There are (at least) two things that are commonly "known" about religion. First, adherents of very different religions can't get along. Second, there is an ancient struggle between religion and science. As with much common lore, however, these two points are not necessarily true.

In fact, The Clergy...

Michele Bachmann, as virtually everyone knows, is currently deciding whether she's going to make a run for the Tea Party, oops, I meant to say, Republican, nomination for president. What most don't know, though, is that her educational policies are being challenged by an amazing high school student from Baton...

Bill Watts, associate professor of English at Butler University, has just published a compelling and cautionary account of what can happen when university administrators lose their moral compass. In his thoughtful and comprehensive essay in the Journal of Academic Freedom, published by the American Association of University Professors...

What's the best strategy for dealing with a Christian extremist who spews hatred that could only be classified as being Islamophobic at every turn? Some, including a number of my students, have counseled that ignoring the perpetrator is the most effective way of countering his vile opinions.

At some level,...

I'm an unabashed fan of the Texas Freedom Network. Their concise mission statement clearly explains what they're all about: "The Texas Freedom Network advances a mainstream agenda of religious freedom and individual liberties to counter the religious right."

And the first paragraph of their extended mission statement pleases...

At least as far back as the publication in 1967 of the seminal but highly controversial essay, "The Historic Roots of Our Environmental Crisis," by historian Lynn White, Jr., the relationship between religion and environmentalism has been a complicated issue. White argued that Christianity "not only established a dualism of...

Zack Kopplin is one of those all-too-rare individuals who is willing to spend time and energy to make a difference. As a Baton Rouge high school student, he recognized that the recently passed Louisiana Science Education Act constituted terrible educational policy. His conclusion was certainly not unique in that a...

Recently, I related the story of how William Dembski, one of the stars in the creationist's firmament, was made to recant his views on the ages of the Earth and the universe. He had the temerity to state that our planet might not actually be 6,000 years old,...

I have no doubt that what I write here will be misinterpreted. For that reason, I want to forego literary style and be absolutely blunt. I am not writing a column about abortion, either pro or con.

Yes, I have very strong personal opinions about the issue,...

At the Democratic National Convention in August, 1996 Christopher Reeve said "So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable."

Today his words could refer to the efforts of Zack Kopplin, a high school senior...

It's a virtual certainty that anything associated with the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) is bound to be interesting. Just in case you've been completely out of touch for an extended period of time, let me remind you that the SBOE is the group that in 2009 rewrote the...

For the sixth time, hundreds of religious congregations on six continents will participate in an event designed to demonstrate that the most exciting scientific findings pose no threat to deeply held religious belief. Indeed, the leaders and members of these congregations recognize that as science teaches us more about how...

It's almost axiomatic that the media focus on bad news and conflict rather than on more uplifting stories. "War Breaks Out" or "Fear of War At All Time High" are headlines that invariably capture attention. Rarely do we encounter a headline like "Peace Breaks Out!"

The same is true for...

The circus is coming back to town! I hope everyone is ready for the spectacle that is certain to ensue. And I hope everyone is ready for the expenses that this particular circus is guaranteed to incur.

The host will (again) be the Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) as...

It can no longer be a surprise to anyone that a very vocal and well-funded minority of Christian extremists continue to attack evolutionary theory in the name of their narrow brand of religion. In addition to their attempt to distort the scientific record, these people work hard to fool the...

While the results of the midterm elections provided some evidence on the state of the economy, there's a far clearer indicator of just how bad things are. William Dembski, one of the main proponents of intelligent design, has recanted his scientific views in an attempt to keep his job. As...

Jerry Coyne, a world-class scientist and a fabulous writer, recently published a long opinion piece in USA Today entitled "Science and religion aren't friends." While he and others have made similar points previously, Coyne made them now with the rhetorical flourishes that make his work so provocative and...

During last night's Delaware senatorial debate, Christine O'Donnell was asked a perfectly straight-forward question: Do you believe that evolution is a myth? The question was asked because she had previously stated exactly that.

Rather than simply answering the question, O'Donnell opted to demonstrate that she is every bit...

Rather than merely being amused by Christine O'Donnell's astounding scientific ignorance, we need to recognize the consequences such ignorance has for society.

First, the context. O'Donnell has made the claim that evolution is a myth and backed up her contention with the question, "Why aren't monkeys still...

It's certainly not news that absolutely crazy things are regularly uttered in defense of creationism. For example, Christine O'Donnell's claim that evolution is a myth, with her supposed evidence being her question, "Why aren't monkeys still evolving into humans?" has, thanks to Bill Maher, received widespread attention.

The...