This coming weekend hundreds of religious congregations from all corners of the globe will take steps to re-focus the political discussion about religion. Their goals are actually as simple as they are important.
Their three most important imperatives are:
1. To protect mainstream religion from those who are attempting to define religious belief so narrowly that millions of deeply pious individuals are excluded;
2. To demonstrate that religion and science need not be at odds with each other and to show that a vast majority of religious individuals have both understanding of and respect for the principles of modern science; and
3. To create an opportunity for people to think critically and articulate carefully about these important topics. In short, they are looking to elevate the quality of the debate by pushing aside the veil of ignorance that so many purposefully have used to confuse the issue.
Indeed, this coming weekend, Feb. 10-12, 2012, is the Seventh Annual Evolution Weekend sponsored by The Clergy Letter Project. As has been the case for the past six years, hundreds of congregations will each undertake some activity to promote these simple goals. And as has been the case for the past six years, the religious leaders who are sponsoring these activities will find themselves under attack, sometimes mercilessly, for their actions.
Some of those attacks will undoubtedly come from narrow-minded religious fundamentalists who, as they have so frequently, will claim that those participating in Evolution Weekend activities are not truly religious. Those attacking ask, "How could they be religious if, after all, they disagree with our beliefs?" But the fact is, there isn't a single correct way to be religious.
In case you have any doubt about this with respect to the relationship between religion and science, take a look at those who have agreed to celebrate Evolution Weekend. Participants represent every US state as well as 10 countries. They represent some tiny, rural congregations as well some large, urban congregations. Even more to the point, though, is the fact that Christian, Jewish and Muslim communities will all be represented, in addition to Unitarian Universalists and Religious Science practitioners. The range of beliefs is incredibly impressive. Within Christianity, for example, at least 22 different denominations will be participating. In addition to mainstream Christian denominations Southern Baptist, Mennonite and Quaker congregations will be celebrating, to name just a few.
Some of the attacks on participants in Evolution Weekend 2012 will also undoubtedly come from "new atheists" who like to lump all religious individuals in with fanatical fundamentalists. In their eyes, anyone who expresses religious sentiments to even the slightest degree is no different from a Biblical literalist. These new atheists will attack the clergy who are participating in Evolution Weekend even though those very same clergy should be their biggest allies when it comes to combating the assault on science taking place in our public schools. But these new atheists can't see past their own biases and recognize that only a combined effort will protect science.
And, as unfortunate as it is, the fact remains that science is under relentless attack from those who want their religion taught in public schools. Just this legislative season alone, anti-evolution bills have been introduced in Indiana, Missouri, New Hampshire and Oklahoma, with others no doubt on the way.
The clergy members participating in Evolution Weekend and the thousands upon thousands who have signed one of The Clergy Letters supporting the teaching of evolutionary theory in public school science classes demonstrate conclusively that the entire evolution/creation dispute is not a real debate. Rather it is a contrived controversy being promoted by those advocating a single religious world view. The clergy members of The Clergy Letter Project are deeply religious, every bit as devout as the fundamentalists who oppose them, but they also recognize that practicing their religion should not have to mean turning their backs on the facts of science. Instead, they understand that a deeper understanding of the natural world will only enhance their faith. And they are not so insecure in their faith that they feel compelled to condemn all other belief as false and demand that everyone else be forced to accept their singular perspective.
Evolution Weekend is a chance to celebrate the intersection of religion and science and to do so in a mature manner. It is an opportunity for religious individuals to practice their faith while appreciating all science has taught us. It is a time for all of us to appreciate just how multifaceted religion can be.
Whether you are religious or not, find a participating congregation near you and join in the discussion. Doing so will help build a richer, more thoughtful and more interesting society.
Finally, please join me in thanking those religious leaders who are taking a stand in favor of religious pluralism and respect while protecting science. Their position is not always an easy one to promote in the face of the attacks they receive. They deserve our respect and praise.
Follow Michael Zimmerman, Ph.D. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mzclergyletter
Kenneth R. Miller: America's Darwin Problem
Churches Celebrate "Evolution Weekend"
Religion and Science: An Evolving Relationship
Poor, defenseless religion, so fragile it needs protection from the bully critics. If only religion had any power. HA! But notice how science is not threatened by religion—only by religious yahoos who would stymie science, as George Bush did to stem cell research.
