Are science and religion compatible?

“Science and Religion” seems to be a popular topic for debate on the internet these days. Even in New Zealand Richard Dawkins‘ recent visit encouraged 14 religious scientists, historians and theologians to produce their own statement on the subject (see ‘Public Statement Concerning Science and Christian Faith’ by New Zealand Religious Scientists).

That particular statement seems to be a “sour grapes” response to the public interest in Dawkins’ visit. It has little substance and resorts to straw mannery in its attacks on “Professor Dawkins’ scientism.”(That word “scientism” is a dead give away, isn’t it?) So far, I don’t think it has elicited any response or interest (except from comments on the RichardDawkins.net site which seems to be the only place reporting it).

Of far more substance were two presentations made at the Global Atheist Convention in Melbourne last Saturday. Given by AC Grayling and PZ Myers these covered the science – religion issue in very different but complimentary ways – both in substance and style. They are both extremely informative and entertaining speakers – each in their own way.

Ex-Muslims speak out

The Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain held their first conference recently. They have put videos up at their web site and, although the quality is not the best, they are well worth viewing.

Subjects covered include:

• Apostasy laws and the Freedom to Renounce and Criticise Religion
• Sharia Law and Citizenship Rights
• Creationism, Religious Education and Faith Schools

These are all of immediate concern in the UK and the rest of Europe.

UK Humanists and other secularists also participated in the conference. I recognised AC Grayling and Richard Dawkins. The presentation by Dawkins on Harun Yahya’s Atlas of Creation is interesting.

Richard Dawkins on Harun Yahya’s Atlas of Creation

Similar articles

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

December 10 marks the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This is an historic and foundational document. It is secular but receives extremely wide support from different political, religious and non-religious trends. It arose in part as a reaction to the horrors and violence of the Second World war –  particularly the Holocaust. But it has also been an inspiration for moral and social progress throughout the world – intermittent and unreliable as that has been.

AC Grayling is currently blogging in the Guardian on the UDHR – one article a day until December 10 (see AC Graylings articles on the UDHR). As always, his comments are worth reading.