What I’m Reading: Evidence That Demands a Verdict
Disclaimer: If you’re allergic to discussions about religion or “God” (whatever definition), feel free to skip this. I have no hidden agenda. I just want to share interesting literature. I know this can be a charged subject, so I want to be upfront about it given it’s outside the topics I normally share.
Still here? Cool. Onward…
Since I can remember having an opinion about religion (around middle school), the science vs religion/spirituality discussion boiled down to this:
Science is based on empirical evidence (measurable things).
Religion/spirituality is based on personal experience (feeling things).
Descartes formalized this split, creating a hard boundary between these worldviews. This forced people into an either/or position rather than an and/both. You couldn’t be a Red Sox and a Yankees fan at the same time! These were rival teams. And if you decided to major in sciences like I did, your tribe was pre-selected. The few religious people on campus felt like oddballs.
For the first 20 years of my life, I was an atheist. However, some experiences pushed me to explore other things. I still don’t know where I land, but I know it’s more than the big bang creating everything. But that’s a story for another day.
Why This Book Intrigues Me
I’m only 10% through the book, but it’s unlike anything I’ve read on the subject. Instead of arguing that religion is superior to science and history, it scrutinizes Christianity from a historical and scientific perspective. Instead of being hand-wavy, it has a bibliography larger than most non-fiction book chapters.
One of the most interesting sections in the earlier chapters argues that Christianity doesn’t see science as an enemy, but something to embrace as part of a creator’s creation. That’s a different perspective than the one I’ve heard growing up. The book’s arguments seem more coherent than less rigorous movements like Intelligent Design, which felt lacking in depth.
My Approach
I don’t know if reading this will change my religious or spiritual beliefs. I’m fascinated by making a pro-Christian case from a historical or scientific perspective. I hope to make a steelman argument for this perspective by the end.
I find this a refreshing take, at the very least.
The scientific community has long sought a unified theory of everything, merging quantum physics (small scale) and Newtonian dynamics (grand scale). If or when they’re reconciled, it will be a monumental achievement for humanity.
I believe the same reconciliation would be transformative if society connects science and Christianity. It would provide a more holistic view of the world, rather than keeping us split into rival factions.
And bringing this to something practical and personal.
I hope to build my repertoire of fun facts for my social circles. I currently live in the Bible Belt, and I want to better understand and empathize with those I meet. I’ve felt like an outsider to these groups because our belief systems are sometimes very far apart. Finding a way to reconcile these differences would be helpful.
And if religion is not your thing, my next book recommendation is probably back to something by Seth Godin or Brad Feld!