please be sure to note the webinar Grace will be hosting that she mentions in the last paragraph of her note. And, if graphic books of the sort she mentions are your thing, please note item 6 below!
Is your family looking for educational reading material that’s both fun and informative? Do your kids, grandkids, or you, like graphic novels? I recently came across yet-another creative NASA resource -- this one shares the story of the human search for life in the Universe via a graphic novel series that highlights the efforts of real scientists working in this multidisciplinary field.(1) In a short video clip, NASA scientist and graphic artist Aaron Gronstal takes viewers on an inside journey of how he is making astrobiology widely accessible through pen-on-paper artwork and computer digitalization that convey content through pictures and text.
Kids (and the young-at-heart) may enjoy learning about Mars expeditions through the eyes of a fictional robot reminiscent of WALL-E, while others may enjoy tracing the roots of astrobiology back to cave paintings! Other installments chronicle NASA missions that investigate the potential for life elsewhere in the Solar System and beyond, and relate how studying life in extreme environments on Earth informs our search for life elsewhere. The most recent issue explores prebiotic chemistry and questions relating to the origin of life on Earth.
I can imagine families reading these issues together and having fascinating discussions. The scientists whose work is highlighted are ethnically diverse, and may inspire parents to explore the careers of these scientists further with their children. Since we’re on the subject of children, another great resource to check out is Frontiers for Young Minds,(2) an open-access scientific journal where articles are written by scientists and reviewed by a board of kids and teens. A colleague and I wrote the very first Astronomy and Space Science article for this journal five years ago,(3) but there are now many from which to choose!
These are all wonderful resources to stimulate interest in STEAM (Science - Technology - Engineering - Arts - Mathematics) topics, and since we learn best by actually doing, I also encourage parents and children to check out the research projects(4) on the Zooniverse citizen-science platform, where you can participate in exciting science across diverse fields of study. If you do use this platform, either individually, as a family, or as part of a group or class project, I humbly ask that you take a few minutes to fill out a pre-participation(5) or post-participation(6) survey that will help us improve the Zooniverse experience for everyone. If you’d like to learn more about Zooniverse and how citizen science invites everyone “into the scientist’s land,” please consider registering for my webinar to the Institute on Religion in an Age of Science (IRAS) on September 17th - it’s free!(7) If you can’t make it in real-time, no worries - the presentation will be archived on the IRAS website.
Until next month,
Grace Wolf-Chase (gwolfchase@gmail.com)
Senior Scientist and Senior Education & Communication Specialist, Planetary Science Institute (http://www.psi.edu)
Vice President, Center for Advanced Study in Religion and Science (CASIRAS: http://www.casiras.org)
1. https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/resources/graphic-histories/
2. https://kids.frontiersin.org/
3. https://kids.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/frym.2015.00016
4. https://www.zooniverse.org/projects?utm_source=newsletter@utm_campaign=projects-CLP
5. Pre-survey: https://forms.gle/x5TezWJEqAZnLb39A
6. Post- survey: https://forms.gle/opYzTKSxK3PFJtv9A
3. More on a Possible Covid-19 Vaccine
As most of you have probably seen, I recently published an essay explaining why I did not plan on taking a Covid-19 vaccine approved by this administration and then I engaged in a discussion about that essay with Dr. Francis Collins, head of the National Institutes of Health and a member of our list of scientific consultants. I now have two points to add to what has already been said.
First, I want to thank all of you who have written directly to me about this issue, those who agreed with my perspective and those who have taken issue with my point of view. Many of you have asked whether you may reprint and/or distribute my original essay along with my exchange with Dr. Collins. Please feel free to do so.
Second, I want to share a letter written by Dr. Irv Wainer, previously an NIH researcher and a member of The Clergy Letter Project’s list of scientific consultants. Irv discusses the importance of trust in medical research and what it takes to earn such trust. I suspect you’ll be every bit as moved by Irv’s letter as I was.
4. A Christian Statement on Science for Pandemic Times
Our good friends at BioLogos have crafted a missive they’ve” entitled “A Christian Statement on Science for Pandemic Times” and they’re collecting signatures from Christians. The statement opens with the following paragraph:
“We, the undersigned, join together as Christians who uphold the authority of God’s Word and see science as a tool to understand God’s world. We call on all Christians to follow the advice of public health experts and support scientists doing crucial biomedical research on COVID-19.”
It goes on to note that:
“We are deeply concerned about the polarization and politicization of science in the public square when so many lives are at stake. The word “science” has become a weapon in the culture wars. Scientists are vilified and their findings ignored, while conspiracy theories go viral. Sadly, Christians seem just as susceptible to these trends. Thoughtful Christians may disagree on public policy in response to the coronavirus, but none of us should ignore clear scientific evidence.”
