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Science and Religion: Confrontation Or Accommodation? a PANEL DISCUSSION

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Science and Religion: Confrontation Or Accommodation? a PANEL DISCUSSION June July 2011 V1_Layout 1 4/22/11 9:44 AM Page 1 RYAN CRAGUN and BARRY KOSMIN: The Spirituality Swindle CELEBRATING REASON AND HUMANITY June / July 2011 Vol. 31 No.4 Science and Religion: Confrontation or Accommodation? A PANEL DISCUSSION CHRIS MOONEY | P Z MYERS | EUGENIE C. SCOTT | VICTOR J. STENGER JENNIFER MICHAEL HECHT BARRY KOSMIN ARTHUR CAPLAN SHADIA DRURY Introductory Price $4.95 U.S. / $4.95 Can. 07 EDMUND COHEN Published by the Council 7725274 74957 for Secular Humanism FI June July 11_Layout 1 4/22/11 9:11 AM Page 2 For many, mere atheism (the absence of belief in gods and the supernatural) or agnosticism (the view that such questions cannot be answered) aren’t enough. It’s liberating to recognize that supernatural beings are human creations … that there’s no such thing as “spirit” … that people are undesigned, unintended, and responsible for themselves. But what’s next? Atheism and agnosticism are silent on larger questions of values and meaning. If Meaning in life is not ordained from on high, what small-m meanings can we work out among ourselves? If eternal life is an illusion, how can we make the most of our only lives? As social beings sharing a godless world, how should we coexist? For the questions that remain unanswered after we’ve cleared our minds of gods and souls and spirits, many atheists, agnostics, skeptics, and freethinkers turn to secular humanism. Secular. “Pertaining to the world or things not spiritual or sacred.” Humanism. “Any system of thought or action concerned with the interests or ideals of people … the intellectual and cultural movement … characterized by an emphasis on human interests rather than … religion.” — Webster’s Dictionary Secular humanism is a comprehensive, nonreligious life stance incorporating: A naturalistic philosophy A cosmic outlook rooted in science, and A consequentialist ethical system in which acts are judged not by their conformance to preselected norms but by their consequences for men and women in the world. The Council for Secular Humanism is North America’s leading organization for nonreligious people who seek to live value-rich lives. FREE INQUIRY is its magazine. Welcome! To learn more, visit http://www.secularhumanism.org FI June July 11_Layout 1 4/27/11 9:38 AM Page 3 June/July 2011 Vol. 31 No. 4 15 Science and Religion: Confrontation or Accommodation? Introduction Tom Flynn 16 The Need for Accommodation Eugenie C. Scott 20 The Need for Confrontation P Z Myers 23 Why Religion Must Be Confronted CELEBRATING REASON AND HUMANITY Victor J. Stenger 26 Toward Common Cause Chris Mooney 30 Repackaging Humanism as ‘Spirituality’ Religion’s New Wedge Strategy for Higher Education Ryan Cragun and Barry Kosmin 34 Human Rights in China and Japan: The Pot Calling the Kettle Black Irving Louis Horowitz 37 Speaking Truth to Dr. Pangloss Alexander Saxton 41 Plato’s Ancient Error Leads to Modern Tragedy Stephen J. Gallagher EDITORIAL DEPARTMENTS REVIEWS 4 The Secular Blues 48 Church-State Update 59 The Moral Landscape: How Science Tom Flynn April Fools’ Day 2011 Can Determine Human Values Edd Doerr by Sam Harris LEADING QUESTIONS Reviewed by Wayne Alt 8 The Future of Irreligion, Part 2 49 Great Minds A Conversation with Barry A. Kosmin Ashley Montagu 62 The Unbelievers: The Evolution A Commentator on Nearly of Modern Atheism Everything Human by S.T. Joshi LETTERS Jeannette Lowen Reviewed by Tom Flynn 11 54 God On Trial POEM OP-EDS Honor Among Mormons Brooke Horvath 9 Too Much Speech Is Sufficient Keith Taylor 58 The Three Great Ideas of Wendy Kaminer 55 Politically Speaking Yacouba Sawadogo 12 Values in America The Case for Progressive Taxation Tibor Machan Philip Howard 13 Have the Arab Revolutions Defeated 57 Humanism at Large the Orientalist Discourse? ‘Humanism? What’s That?’ Shadia B. Drury Lawrence Rifkin 14 Bowling Together Tom Rees FI June July 11_Layout 1 4/21/11 3:49 PM Page 4 Editorial Staff Tom Flynn Editorial Editor Thomas W. Flynn Associate Editors John R. Shook, Lauren Becker Managing Editor Andrea Szalanski Columnists Arthur Caplan, Richard Dawkins, Edd Doerr, Shadia B. Drury, Nat Hentoff, Christopher Hitchens, Wendy Kaminer, Tibor R. Machan, Tom Rees, Katrina Voss Senior Editors Bill Cooke, Richard Dawkins, The Secular Blues Edd Doerr, James A. Haught, Jim Herrick, Gerald A. Larue, Ronald A. Lindsay, Taslima Nasrin Contributing Editors Roy P. Fairfield, Charles Faulkner, Levi Fragell, Adolf Grünbaum, Marvin Kohl, Thelma Lavine, Lee Nisbet, J.J.C. Smart, hat’s better than stirring up a bit- lentlessly inclusive toward the nonreligious. Thomas Szasz ter controversy with one of these At first glance, this may seem hugely posi- Ethics Editor Elliot D. Cohen Weditorials? Stirring up two bitter con- tive: the Obama administration is delivering Literary Editor David Park Musella troversies, of course. on its promise of fairness toward Americans Assistant Editors Julia Lavarnway of all faiths and none. On that basis, some Julia