July 2026 Newsletter
In this Clergy Letter Project update you’ll find the following 24 items:
- Nominate a Theme for Religion and Science Weekend 2027;
- Across the Cosmos for July 2026: Co-Creating a Thriving Future;
- Science Under Attack by Trump Regime;
- Help Rescue Science from Book Burning;
- Mark Sykes’s Opposition to OMB Proposed Regulations;
- European Heat Wave Impossible Without Climate Change;
- Bible Stories Now Required Reading in Texas;
- Climate.US Launches;
- Life Expectancy: A Prayer in the Climate Chaos;
- Science or Religion? No Choice Needed;
- The Pace of Global Warming;
- How Science Can Revitalize Our Congregations;
- Reducing Religion-Science Conflict in Undergraduate Biology Education;
- How Evolution and Religion Are Addressed in Undergraduate Biology Courses;
- AI Has a Bias Toward Catholicism;
- Articles on Religion and Climate Change;
- US Congregations Unprepared to Help Congregants Cope with Climate Grief;
- UFOs, Alien Life and Religion;
- Science vs. Faith – The War that Never Existed;
- Global Ocean Temperatures Are Entering Uncharted Territory;
- Studying Consciousness in AI;
- Anything Can Be Perverted;
- Have We Created Artificial Life?; and
- Religion and Science Summer Reading List, Part 1.
1. Nominate a Theme for Religion and Science Weekend 2027
Please suggest a theme for Religion and Science Weekend 2027, our 22nd iteration of this great tradition! What topic would excite your congregation and entice others to join our efforts to promote the compatibility of religion and science? Drop me a note with your suggestion and I’ll share a full list in a forthcoming newsletter with a vote by membership selecting the theme.
To provide a bit of context, here are the themes that have been selected in the past:
2026: Truth Matters
2025: Religion and Science: Living in Awe
2024: Religion, Science and the Common Good
2023: Mystery, Awe and Wonder in Religion and Science
2022: The Pandemic, Climate Change and Evolution: How Religion and Science, Working Together, Can Advance Our Understanding
2021: Religion and Science in a Time of Denial: Neither will be Denied
2020: How Science and Religion Can Work Together to Deal with the Problems of the Climate Crisis
2019: The Confluence of Religion and Science
2018: Our Shared Humanity
2017: A productive melding of science, religion and the humanities as exemplified in The Universe Story, originally published 25 years ago by Brian Swimme and Thomas Berry
2016: Exploring Ways to Engage in Complex Discussions in a Civil Manner
2015: Science and Religion in Dialogue: Past, Present, and Future
2014: Different Ways of Knowing / Asking Different Questions
2013: Evolution in the Modern World
2012: An interfaith discussion of religion and science
2011: The Positive Relationship Between Religion and the Environment
I very much look forward to hearing from you!
2. Across the Cosmos for July 2026: Co-Creating a Thriving Future
In this month’s installment of Across the Cosmos, Grace Wolf-Chase, a Clergy Letter Project consultant, discusses the power of religion and science working together, especially in the face of efforts by the US government to limit the ability of scientists to collaborate openly and freely.
I’m removing my affiliations from this month’s column, since the opinions I’m voicing here are my own and do not reflect the views of any particular institution or organization.
The title of my column this month is taken from the theme of this year’s Institute on Religion in an Age of Science Conference on Star Island, which I attended remotely. The late Lutheran theologian Phil Hefner developed the idea of humans as ‘Created Co-Creators’ over the course of his career and work in science and religion. I first met Phil shortly after I moved to Chicagoland with my family in 1998. I had many discussions with him over the course of the subsequent years of his life. Although we came from the same religious tradition, and Phil’s knowledge of science was impressive (to say the least), it was initially difficult for each of us to understand the other, since I spoke the language of science and Phil spoke the language of theology. It took time, but it was well-worth the effort!
