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

What Scientists Are Doing Wrong That They Could Be Doing Right 145only kind of religion that is in conflict with science is very narrow religion that,for example, requires a seven-day creation in order to be true. In his own traditionof Catholicism, he finds little if any conflict between religion and science.“My personal agenda,” he said, “which is shared by a lot of people around here,is that the scientists who are using evolutionary biology as a club against religionare really doing a lot of harm. I think the activist atheists . . . they are quitevisible, and I think they do a lot of damage.” Like some of the other scientists Imentioned earlier, this biologist thinks that other university biologists shouldbe doing more. In his opinion, most biology departments “pay no attentionwhatsoever” to the connections between religion and science. What this biologistis doing is also helping to create a sense of best practices for dialoguebetween religion and science that others can learn from.Moving Beyond the HeadlinesWhile issues related to intelligent design were certainly prominent in the mediawhen I conducted many of these interviews, scientists who wanted to see theircolleagues do more to interact with the religious public had a broader approachthan dealing only with the hot-button topic of the day. Scientists mentionedthe need to help members of the public talk more effectively about the religiousconcerns related to embryonic stem cell research, human genetic engineering,genetic testing, and population control, to name just a few. One biologist 44 saidthat “religious beliefs seem to prohibit stem cell research, which, you know . . .has enormous promise for curing some of the most difficult diseases. Butbecause of that religious belief, many people couldn’t study stem cells.” Thisbiologist thinks that more should be done to bring better understanding ofembryonic stem cell research to religious people.Social scientists, in particular, mentioned that they thought their colleaguesought to be more involved in questions that have to do with public policy andreligion. This might mean speaking out either against or in favor of religiousissues that also influence public policy. A psychologist, 45 for example, said thatthe United States is, as a nation, “making decisions now that have long-termharmful effects.” And in his words, “one of my biggest concerns . . . is the overwhelming[evidence] that humans must regulate their populations. We can’tleave this to chance.” This psychologist thinks that religion might be dangerousto the survival of the world population:If you have a religious view that opposes any kind of family planning, that turnsout to be an extraordinarily cruel—I would even say a vicious—policy. So that’s