Burke White House Errs with of my religious humanist friends are (par- Permissions Editor Julia Lavarnway ‘Interfaith Service Challenge’ don the ex pression) rapturous about this Art Director Christopher S. Fix Production Paul E. Loynes Sr. In March, the White House Office of Faith- project. “Nonreligious Must Embrace White based and Neighborhood Partner ships House’s Interfaith Service Challenge,” runs Council for Secular Humanism announced the President’s Inter faith and the headline of Harvard University human- Community Service Campus Challenge. This ist chaplain Greg Epstein’s March 18 blog Chair Richard K. Schroeder initiative encourages colleges and universi- post at washingtonpost.com. Board of Directors Kendrick Frazier Dan Kelleher ties to design one-year service projects on I won’t be joining in the cheering for Angie McAllister which students and student groups of every this initiative. I think secular people and Richard K. Schroeder faith perspective—and none—can collabo- organizations ought to steer clear of the Edward Tabash Jonathan Tobert rate. The White House announcement Interfaith and Community Service Campus Leonard Tramiel notes that “since his inauguration, President Challenge and be unyielding in their criti- Chief Executive Officer Ronald A. Lindsay Obama has em phasized interfaith coopera- cism of it. Why? Executive Director Thomas W. Flynn tion and community service,” then blends First, it comes from the White House Director, Campus and Community Programs (CFI) Lauren Becker the two into something called “interfaith Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Director, Secular Organizations service.” Partnerships, the current iteration of for Sobriety Jim Christopher That’s one bold stroke of hybridization. George W. Bush’s “Faith-Based Initiative,” Director, African Americans for Humanism Debbie Goddard As The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart likes which longtime readers will recall as a full- Vice President of Planning to observe, when you bring two things to - frontal assault on the separation of church and Development (CFI) Sherry Rook gether, sometimes you get peanut butter and state. In the view of most expert secu- Director of Libraries (CFI) Timothy Binga Communications Director Michelle Blackley and jelly, and sometimes you get Bacon - larists, the very existence of this office is Database Manager (CFI) Jacalyn Mohr naise. The White House announcement probably unconstitutional—though in the Staff Pat Beauchamp, Ed Beck, veered far into Baconnaise territory when present climate, it’s unlikely that any court Melissa Braun, Shirley it declared: “Interfaith service involves will declare it so. If you’re a strict separa- Brown, Cheryl Catania, Eric Chinchón, Matt people from different religious and non- tionist, the Office of Faith-based and Cravatta, Roe Giambrone, religious backgrounds tackling community Neighborhood Partnerships is one of those Leah Gordon, Jason Gross, challenges together—for example, Prot- quarters from which, presumptively, no Adam Isaak, Lisa Nolan, Paul Paulin, Anthony estants and Catholics, Hindus and Jews, good can come. Santa Lucia, John Sullivan, and Muslims and non-believers—building I’ll grant that as objections go, that Christopher Szczygiel, a Habitat for Humanity house together.” one is rather presumptive, perhaps even Vance Vigrass That shout-out to nonbelievers is no presumptuous. So let’s leave aside, for Executive Director Emerita Jean Millholland fluke—Campus Challenge materials are re - now, the question of whether the Faith- 4 FREE INQUIRY JUNE/JULY 2011 secularhumanism.org FI June July 11_Layout 1 4/27/11 9:41 AM Page 5 based office should exist. Are there other But nonreligious people who’ve outgrown reasons to oppose the Campus Challenge faith, yet allow themselves to take part in program? Yes. an “interfaith” initiative as though their life My second objection is that the stance were just another faith, are being FREE INQUIRY (ISSN 0272-0701) is published bimonthly by Campus Challenge abuses language, in co-opted.* Worst of all, whether acciden- the Council for Secular Humanism, a nonprofit educational the process reinforcing—perhaps inadver- tally or not, such an effort to drag the faith- corporation, P.O. Box 664, Amherst, NY 14226-0664. Phone (716) 636-7571. Fax (716) 636-1733. Copyright ©2011 by tently—long-standing prejudices against less under the interfaith umbrella reinforces the Council for Secular Humanism. All rights reserved. No the nonreligious. Let’s look again at its age-old stereotypes that truly moral action part of this periodical may be reproduced without permission of the publisher. Periodicals postage paid at Buffalo, N.Y., and inaugural announcement, this time with is accessible only to people imbued with at additional mailing offices. National distribution by Disticor. added emphasis: “Interfaith service in - some religious or spiritual commitment. FREE INQUIRY is indexed in Philosophers’ Index. Printed in the United States. Postmaster: Send address changes to FREE volves people from different religious and Allow me to cast this point into even INQUIRY, P.O.
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