Science and religion are two of the most powerful forces shaping our world today. The exciting field of science and religion has flourished over the past few decades because of the scientists, theologians, philosophers, and ethicists who have come together to share ideas and have tried to understand, and learn from, each other. The phrase “Creative Mutual Interaction,” first coined by Robert John Russell and frequently used by CLP member, Ted Peters, summarizes these efforts adeptly. The individuals involved in these discussions are as diverse as the perspectives shared. There is at least as much disagreement as there is agreement. Most of us, I think, would consider this healthy, since this is how we learn about experiences and perspectives that differ from our own, and how we build bridges across different communities.
We are now living in a time when this bridge-building is under threat by those who would tell us that the only perspective that matters is one that aligns 100% with a specific political and ideological agenda. The last time I visited the proposed Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance there were just under 80,000 commentators. Although this may seem like a lot, I fervently hope that in the remaining time for comments (until July 13th), this number expands considerably! There is a lot at stake here – including the free and unencumbered exchange of ideas that have allowed both the sciences and the humanities to flourish and contribute to a thriving future.
Until next month,
Grace
3. Science Under Attack by Trump Regime
Following up on Grace’s comments above and on the emergency note I sent out to members, I submitted my comments to the Office of Management and Budget concerning their suggested rule changes for the awarding and maintaining of federal science grants. You can read my comments here or on the Medium site.
4. Help Rescue Science from Book Burning
The Rev. Ted Peters, a member of The Clergy Letter Project, has addressed the Office of Management and Budget proposed rules on his blog The Voice of Public Theology. He open his post powerfully by writing: “For the sake of the common good, public policy should be based on evidence-based reasoning. But right now, in the dark corners of laboratory research, evidence-based reasoning is coming under the shadow of a new threat. The US Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is restructuring rules for granting funding to scientific research. In the proposed new rules, federal research grant oversight will be ‘ensuring that discretionary awards advance the President’s policy priorities.’” And, from there, he makes an even stronger case. You can read his comments here.
5. Mark Sykes’s Opposition to OMB Proposed Regulations
As Grace noted in her Across the Cosmos essay this month, the regulations proposed by the Office of Management and Budget for federal grants has received almost 80,000 comments. Mark Sykes, past CEO and director of the Planetary Science Institute, is one of those who have offered opinions. Given his position and the thoughtfulness of what he has to say, I thought you might want to read his note to OMB. You can do just that here.
6. European Heat Wave Impossible Without Climate Change
According to climate scientists, the heat wave that has engulfed western Europe would have been virtually impossible without climate change. Our world is changing faster than anyone imagined possible. You can read an article explaining what’s happening here. Given the scope of what’s happening, now would be a great time to add your name to our Climate Crisis Letter, if you haven’t already done so. Just drop me a note and I’ll do the rest.
7. Bible Stories Now Required Reading in Texas
The Texas state board of education has approved a new statewide reading list for 5 million public school students that includes Bible passages. I’m certain you can imagine the possible implications this reading list might have on science instruction. You can read about the situation here.
8. Climate.US Launches
Former staff members at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have released a website presenting critical information about the climate crisis at a time when the federal government is making access to such information increasingly difficult to access. You can learn more about this important initiative here.
9. Life Expectancy: A Prayer in the Climate Chaos
The Rev. Jessica Hetherington, a member of The Clergy Letter Project, has offered an intriguing prayer entitled “Life Expectancy: A Prayer in the Climate Chaos” on her website. You can read her moving words here.
10. Science or Religion? No Choice Needed
Our good friends at Science for the Church have posted a wonderful essay explaining what we all know: there’s no reason we have to choose between science and religion! You can read this good piece here.
11. The Pace of Global Warming
Do you have 20 seconds to spare? If so, take a look at this NASA animation showing the pace of global warming. The increase in the rate of warming is both striking and frightening. You can view it here.
