New Director Appointed for Dialogue on Science, Ethics and Religion - July 20, 2010

In an attempt to further dialogue between scientists, ethicists and people of faith, the National Association for the Advancement of Science has appointed NASA astrophysicist Jennifer Wiseman as the director of its Dialogue on Science, Ethics and Religion.  Dr. Wiseman is a Christian and a fellow of the American Scientific Affiliation (AFA.)  The AFA describes itself as a fellowship of men and women in science and related disciplines, whose stated goal is to share a common fidelity to the Bible and a commitment to integrity in the practice of science. Its stated purpose is “to investigate any area relating Christian faith and science” and “to make known the results of such investigations for comment and criticism by the Christian community and by the scientific community.”

In an article in yesterday’s USA Today, Elaine Howard Ecklund reports that some critics from the science community wonder at the co-mingling of science and religion, which they argue are two very different ways of looking at the world.  They feel that a dialogue between scientists and religious people could bias and taint scientific work.

Eklund has just completed a survey of nearly 1,700 natural and social scientists at top US universities and spoke with 275 of the personally in their offices and laboratories.  Previously she conducted studies of religion in America, spending significant time with evangelicals, liberal Protestants and moderate Muslims.  She reports that myths and misunderstanding exists on both sides.

For example, many in the religious community believe that all scientists are atheists.  While there are a higher percentage of scientists that claim to be atheists than in the general population, they are not in the majority. Only 30% of scientists profess to be atheists, and only 6% of them say they are working against religion. More surprisingly, 30% of scientists consider themselves religious and one in five is involved in a house of worship.  Top scientists are sitting in churches, mosques and temples in the US.

Scientists also hold incorrect views about religious people as well. While it is true that there are 14%  more self-identified evangelicals in the general population than among scientists at the top universities in the US, Ecklund reports that “scholars are also finding that evangelical Christianity is not as detrimental to acquiring scientific knowledge as they once thought.”

As well, evangelicals are quickly catching up and surpassing other religious groups in terms of education.  A high profile example is the head of the US National Institutes of Health, Francis Collins, a scientist and a Christian.  He and other scientists who are Christians are involved in massive public efforts to help other Christians understand that they don’t have to choose between their faith and science.

According to Ecklund “More and more, it seems, scientists are beginning to recognize that they need to engage with people of faith if they want to garner broad civic and financial support for their scientific endeavours. It doesn't help to have science and religion as warring factions. If greater public support of scientific research is a goal, we should encourage some scientists to become ‘boundary pioneers’ who civilly reach out to religious communities in search of common ground and potential allies. Besides, this enduring battle doesn't advance the cause of science — or religion.”

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