October 2025 Newsletter
In this Clergy Letter Project update you’ll find the following 20 items:
- Religion and Science Weekend 2026: We Have a Theme;
- Across the Cosmos for October 2025: A Sermon and Two Presentations;
- A Powerful Message from a Former Creationist;
- Prayer in School;
- Christian Nationalism Is Not Christianity;
- Concerns about Trump Bibles in Oklahoma;
- Preserving Religious Liberty in Public Education;
- Bible-Infused Curriculum in Texas Public Schools;
- Homophobic Christian Nationalist in Charge of Social Studies Curriculum;
- Thinking About AI From a Christian Perspective;
- Clergy Protest ICE and National Guard Presence Near DC Churches;
- Faith and Scientific Research;
- Christian Nationalism Teaching Racial Hatred;
- Potential Life on Mars;
- Two NASA Climate Satellites Might Be Killed;
- AI-generated Bible Content Stirs Controversy;
- Gold Standard Science;
- Teaching about Evolution Faces New Legal Uncertainty;
- Is Silicon Valley Getting Religion?; and
- Ignorance of Science Is Not a Good Thing.
1. Religion and Science Weekend 2026: We Have a Theme
With a very big thanks to all who voted, I’m delighted to say that we now have a theme for Religion and Science Weekend 2026: Truth Matters. At this particular time in history when too many individuals seem to think that truth and opinion, truth and desire, and truth and convenience are all interchangeable, it seems more important than ever to promote the idea that there is such a thing as truth. As our Christian Clergy Letter states so clearly, “Religious truth is of a different order from scientific truth. Its purpose is not to convey scientific information but to transform hearts.” Religion and science, as we all know, can be fully compatible and both are dependent on a meaningful understanding of truth. Let’s celebrate truth and let’s push back against all who claim truth is a malleable idea, easily manipulated for personal gain.
Religion and Science Weekend 2026 is scheduled on 13-15 February 2026 but, as always, you can celebrate it at a convenient time for you and your congregation if that weekend doesn’t work. What’s important is not the time but the concept. Please opt to do something to advance our values of open discussion, respect for diverse ideas, and an understanding of the relationship between religion and science. You may certainly center your activities on our theme, Truth Matters, but that’s not required. Participate and help create a more informed, more civil, and fully engaged society.
If you’ve not yet done so, please sign up to participate now.
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2. Across the Cosmos for October 2025: A Sermon and Two Presentations
In this month’s installment of Across the Cosmos, Grace Wolf-Chase, Senior Scientist and Senior Education & Communication Specialist at the Planetary Science Institute as well as a Clergy Letter Project consultant, offers us something very special. She recently presented a sermon and made two presentations at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Marion, IA. She notes that a number of members of The Clergy Letter Project appear in her presentations. See if you can find them! You can watch her sermon here (beginning around the 33 minute mark), and you can watch her presentation entitled "A Tour of the Universe in Time and Space" here and the one entitled "Immeasurable Universe/Infinite God" here. I hope you enjoy all of this as much as I did.
3.
The Washington Post published an op-ed piece that is well worth your time. It was written by Ella Al-Shamahi and opens with this paragraph: “As an 18-year-old Muslim missionary, I enrolled at University College London intent on destroying the theory of evolution. Today, I host a global television miniseries about it.”
She explains the difficulties associated with adopting a different world-view than the one in which she was raised and notes, “Understanding these dynamics can illuminate the current quagmire of science and politics. When people of faith and political conservatives see their views mocked, dismissed or ostracized, they begin to see science not as a method but as a tribe they’re not a part of. And once science becomes just another tribe, its authority collapses.”
You can read her full essay here.
4. Prayer in School
Donald Trump recently told a gathering of the Religious Liberty Commission “that the Department of Education will soon issue new guidance protecting the right to prayer in our public schools,” noting that "For most of our country's history, the bible was found in every classroom in the nation, yet in many schools today, students are indoctrinated with anti-religious propaganda." You can read more about this troubling possibility here.
5. Christian Nationalism Is Not Christianity
The Idaho Statesman recently ran an op-ed essay by Chenele Dixon, a former legislator and a member of the Church of Latter-Day Saints. She explains why Christian Nationalism isn’t rooted in Christianity and explores the dangers associated with it. You can read her essay here.
6. Concerns about Trump Bibles in Oklahoma
ABC News recently aired a story about an Oklahoma social studies teacher who expressed serious concerns about the “Trump Bible” being placed in Oklahoma public school classrooms. The teacher, well trained in both political science and theology, makes a host of fascinating points that you’ll want to hear. You can watch the story here.
7. Preserving Religious Liberty in Public Education
Baptist News Global ran an interesting story entitled “Interfaith work called key to preserving religious liberty in public education.” The piece focused on comments made by Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, a member of The Clergy Letter Project, at an Interfaith Alliance conference in Dallas. Rabbi Kleinbaum discussed how understanding and respecting diverse beliefs is the key to overcoming the hatred being promoted by radical religious groups. You can read the piece here.
