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This brings us to a second essential explain how they themselves have wrestled National Center for Science Education, v. 24,
element of a paradigm shift, one that rec- through the apparent conflicts. no. 5, p. 26–33, http://ncse.com/rncse/24/5/
ognizes the importance of trust when chal- creationists (last accessed 17 Oct. 2016).
lenging entrenched beliefs. According to a This in no way suggests that the scien- Funk, C., and Rainie, L., 2015, Public and scientists’
study by Kahan et al. (2011) on why “scien- tific community must affirm religious views on science and society: Pew Research
tific consensus” fails to persuade, the belief. The argument is more in keeping Center, 29 January 2015, http://www.pewinternet
degree to which “experts” are trusted with the successes achieved by scientists .org/2015/01/29/public-and-scientists-views-on-
depends on how well they align with the such as E.O. Wilson in finding ways to science-and-society (last accessed 17 Oct. 2016).
cultural values of the audience. Put bluntly, cooperate with those of differing belief Gallup, 2015, Evolution, Creationism, Intelligent
if the scientists arguing a case are avowed systems toward a common objective. For Design: Gallup, Inc., http://www.gallup.com/
atheists or promote views openly antago- Wilson, a self-professed secular-humanist, poll/21814/evolution-creationism-intelligent-
nistic to all forms of religious belief, the it has been finding common ground design.aspx (last accessed 17 Oct. 2016).
message is effectively dead on arrival. between religious and non-religious com- Haarsma, D.B., and Haarsma, L.D., 2011, Origins:
Ironically, books and speaking tours of munities to promote the care and steward- Christian Perspectives on Creation, Evolution,
touted atheists striving to advance science ship of nature (Wilson, 2006). and Intelligent Design, 2nd ed.: Grand Rapids,
education can actually make the situation Michigan, Faith Alive Christian Resources, 315 p.
worse. The science-against-religion mes- So what does this mean in terms of prac- Hill, C., Davidson, G., Ranney, W., and Helble, T.,
sage effectively vaccinates the science- tical science advocacy? This could be as eds., 2016, Grand Canyon, Monument to an
skeptical public against ever considering simple as keeping a short list of sources Ancient Earth: Grand Rapids, Michigan, Kregel
the evidence and deepens the divide. (websites, blogs, or books) that promote Publications, 240 p.
good science from a religious perspective Kahan, D.M., Jenkins-Smith, H., and Braman, D.,
If we are serious about science advocacy, that can be recommended to someone 2011, Cultural cognition of scientific consensus:
it is time to recognize the important role struggling between faith and science. For Journal of Risk Research, v. 14, no. 2, p. 147–174,
that scientists of faith can play as liaisons our part, we are excited about the recent doi: 10.1080/13669877.2010.511246 (see also
and resources for outreach. A scientist who release of a multi-author project aimed the summary article: “Why ‘scientific consensus’
affirms the basic religious views of an principally at the educated, religious pub- fails to persuade”: National Science Foundation
audience is much more likely to be listened lic—The Grand Canyon, Monument to an Press Release 10-166, 13 September 2010,
to when arguing for the legitimacy of mod- Ancient Earth—an irenic, full-color book, http://nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_
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BioLogos, the American Scientific or the Earth’s fossil-bearing layers (Hill et Kaya, V., 2012, Can the Quran support Darwin?
Affiliation, and AAAS’s Dialogue on al., 2016). Eight of the authors are An evolutionist approach by two Turkish scholars
Science, Ethics, and Religion program, to Christians; three are not. All are commit- after the foundation of the Turkish Republic:
see that there are many religious scientists ted to the advancement of good science. The Muslim World, v. 102, no. 2, p. 357–370,
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