E O Wilson: Reach Across the Science - Religious divide! - Part 2

reposted from: Scientific American Magazine
my highlights / edits

by Maggie Wittlin

Scientists, Evangelicals Officialy Declare Bosom Buddyhood

In an age in which Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris and, to a lesser extent, Daniel Dennett are the de facto representatives of science's take on religion (short version: "it sucks"), it's nice to see E.O. Wilson bridging the divide in the name of a more important issue--global climate change and our ongoing destruction of the world's ecosystems, or the so-called "sixth extinction" (desfor which humans are pretty much solely responsible.

That's right--the inventor of one of the world's most anti-mystical, materialist deconstructions of human nature ever (Sociobiology) has joined forces with the organization formerly headed by Ted Haggard.

I grew up among biblical literalists and have cousins who are southern baptists, and I know that however much I might disagree with my friends and family about the existence of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, these folks are not the pointy-horned devils Dawkins et al. would have us believe they are.

More importantly, Wilson recognizes how powerful these folks are--depending on who you believe, one third of all Americans are evangelical Protestants.

I applaud Wilson for finding common ground in the name of a greater good, and am more than a little blown away by the fact that a bunch of scientists are going to contribute to an educational effort launched by the National Association of Evangelicals. (I've no doubt folks on both sides of the debate will think their team has sold out, and that's a shame.)

>> Scientists and Evangelicals Unite to Save the Planet

This morning, scientific and evangelical leaders announced a collaborative effort to protect our environment from anthropogenic threats.

"We dare to imagine a world in which science and religion cooperate, minimizing our differences about how Creation got started to work together to reverse its degradation," Rev. Richard Cizik, vice president for governmental affairs of the National Association of Evangelicals, said at the announcement in Washington, D.C.

The coalition released a statement signed by 28 prominent evangelicals and scientists—including biologist Edward O. Wilson and climatologist James Hansen—that calls for a "fundamental change in values, lifestyles, and public policies required to address these worsening problems before it is too late." The coalition sent the statement, titled an "Urgent Call to Action," to George W. Bush, Nancy Pelosi, congressional leaders, and national evangelical and scientific organizations.

Members of the alliance announced they would meet with bipartisan congressional leaders, encouraging them to take on environmental issues. The coalition also said it would hold a joint summit on the environment and create outreach tools, including an 'environmental bible' and informational packets for pastors.

Carl Safina, president of the conservation organization Blue Ocean Institute, said he thought the new alliance would give both scientists and evangelicals more power to effect change.

"Without a direct connection to the science side and dialogue with the science side, [evangelical leaders] don't have the full, up-to-date information. And without them, the scientists don't have the ability to reach into communities and have an effective public voice," he said. "This makes me not only optimistic but very excited that we're doing something new and very constructive."

The Synthesizer

E.O. Wilson and his recently published book, The Creation, played an important role in spurring these talks between leaders of the scientific and evangelical communities.

"People like Ed Wilson had dreamed of this, but to see it happen must be very fulfilling for him," said professor of church formation and discipleship Cheryl Johns.

Click here to read a profile of E.O. Wilson from the November issue of Seed.

The announcement came after days of meetings in Georgia, where leaders of both communities presented their concerns about the environment.

Cheryl Johns, a professor of Christian Formation and Discipleship at the Church of God Theological Seminary, said that while the coalition is an "unlikely alliance," the two groups came together over their common environmental worries.

"The issues are of such magnitude that they became the shared, galvanizing passion," she said.

The particular evangelical leaders involved in the alliance have had a major influence on US policy in the past, Safina said. He said that while he has disagreed with the evangelicals in the past, he hopes that a direct line of communication between scientists and people of faith will lead to productive action to protect the environment. Johns agreed.

"We're hoping that it will become a facilitator for other collaborations," she said. "I think this is maybe a sign of what can be very common. I would hope so."