A coalition of several local organizations including the Sac State Departments of Anthropology and Biological Sciences, Humanist Association, Atheists and Other Freethinkers, Sacramento Organization for Rational Thinking, Social Responsibility Committee or the Sacramento Unitarian Church, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the National Center for Science Education sponsored a birthday party today for Darwin. In addition to cake, cookies, and punch for the occasion they also had a program that included the band "The Theory of Evolution", the "science" comedian Brian Malow, and the well-known author and editor of Skeptic Magazine Dr. Michael Shermer.
Dr. Shermer spoke mostly from his book "Why Darwin Matters" which he had available for sale and signing by the author after the program. In answer to a question from the audience about why science and religion have to be at odds with each other, he responded that he feels that comes from a small minority of religious fundamentalists who feel threatened by the idea that something besides God might have played a part in developing the marvelous and wonderful world we live in. He thinks that the wonders discovered by a scientist are often enough to generate a true spirituality in that scientist.
I would estimate attendance at 450 to 500. It was definitely more than the organizers expected as they kept setting up chairs until aboaut 30 minutes after the meeting started. I was interested to see many of the same people who attend the Rennaissance Society classes oon Friday. In any case, Carolyn and I enjoyed the afternoon program.
I agree with Dr. Schermer. I never found that many anti-religious scienctists. A few, to be sure, although generally they were against organized religion rather than God him/herself, but only one or two with the level of rancour one hears from some pulpits. I would say they just lack pulpits, but they have lecterns aplenty, so I don't think that's it.
ReplyDeleteMost scientists that I've worked with are/were religious. Not all of them were Christian though so that would probably be excuse enough for some conservatives.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember now whether it was the comedian or Shermer who said that the phrase that precedes the greatest scientific discoveries isn't "Eureka!" but "That's funny..."
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