March 2023 Newsletter
In this Clergy Letter Project update you’ll find the following seventeen items:
- Sermons from Religion and Science Weekend 2023;
- Astrobiology News for March 2023: The Power of Preaching with the Sciences;
- NASA Climate Spiral Revisited;
- Free Books to Explain Evolution and Embrace Religion;
- Types of Spirituality;
- Southern Baptists and Female Pastors;
- When Scientists Are Not Accepted in Church;
- The Universe: A Great Machine or A Great Thought?;
- Potential Law Promoting Creationism in Kentucky;
- Potential Law Promoting Creationism in Utah;
- Potential Law Promoting Creationism in West Virginia;
- Potential Law Promoting Creationism in Montana;
- Potential Law Promoting Creationism in Minnesota;
- Potential Law Promoting Creationism in Oklahoma;
- The American Biology Teacher Focuses on Evolution;
- Discussing Proof in Science: Advice for Journalists; and
- A Trove of Articles from Covalence Magazine.
1. Sermons from Religion and Science Weekend 2023
With Religion and Science Weekend 2023 behind us, I thought I’d share a few of the sermons that were delivered this year. The Rev. Darcey Laine from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Cortland, NY delivered one entitled “Hope, Change and Evolution,” the Rev. Vernon Meyer from Chalice Christian Church in Gilbert, AZ delivered one entitled “Mystery, Awe and Wonder in Religion and Science,” the Rev. Larry Ort from St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Brookings, SD also used the title “Mystery, Awe and Wonder in Religion and Science,” and Cynthia Powers from the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fort Wayne, IN used the provocative title of “If I Could Have Dinner with Charles Darwin.” I suspect that you’ll find all of these to be interesting. And I encourage you to browse our sermon page which lists almost 400 sermons delivered by members.
Finally, if you have a sermon you’d like to see listed, please send it to me and I’ll get it posted.
2. Astrobiology News for March 2023: The Power of Preaching with the Sciences
The Clergy Letter Project is all about bringing scientific and religious ideas – and scientists and religious leaders – into conversation with one another. In this month’s Astrobiology News essay, Grace Wolf-Chase, Senior Scientist and Senior Education & Communication Specialist at the Planetary Science Institute as well as a Clergy Letter Project consultant, does just that. And she reminds us of the proper role of science: “Science doesn’t ‘solve mysteries’ so much as it deepens mystery.”
For the past couple of years, I’ve been honored to be one of the science consultants for the Preaching with the Sciences project(1) led by Rev. Dr. Ed Foley of the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. This past Sunday, I was thrilled to see one of the creative products of this project, when Fr. Ed integrated scientific investigations into the history and presence of water on Earth into a Lenten homily on Living Water. I think what made this particularly effective is that the homily preceded a presentation by a long-time friend and one of the most talented public speakers I know – planetary scientist Br. Guy Consolmagno, Director of the Vatican Observatory. Putting faith and science into conversation by putting religious leaders and scientists (who are occasionally both) into conversation helps draw each deeper into contemplating the mystery of the natural world around and within us. This is what the theme of Religion and Science Weekend 2023 was all about.
Science doesn’t “solve mysteries” so much as it deepens mystery. The relationship between mystery, awe, and wonder, is beautifully discussed in a recent article(2) by CLP member Rev. Bruce Booher, who offers many valuable resources for exploring this relationship in faith and science on his website.(3) In Dangerous Wonder, theologian and church leader Michael Yaconelli expressed the view that the most critical issue facing Christians today is dullness. He says, “We have lost our astonishment.”(4) He went on to say that the church should be full of Christians who seek questions rather than answers, mystery instead of solutions, wonder instead of explanations. Can science help stimulate the religious imagination and recapture some of that astonishment?
