Some conversations I just cannot hold. Sports banter, for
example, is impossible (was the World Cup the one with the ice skates?) My
brother-in-law's stem cell research is way over my head. I can't discuss
politics with the cat.
Nothing against sports, brothers-in-law, or cats, of course.
Especially nothing against cats. I wish I could
have these conversations, but I tragically lack the perspective, knowledge, talent,
and good looks.
I also can't discuss evolution with people who resist it
based on religious belief. My third-generation-atheist brain just isn't wired
that way. I say, "Hey, check out this gorgeous fossil record!" And
then they say, "Hey, check out this gorgeous religious text!" And
then we blink at each other, stuck.
Enter BioLogos, a new non-profit that aims to bring
evolution and other sciences to Christians. It was founded by the geneticist Francis
Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health (read: Very Very Big
Cheese), who famously went from atheism to theism. If anyone can hold this
conversation, it's him.
I have proof of its conversational prowess. The other day I had a phone
call -- a lovely chat, even! -- with Chris Stump at BioLogos. We exchanged
ideas. We found common ground. We chatted about our kids. It was magnificent.
This makes me very happy. Pharrell-Williams-style happy. Understanding
how we evolved is one of the crowning achievements of humanity, in my humble opinion,
right up there with smallpox eradication, space flight, and pasta. Somebody needs to sort out the enduring
resistance to evolution, and since I personally stink at that, I'm delighted that BioLogos is on
the case.
PS. If you haven't yet, please consider signing up to show your interest in the Giant Evolution Timeline. With enough names we can maybe flag down a publisher.
PS. If you haven't yet, please consider signing up to show your interest in the Giant Evolution Timeline. With enough names we can maybe flag down a publisher.
