Interesting. I interviewed famed biologist E.O. Wilson, who talked about the need for scientists to reach out to religious leaders, to ask them to lend their moral credibility to the fight against biodiversity loss and other environmental ills. And I interviewed evangelical mega-church pastor Joel Hunter, who talked about the need to reach out to scientists, to ask them to educate religious leaders so they can bring a credible message on the environment to their congregants.
Well, it seems they've been talking to each other as well. From a new press release:
Leading Evangelicals, Scientists to Launch Environmental Collaboration
Leaders of the evangelical and scientific communities will announce an unprecedented joint effort to protect the global environment and advance policies that address some of the most pressing threats to our planet, including global warming, habitat destruction, pollution, and species extinctions. Spearheaded by the National Association of Evangelicals and scientists at the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School, the newly-formed collaboration is 28-members strong and growing.
Wilson and Hunter are both on the list.
The group plans to hold a press conference and release a statement next Wed. Stay tuned.
Comments
View as Threaded
Benny Big Eye Posted 6:47 am
12 Jan 2007
Benny Big Eye
Permalink
David Roberts Posted 6:53 am
12 Jan 2007
www.grist.org
Permalink
Kate Sheppard Posted 7:44 am
12 Jan 2007
Kate Sheppard
Permalink
Engineer Posted 8:21 am
12 Jan 2007
...the scientists weren't so hot on the whole 'Creation' thing...
In theory there is no difference between theory and practice, but in practice there is!
Permalink
Biodiversivist Posted 3:05 pm
12 Jan 2007
In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world
Permalink
caniscandida Posted 6:43 pm
12 Jan 2007
And by the same token, I am sure many of the clergy would not insist on using "Creation" in their private conversations with the scientists; but they too understand that one of the points of this "joint effort" is to impress the evangelicals, whose prejudices they know very well.
What I find more troubling is that the scientists agreed to participate in this exclusively evangelical project, when they should have insisted that all denominations be invited to participate. Getting as many evangelicals on board as possible is fine. But the scientists should beware of subscribing to anything that turns out to be doctrinally narrow and exclusivist.
Chickens are our cousins!
So are other sensitive animals!
Enough is enough!
No more factory farms!
Permalink
Biodiversivist Posted 12:49 am
13 Jan 2007
In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world
Permalink
amazingdrx Posted 2:52 am
13 Jan 2007
He sure is pushing hard for peace in the ME. Releasing that book that is bringing the often death-threat-invoking weight of fundamentalist Christians and Jews down on him takes some kind of courage!
We need these good people who try to live by the example set by their favorite son o' God. Right here on our side!
http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog
Permalink
bookerly Posted 6:38 pm
13 Jan 2007
I want to second CanisCandida's cautions (after all, a number of evangelists do not consider Catholics to be real Christians, and would they work with denominations that include women and (probably not) gays as leaders?).
The number of people involved is very small for a press release. Usually people try to get everyone they can in on the original effort, figuring somw will peel away. I wonder if this is poor organizing, or difficulty in securing more names??
patrick
Permalink