Astrobiology, in its investigation of the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the Universe, offers much to stimulate the imagination and inspire awe, wonder, and curiosity. The current count of known exoplanets – planets that orbit other stars – is well over 5,000, comprising a delightful assortment of worlds both similar (at least in some respects) and dissimilar to our own. These worlds range from rocky planets, to hot gas giants that orbit close to their stars, to “super Earths” that have no analogs in our Solar System, but may be worlds with vast oceans that could support life as we know it. The planetary system known as TRAPPIST-1 consists of seven Earth-sized worlds that orbit so close to their cool, red dwarf star, the entire system would fit well within the orbit of Mercury in our Solar System!(5)
Indeed, many of the exoplanets that have been discovered rival worlds envisioned years ago by creative science fiction writers. Although we’ve yet to discover life beyond Earth, over the next decade, we expect to learn a lot about the habitability of other worlds. Whether we’ll discover other intelligent civilizations is an open question, but if you’d like to be part of the search, check out the recently launched Zooniverse project, Are We Alone in the Universe.(6)
CLP member Rev. Dr. Ted Peters of the Graduate Theological Union and the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences in Berkeley is a leader in putting astrobiology in conversation with theology and ethics, and reflecting on what the discovery of extraterrestrial life might mean for human beings and other life on Earth.(7) I personally think we should add science fiction writers to the mix of dialog partners.(8) After all, science fiction can be wonderful for engaging the imagination and stimulating conversations on what might be and what should be. Science fiction therefore has the capacity to help encourage and bridge conversations between scientists, ethicists, and theologians, and to reach a wider variety of public audiences.
Whether congregations are urban, suburban, or rural, I think there are things religious leaders can do to help their parishioners experience wonder and stimulate curiosity both within and outside their places of worship. Multisensory encounters are particularly effective, as anyone who’s ever experienced a total solar eclipse knows! The CLP website contains many resources that can help year-round, such as the scientists who’ve signed on as CLP consultants(9) and the wonderful repository of sermons on religion and science that have been crafted by many of you.(10) If you’d like to learn more about Preaching with the Sciences, please register and join us for the upcoming conversation on March 25, when this project will be featured in a webinar offered by the Institute for Theological Encounter with Science and Technology.(11)
Until next month,
Grace
Grace Wolf-Chase (she/her/hers) (gwolfchase@gmail.com)
Senior Scientist & Senior Education & Communication Specialist, Planetary Science Institute (www.psi.edu/about/staffpage/gwchase)
Vice President, Center for Advanced Study in Religion and Science (CASIRAS: www.casiras.org)
1. https://ctu.edu/initiatives/preaching-with-the-sciences/
2. https://www.luthscitech.org/awe-and-the-sabbath-rhythm-of-life-part-one/
3. https://mysteryandawe.com/
4. https://www.alisonmorgan.co.uk/Books/Yaconelli%2098.pdf
5. https://esahubble.org/images/heic1802d/
6. https://www.zooniverse.org/projects/ucla-seti-group/are-we-alone-in-the-universe
7. https://tedstimelytake.com/books/astrotheology/
8. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14746700.2018.1525221
9. https://www.theclergyletterproject.org/Resources/sci_expert_data_base.htm
10. https://www.theclergyletterproject.org/Resources/Res_Sermons.htm
11. https://faithscience.org/preaching/
3. NASA Climate Spiral Revisited
In our December 2022 Newsletter, I presented NASA’s climate spiral visually demonstrating just how much our planet has warmed since 1880. That graphic has now been updated to include one more year and, not surprisingly, the situation has gotten worse. Do take a look at the graphic and please drop me a line to add your name to our Climate Crisis Letter if you’ve not yet done so.
4. Free Books to Explain Evolution and Embrace Religion
I’m delighted to say that Janet Ray, the author of Baby Dinosaurs on the Ark? The Bible and Modern Science and the Trouble of Making It All Fit, has just produced a study guide for that book and that her publisher has generously donated copies for me to distribute to members of The Clergy Letter Project.
Here’s how she described the two volumes:
When you're told evolution and faith aren't compatible, the options are bleak: you can reject a vast body of science evidence, or you can reject God.
The scientific response to creationism is often along the lines of Scientific American's "15 Answers to Creationist Nonsense." No one likes to be mocked, especially regarding deeply held, emotionally dense religious beliefs. In the context of a shared experience, however, we are often more willing to reexamine our convictions. Young earth creationism is my history, too.
What most people who reject evolution know about evolution comes from anti-evolution resources. We build a straw man out of arguments no one is actually making, then we tear the straw man down.
I wrote Baby Dinosaurs on the Ark? The Bible and Modern Science and the Trouble of Making It All Fit for the non-scientist, in a popular science voice, with the goal of reaching those who have never investigated the actual evidence for evolution and the age of the earth.