2. To demonstrate that religion and science need not be at odds with each other and to show that a vast majority of religious individuals have both understanding of and respect for the principles of modern science;
Religion and science are not at odds with each other. They have nothing to do with each other. What a scathing indictment of the emptiness of religious thinking than to boast without embarrassment that many religious people actually respect science.
3. To create an opportunity for people to think critically and to articulate carefully about these important topics. In short, they are looking to elevate the quality of the debate by pushing aside the veil of ignorance that so many purposefully have used to confuse the issue.
There is no debate between science and religion. Religious people try to elevate their views to the level of science by claiming there is a debate that needs to be reconciled. There is not. Let religious people rely on faith and leave science the hell alone.
After all, science is merely a system created by man to better understand God's creation.
Evolution is an attempt to explain the existence of man absent God's involvement.
your attempt to define science within a religious framework leads me to believe that your understanding of it is, at best, parochial.
i don't want to shock you, but before you show up for evolution weekend i just thought you should know that it's not a program for subjugating science to religious dogma.
Sorry to disappoint you.
What anything leads you to believe is of no interest to anyone of intelligence.
Scientists are skeptics. The religious have their faith. Evolution is process, it's not an explanation. Natural selection is the method by which evolution takes place (the explanation). There is no debate over evolution. That debate has been over for years now. God's involvement was to create every species that has ever lived on Earth out of nothing. Evolution completely disproves that ridiculous assertion and replaces it with something that has mountains of evidence in support. Evolution replaces that assumption with something that can make accurate predictions and with something that can be tested and verified.
Be honest with your beliefs. Don't attempt to hijack decades of scientific progress as being your God's plan all along just so that you can cling to other antiquated beliefs and assertions made in your holy text. You either believe in your sacred word or you don't, and if you don't then don't call yourself religious. It only confuses people.
It cannot be reproduced in the lab.
Natural selection give nature some supernatural power to "select".
Adaptation is a fact.
We observe it happening over time.
Evolution is a theory which says that if adaptations happen for millions of years, the species will change into another species.
Never happened.
You likely hold such strong faith in the theory of man caused global warming as well.
You too need to identify yourself as religious.
Your faith is strong.
I as a "new" atheist am protecting science, from people like you Michael Zimmerman.
The scientific theory as stated makes no mention of a God. Moreover, philosophically the whole point of the scientific theory is that complex life could have arise via "Absolute Ignorance" rather than "Absolute Wisdom" (a reference to Dennett's favorite Robert Mackenzie Beverley quote). That is, intelligence isn't required to design life or to design anything for that matter, non-intelligent natural processes could give rise to life. Thus to assert that "Evolution is true and evolution is just how God did things" is completely ignoring the spirit of the science, that no God was involved.
You can reduce god to such a deist-like god that is not at all personal and is indistinguishable from not existing. You will have lost all meaningful theology while also ignoring the fundamental insight of evolution, that intelligence was not at all required for design.
?
Sure, yea, and I believe that thin crust pizzas are God.
Um...what are your sources for this statement. Thanks.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/21814/evolution-creationism-intelligent-design.aspx
I suppose you could try to pretend that "with God guiding" counts as evolution, but anyone who understands the science realizes that if God is guiding the process then it isn't natural evolution it's just creationism spread out over a longer time period.
People can believe what they wish, but to put a point on it, the theory of evolution has reams of scientific support behind it. The theory of creationism/intelligent design has no scientific backing whatsoever.
What people "believe" has never changed facts.
Cheers on locating the poll.
I translate that to mean "take them at their word", I sure hope they do. Both have supernatural claims that contradict science.
I see this statement too many times. It must stop being stated. It gives religion too much credit.
Religion is based on faith (belief in supernatural) and has little basis in reality. Science is the study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world. It is the study of reality.
Besides religion has always tried to accomodate science and never the other way around.
The evolution of species is a demonstrable fact with overwhelming physical evidence and the collaboration of hundreds of thousands of past and present scientist, technicians, and engineers in the various scientific fields. Only an uneducated fool could deny evolution.
Therefore, no Adam & Eve, no Garden of Eden, no tree of knowledge, no forbidden fruit, no talking snake, and no original sin and no need for a savior. Therefore, the very foundation of Christianity crumbles, as does the foundations of all man made religions.
It's really simple: The scientific explanation for the evolution of species, including humans, is a demonstrable fact. This is a fact regardless of any religion fabricated by man.