Science vs. religion : what scientists really think - File PDF

140Society and Broader Publicshere is . . . to make the world a better place. That’s almost a direct quote frommy grandfather.”Another biologist,32who said that he is not particularly spiritual but is a“sympathetic agnostic,” explained that he has been “active on [his] own campusand in outreach in [his] community” to try and bring better science educationto a broader public. He thinks scientists need to collectively “get before thepublic, that we need to teach good science and not cloud together science andreligion.” But part of this public science mission is to address concerns aboutthe connections between science and religion sensitively. In particular, whenhe is teaching an introductory biology course, which includes teaching evolution,and students come up to him with religious concerns, he always tries to“handle those questions that they have as sensitively as possible.” In his words,“I’m not interested in destroying anyone’s faith.”ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT: TOWARDBEST PRACTICESScientists advocating successful dialogue between religion and science needcharismatic public spokespersons. Such spokespersons for successful dialoguecould chart an agenda to let the American public know that science and religionneed not conflict. These individuals must be legitimate in the scientificcommunity yet outgoing and savvy enough to connect with nonscientists.Scientists I talked with used these individuals, whom I have called boundarypioneers,33as inspiration for how to successfully cross the boundaries betweenreligion and science. Scientists said that those with religious faith could beespecially crucial commentators when pushing for better dialogue betweenreligion and science. Through witnessing the efforts of these boundary pioneers,a collective set of “best practices” can be developed for better engagingthe general public on this topic. Here we examine some of the emerging practicesthat scientists themselves commend their colleagues for doing to promotebetter dialogue between scientists and members of the general public.The biologist 34 mentioned just above, who was expecting her first child, saidthat “one of the greatest challenges of being human is to be faithful and also to becritical about science.” She lamented that “there’s so much . . . controversy . . .because there are people who can’t find common ground.” Scientists like her,who also think that their colleagues should do more to find common groundwith the religious American public, feel that it could often be doneby simply finding ways to interact more with religious people and religious