The recently released A Study Guide for Baby Dinosaurs on the Ark invites those with questions into a deeper conversation. The study guide is suited for use in small groups or in larger classes, as well as by independent learners. Readers are invited to analyze and critique ideas in the original book and to examine personal positions.
My favorite part of the study guide is the "Digging Deeper" sections – new content about the topics in each chapter of the original book. Also included in the study guide are summaries of each chapter, discussion prompts, and outside resources for further learning.
Both books – Baby Dinosaurs on the Ark? and the Study Guide – are for readers who want to leave creationism without leaving God.
If you would like free copies (except for postage and handling) of either book, please return this note to me. I’ll award copies to every fourth person who writes until all copies have been distributed.
_____ Yes, I would love a copy of:
_____ Baby Dinosaurs on the Ark
_____ A Study Guide for Baby Dinosaurs on the Ark
I agree to pay for postage and handling ($3 for one book, $5 for both)
My Name:
You can read more about both books on the publisher's website.
5. Types of Spirituality
Dr. Morgan Shipley, Foglio Endowed Chair of Spirituality and associate professor of religious studies at Michigan State University, discusses the many varieties of spirituality that exist in this “Academic Minute” produced by the Association of American Colleges and Universities. He concludes his interesting piece by noting “When we consider the growing number of SBNR (spiritual but not religious), it is vital not to forget this diversity, as well as the idea that spirituality is not about belief or the experience of religion, but the quest to be fully human.”
6. Southern Baptists and Female Pastors
A fascinating and depressing article in Salon discusses the recent action of the Southern Baptist Convention ousting five churches for having female ministers. It’s worth reading this short piece and glimpse just how extreme the Convention has become.
7. When Scientists Are Not Accepted in Church
Drew Rick-Miller, co-director of Science for the Church, recently published an essay addressing the question “What do I do if my church does not accept me as a scientist?” The question is obviously a pertinent one for members of The Clergy Letter Project and Drew offers some interesting ideas.
8. The Universe: A Great Machine or A Great Thought?
It’s my great pleasure to share another essay by The Reverend Ken Olson, a member of The Clergy Letter Project. This month he offers us a fabulous piece entitled “The Universe: A Great Machine or A Great Thought?”
Ken’s essay is as large as it is thoughtful, as comprehensive as it is important. Rather than attempting to summarize it, I’ll share what Ken had to say when he presented the essay to me:
This essay has to do with the reductionist world view called philosophic materialism, which is fairly common among scientists and increasingly so among the science-informed portion of wider public. The position is summed up by the oft-repeated sentiment that “It’s all just matter in motion.” This outlook goes far beyond the idea that the physical world can best be investigated, understood, and harnessed for human use by employing the scientific method. It maintains that only that which is subject to empiricist methodology can be regarded as real or true. Materialism holds that all that exists is matter. In other words, the position is, necessarily, that of atheism.
The image long associated with it is that of the universe as an immense and mindless machine, its billions of galaxies hurtling through space, continually evolving in form, but coming from nowhere and headed to the same. In this view, all of its components, although amazing in complexity and in beauty, too, are ultimately aimless, devoid of purpose. In addition, I examine how that mechanical conception relates to the evolution of living beings via natural selection. What are the implications of simply accepting --at least, “with no questions asked” -- a rendition of that wherein living things, too, are often understood as being intricate meat-machines to be explained only in terms of molecules and genetics, physics and chemistry?
It is my intention is to provide a serious critique of atheism by examining its materialist presuppositions and, in the process, to present a serious apologetic (this in the original sense of “a defense”) for the Christian world view. Thus, an alternative concept to materialism is the possible primacy in the universe, not only of matter, but of mind, leading to the idea that it is the mind of God that is behind the evolution of both the physical universe and living beings.
Please take a look at Ken’s 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 again sharing his work with us.
9. Potential Law Promoting Creationism in Kentucky
The start of the year brings the onset of legislative sessions around the country, and those legislative sessions bring attacks on science education in general and evolution in particular. Clearly the work of The Clergy Letter Project is needed now as much as ever. The following item is the first of six detailing some of those attacks.
A senate bill in Kentucky bans schools from including any material that is supported by one political party but opposed by another. If passed, this could have dire impact on the teaching of evolution and climate change.
10. Potential Law Promoting Creationism in Utah
Part 2 of 6 detailing legislative attacks on evolution and science taking place around the United States.