12. How Science Can Revitalize Our Congregations
Our good friends at Science for the Church have recently posted an article whose title explains its thrust perfectly: “How Science Can Revitalize Our Churches.” You can read the piece here.
13. Reducing Religion-Science Conflict in Undergraduate Biology Education
Bioscience recently published an article entitled “Teaching undergraduates evolution: 10 years of research on conflict-reducing practices—and resistance to them.” You can access this fascinating piece here.
14. How Evolution and Religion Are Addressed in Undergraduate Biology Courses
In addition to the piece in Bioscience mentioned above, the journal also published a second important paper. It’s entitled “Challenges to evolution as a core concept in college biology: Silence on religion and conflicting goals for acceptance,” and one of its conclusions is that “most instructors reported not discussing potential compatibility between religion and evolution.” You can read the article here.
15. AI Has a Bias Toward Catholicism
The National Catholic Reporter ran a story with this intriguing lede: “Most popular artificial intelligence models are biased toward Catholicism and against a number of other religious traditions when asked about converting to a faith, according to new research assembled by a group of religious colleges.” You can read the full story here.
16. Articles on Religion and Climate Change
The Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology produces an annual list of articles on religion and climate change. You can access this amazing resource here.
17. US Congregations Unprepared to Help Congregants Cope with Climate Grief
An article in Religion News Service explains that American congregations are unprepared to help congregants cope with climate grief. You can read the piece here.
18. UFOs, Alien Life and Religion
Although it’s not as sophisticated as many of the pieces I usually share with you on this topic, the AP recently ran one on UFOs and religion. The headline notes that “As UFOs go mainstream, the jury is out on what the existence of alien life might mean for religion.” You can read the article here.
19. Science vs. Faith – The War that Never Existed
While this won’t be news to any of you, it is interesting to see that the Catholic Connect website ran a piece entitled “Science vs. Faith? The Catholic Scientists Who Say the ‘War’ Never Existed.” You can read the article here.
20. Global Ocean Temperatures Are Entering Uncharted Territory
Scientific American just released a story with the following header and subhead: “Global ocean temperatures are entering ‘uncharted territory,’ climate scientists say - Sea surface temperatures in late June reached nearly 70 degrees Fahrenheit on average, shattering records.” You can read the article here. And, as I said above, news like this should encourage you to add your signature to our Climate Crisis Letter, if you haven’t already done so. Just drop me a note and I’ll do the rest.
21. Studying Consciousness in AI
Will AI achieve consciousness? Has it already? This gift article from The Washington Post explores the ways the major AI companies are currently studying the issue. You can read the piece here.
22. Anything Can Be Perverted
I’m delighted to say that The Rev. Ken Olson, a member of The Clergy Letter Project and a frequent contributor to this newsletter, has shared yet another of his great essays with us. He open this one by posing the provocative question: “If you don’t know what’s wrong in a culture, how can you know what’s right?” You can read his essay here.
23. Have We Created Artificial Life?
Forget about AI consciousness for a second and read this lede from an article on the Futurism website: “Scientists claim that for the first time in history, they have constructed a synthetic cell that feeds, grows, and replicates — just like a natural one — out of non-living chemical components.” Anyone care to comment on the theological implications? You can read the article here.
24. Religion and Science Summer Reading List, Part 1
Our good friends at Science for the Church have created a religion and science summer reading list. (They plan to expand the list soon and I’ll include future installments in upcoming newsletters.) For now, you can read their recommendations here.
Concluding Thoughts
The three dominant themes in this month’s newsletter seem to be AI (again), climate change and the federal government’s attack on science. I hope some of these items spur you to action. Please think about nominating a theme for Religion and Science Weekend 2027, please add your signature to our Climate Crisis Letter if you haven’t yet done so, and please think about submitting a comment to the Office of Management and Budget about their proposed changes in how federal grants are awarded and administered. If we allow our collective voices to be heard, we can change the world!
Finally, 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
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