Might Religion and Science, Working Together, Transform the World? It’s Time to Find Out

At a time when the anti-science movement is growing and when religion is being defined by its most extreme adherents, there is some very good news that might make a difference in how we approach some of our largest problems, problems that are ecological, economic, and health-related, as well as simply associated with our basic humanity.

The fact is that clergy members from all portions of the United States and from around the globe have come together to offer a better way to look at the world. They have come together to demonstrate that religion, in its best form, requires us to care for one another and for the planet on which we live. They recognize that the process of scientific investigation and the information it yields, trumps opinion, and can provide insight into a host of critical issues, from dealing with pandemics to climate change, from understanding that racism makes no sense given our shared humanity to appreciating the complexities associated with sexual and gender identity.

And, perhaps most importantly, these forward-looking clergy members know that religion and science need not be in conflict, that the two can work together productively to help create a greener, more equitable and more harmonious environment for all.

The clergy members I’m referencing are the thousands of members of The Clergy Letter Project, a grass-roots organization originally created to promote the teaching of evolution in…