There is some good news out of Utah. A bill introduced in Utah’s state House died in committee. The bill would have required local education agencies to develop a neutrality policy to prohibit teachers from presenting controversial scientific issues to students, including evolution and climate change.
11. Potential Law Promoting Creationism in West Virginia
Part 3 of 6 detailing legislative attacks on evolution and science taking place around the United States.
West Virginia’s Senate overwhelmingly (27-6) passed a bill that would permit public school instructors to “teach intelligent design as a theory of how the universe and/or humanity came to exist." Simply put, this is as clear an endorsement of creationism as possible. The bill now heads to the House for consideration. If you live in West Virginia, please think about contacting your local representative.
12. Potential Law Promoting Creationism in Montana
Part 4 of 6 detailing legislative attacks on evolution and science taking place around the United States.
There is some good news from Montana. Senate Bill 235, which would have precluding anything but “scientific fact” from being taught in the state’s public schools died in committee. At a hearing on the bill, students, teachers and representatives of educational organizations testified against the bill. Please note that teaching only “scientific fact” is a ridiculous concept since science progresses by constantly adding to what we know and how we understand the world.
13. Potential Law Promoting Creationism in Minnesota
Part 5 of 6 detailing legislative attacks on evolution and science taking place around the United States.
A bill introduced in the Minnesota Senate would require that school districts "provide instruction to students in grades 9 to 12 exploring the contrast between the scientific facts on how sickness, disease, pain, suffering, and death relate to the existence of complex living organisms, and how sickness, disease, pain, suffering, and death are a consequence imposed by the Creator of complex living organisms." Bringing the Creator into science classrooms isn’t good for either science or religion.
14. Potential Law Promoting Creationism in Oklahoma
Part 6 of 6 detailing legislative attacks on evolution and science taking place around the United States.
There is some good news out of Oklahoma. A Senate bill which would have encouraged teachers to promote the strengths and weaknesses of scientific ideas (typically code for attacking instruction on the topics of evolution and climate change) has died in committee.
15. The American Biology Teacher Focuses on Evolution
The American Biology Teacher, a journal for K-16 biology teachers, has devoted their February issue to the topic of evolution. The issue is filled with great articles including “Why Are There Still Misconceptions about Evolution?,” “Evolutionary Medicine: An Introduction,” and “Sexual Selection as a Tool to Improve Student Reasoning of Evolution,” among others. Access to the journal is free and these articles are likely to be of interest even to people who are not teachers.
16. Discussing Proof in Science: Advice for Journalists
The Journalist’s Resource, a website providing guidance for journalists, just published an interesting piece discussing how proof in science should be discussed. The bottom line, correctly, is that rarely is proof achieved since science proceeds more by disproof than by proof and more information may always be forthcoming. The piece is interesting enough that anyone interested in thinking about how science is presented to the public might want to take a look.
17. A Trove of Articles from Covalence Magazine
As has become the norm, the latest issue of Covalence Magazine is filled with interesting pieces of relevance to members of The Clergy Letter Project, with a particular focus on Religion and Science Weekend. Here’s how editor Susan Barreto describes the contents:
This month we pick up on the theme from this year’s religion and science Sunday effort from the Clergy Letter Project.
At my congregation, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Champaign, IL, we had faith and science themed children sermon as well as the main message from Pastor Lynette Chapman (an excerpt of which we include in this edition) that was augmented by a variety of images and opportunities to reflect where awe and scientific discovery intersect. In both this month’s feature and commentary we endeavor to find where our faith comes into these important moments in our modern life.
Lutheran Alliance steering committee member Bruce Booher, who was the behind the Clergy Letter Project’s theme for this year, shares with us his insights from his decades of exploration as a pastor and stargazer. He will share with us part two of his essay in a future issue.
Concluding Thoughts
As you’ve seen in the items in this month’s Newsletter, many state legislatures are actively attempting to put their stamp on how science education is taught by bringing religion and politics into the mix. The voice of The Clergy Letter Project and its members need to be heard in state houses around the country making it clear that this is unacceptable. We need to explain how this toxic mix does great damage to the educational experiences our children experience and how it trivializes and misconstrues what religion is all about. (Unfortunately, these same legislatures are also taking other actions, often in the name of religion, that limit the rights of individuals.) Obviously, there is much to do!
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