8. Bible-Infused Curriculum in Texas Public Schools
CBS News ran a story about how various school districts in north Texas have adopted a curriculum that infuses Christianity into an array of lesson plans. The piece demonstrates that many in the community are not pleased by the centrality that one version of religion is being given in public schools. You can read the story here.
9.
Self-styled historian and anti-gay Christian Nationalist David Barton has been hired by the Texas State Board of Education as an “expert content advisor” to revise the state’s social studies standards for public schools. Some of Barton’s views include the belief that HIV and AIDS are God-given consequences for living out one’s LGBTQ+ life. LGBTQNation published an article about this embarrassing situation and you can read it here.
10. Thinking About AI From a Christian Perspective
The Catholic University of America recently hosted a panel to discuss “how Christians should think about the developing technology surrounding artificial intelligence.” Panelists were asked what they each believe to be the greatest threat of the emerging technology as it poses new challenges to the defense of human dignity, justice, and labor. You can read their interesting responses in an article published by the Catholic News Agency here.
11. Clergy Protest ICE and National Guard Presence Near DC Churches
As Religion Unplugged explained in a recent story, clergy in Washington, DC are playing an important role in protesting an ICE and National Guard presence near churches in their city. You can read the story here.
12. Faith and Scientific Research
Our good friends at Science for the Church published an essay by the Reverend Ed Rosado, a member of The Clergy Letter Project and engagement coordinator for Science for the Church, discussing the relationship between faith and scientific research. This paragraph will give you a flavor of what he has to say on this topic: “When scientific research is viewed through the lens of vocation—that sense of unique calling—scientists are inspired to pursue truth, cherish wonder, and prioritize ethical conduct in ways that reverberate far beyond the laboratory. Rather than reducing science to mere technique or ambition, Christian faith roots its practice in awe toward the Creator and in service to the world, anchoring every discovery in gratitude and responsibility.” You can read the full essay here.
13. Christian Nationalism Teaching Racial Hatred
Mediaite has published a frightening story about the beliefs of Texas Pastor Joel Webbon. On his podcast, Webbon “urged white Christian parents to have ‘the talk’ with their children about the ‘danger’ of black people.” You can learn more here.
14. Potential Life on Mars
By now you’ve probably seen reports indicating that signs of life may have been found on Mars. Nonetheless, I’m taking this opportunity to share with you the article from The Washington Post that broke the story. You can read it here.
15. Two NASA Climate Satellites Might Be Killed
In its never-ending quest to destroy any and all understanding about climate change, the Trump regime is poised to decommission two NASA climate satellites that have been operating for years. You can read the story that was published by Ars Technica here.
16. AI-generated Bible Content Stirs Controversy
An organization called Pray.com has opened a Youtube channel entitled the AI Bible. NPR ran a story about the visuals and the feedback from theologians. You can read the story here.
17. Gold Standard Science
The American Council on Science and Health (whose tagline is: “Promoting science and debunking junk since 1978”) released a statement about how Gold Standard Science has been coopted by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) movement. You’ll want to read their statement and you can do so here.
18. Teaching about Evolution Faces New Legal Uncertainty
Glenn Branch, a good friend of The Clergy Letter Project, the deputy director of the National Center for Science Education, and a prolific writer and researcher about all things related to the topic of creation/evolution, recently published an article in SciTech†, the newsletter of the Presbyterian Association on Science, Technology, and the Christian Faith detailing the legal challenges that may soon face the teaching of evolution. You can read his article here.
19. Is Silicon Valley Getting Religion?
Susan Barreto, editor of Covalence and a good friend of The Clergy Letter Project, asks the provocative question, Is Silicon Valley getting religion? in the latest issue of the magazine. You can read her piece here.
20. Ignorance of Science Is Not a Good Thing
The Rev. Ken Olson, a member of The Clergy Letter Project and a frequent contributor to this newsletter, has shared another of his provocative short essays with us. His latest offering, quoting from both Will Rogers and St. Augustine, discusses the value of science, the compatibility of religion and science, and the dangers of willful ignorance. You can read his latest essay here.
Concluding Thoughts
The only reasonable conclusion to draw from current events is that the United States is under attack. Christian nationalists are doing everything they can to promote their version of religion in schools, in government, and in civil society, to the exclusion of all others. The president of the country has informed the US military, and the general public, that their job is to fight “the enemy within.” It is up to us, to those of us who disagree with his policies of division, of hatred, and of otherness, to stand up for what is right and to make it clear that we are not the enemy of the country or its people, but we most certainly are the enemy of bigotry, self-dealing, and ignorance. Our beliefs and our actions can help shape a better world, one in which environmental concerns once again play a role and one in which people of all religions (or non-religions), classes, ethnicities, sexual and gender orientations, and abilities can all be respected and thrive. Your voices are keeping these ideals alive at this incredibly perilous time. Thank you for all you 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
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