Luminous Darkness

I have not read this book, but I certainly agree with its author’s theme; the idea that science and religion could be powerful allies in moving the environmental movement forward. An article from Reuters discusses it:

Scientist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author E.O. Wilson is out to save life on Earth — literally — and as a secular humanist has decided to enlist people of religious faith in his mission.The Harvard professor sees science and religion as potential allies for averting the mass extinction of the species being caused by man, as he argues in his latest book, “The Creation: An Appeal to Save Life on Earth” (W.W. Norton).

Although I disagree with the article’s characterization of science and religion as having ‘clashing world views’, I certainly agree that the environment could be a good area of common ground where those who disagree about other issues could come together to work for change.

According to this article in the Christian Science Monitor, a recent study shows that many Americans are looking for a ‘middle way’ (sound familiar?) regarding the role of religion in public life in the United States. The article says:

A national survey released by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life on Aug. 24 shows ambivalence about the relationship of religion to politics and social issues, and unhappiness with extreme positions. The public is not polarized into liberal and conservative camps, the poll suggests, but yearns to find middle ground on contentious social issues. There is distress about both ends of the political spectrum: 49 percent of American adults say conservatives are too assertive about trying to impose their religious values on the nation, yet 69 percent say liberals go too far in trying to keep religion out of schools and government.

I find this to be encouraging in showing that the American people are perhaps beginning to recognize that allowing our society to become so polarized is not the way that we are going to accomplish any long-terms goals about the issues that we face for the future. This is of course the same point that I was trying to make in my previous post about the Anglican Communion. The end of the article discusses some feelings about ‘hot button’ issues of the day, and is well worth reading.