As you can see, the statement is in keeping with the values of The Clergy Letter Project. If you want to add your signature, you can do so via this link.
5. The Climate Crisis Letter: Specific Help Needed
This is a two part item. First, a quick reminder that it is still not too late to add your signature to our Climate Crisis Letter. While the response to our request for signatures has been truly gratifying, I know that many of you who voted in favor of having such a letter created have not yet added your signature to it. This would be a great time to do so. (If you’re not certain whether you’ve signed the letter or not, please click here and search for your signature.) To add your name, simply respond to this note and I’ll do the rest!
_____ Yes, by all means, please add my signature to the Climate Crisis Letter
Name:
Congregation/Denomination/Religion (optional)
City, State, Country
Additionally, I hope you check out the page we created for clergy members to add personal statements in addition to their signatures. I trust you’ll agree with me that many of our colleagues have written impressive statements. If you’d like your voice to be added, just let me know and I’ll get it posted.
_____ Yes, please add my personal statement to the Climate Crisis Letter:
Second, I’m hoping some of you will be able to help us fill in some gaps in the geographical representation of signatures on the Climate Crisis Letter. While 48 of the 50 United States are represented, no one from either Hawaii or Utah has yet signed on. If you could bring the Letter to the attention of clergy in those states, that would be particularly helpful. Similarly, although clergy from 13 different countries have signed the Letter, it would be wonderful to be able to increase that number. Please bring the Climate Crisis Letter to the attention of colleagues around the world!
6. A Personal Look at the Inner World of an Authoritarian Group
Mark Laxer, a long-time friend of The Clergy Letter Project, has just published his latest book. The book, a piece of graphic non-fiction, is entitled Rama Trauma Trump: I Left the Cult and Now Look What Happened and is illustrated by Marcie Vallette. Mark describes the book as “a way to educate people about destructive steeply hierarchical groups (cults gone bad), and also a way to encourage young folks to vote.”
The book relates Mark’s personal story, “the true story of a seventeen-year-old who joins a spiritual group that starts out cool but gradually, over years, turns abusive. The young man leaves the group, tries to come to terms with the past, and years later is surprised to find that the larger culture looks an awful lot like the cult he had left. Ultimately, Rama Trauma Trump is the story of friendship and loyalty which transcends the mind-bending power of charismatic leaders.”
You can read the book for free here.
7. Scientists and Diverse Faith Communities
The American Association for the Advancement of Science’s Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion (DoSER) “has launched a new series profiling scientists who have forged meaningful relationships with religious communities in carrying out or engaging with scientific research.”
Five profiles have already been released and an additional dozen are scheduled to appear between now and the end of the year. Robert O’Malley, director of the project and a member of The Clergy Letter Project’s list of scientific consultants, notes that “These profiles show how scientists can engage with diverse communities in ways that are enriching to the scientists and to the communities themselves.” I hope you find the profiles that have already been posted to be inspiring.
8. A Personal Creed
Dr. Wendell McKenzie, Alumni Distinguished Professor of Genetic Emeritus, North Carolina State University and a member of our list of scientific consultants, recently wrote to me and said, “Several years ago I wrote what I called my creed. I'm not sure it qualifies as a creed; perhaps it is more so a philosophy. In any case, it blends my sense of the divine and nature; it continues to serve me well.” I thought it was worth sharing with all of you:
I fully trust Nature and am in awe of its power, beauty and complexity. I recognize that discord and harmony are Natural consequences in such a system and that neither can be deemed right or wrong, good or bad. I view myself and my species as small, yet significant, components of this dynamic enterprise. I tend to equate God and Nature, rather than have one be the creator of the other. Through Christ I am provided an unequalled Natural example of love, compassion, thought and action. I share with others the responsibility to understand God, Nature, ourselves, and each other and to exercise sensitivity in our dealings in light of our connectedness. My God is real.
9. The 2021 IRAS Conference
The Institute on Religion in an Age of Science (IRAS) has issued a call for papers for its 2021 summer conference. The conference, tentatively scheduled to be held at Star Island, NH from 26 June through 3 July, will be entitled “Naturalism – as Religion, within Religions, or without Religion.” The deadline to submit a proposal is 10 December 2020. You can read more about the conference including the plenary speakers by going to the conference website.
Concluding Thoughts
I hope all of you, your families, and your communities are healthy and safe. I also hope that your efforts help make the world a better place for all who share it.
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. Together we are making a difference.
Michael
Michael Zimmerman
Founder and Executive Director
The Clergy Letter Project
www.theclergyletterproject.org
mz@theclergyletterproject.org