14 DAY TRIAL // The Evolution Weekend is an activity organized and conducted by the Clergy Letter Project organization, which is dedicated to rejecting creationism as the source of everything. Rather, the group is collecting signatures from US clergy of various denominations to support some views that were set forth by intelligent design (ID) proponents. Between February 12 -14, scientists and clergymen will join each other in discussing how to bring science and religion on the same stand, rather than have them fighting each other all the time. Planned activities include sermons, lectures, discussions and classes.
50 American states, and 12 countries across five continents will be represented at the meeting, which will feature leaders of churches, temples and mosques alongside scientists. The Clergy Letter Project, which has already collected more than 12,000 signatures, was organized as a continuous effort by biologist Michael Zimmerman, back in 2004. He is now the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, at the Butler University, in Indianapolis, Indiana. The expert believes that religion and science are complementary, and not confrontational, as many propose today.
The focus of the meeting will be placed on celebrating entering the third century since Charles Darwin was born, and also on the 151st anniversary of the publication of the world-famous book “On the Origin of Species.” About 870 scientists, from 29 countries on six continents, have signed on as consultants. All clergymen that signed the documents of the CLP agree that, “Religious truth is of a different order from scientific truth. Its purpose is not to convey scientific information, but to transform hearts.”
“Religious leaders around the world are coming together to elevate the quality of the discussion about this important topic. They are demonstrating to their congregations that people can accept all that modern science has learned while retaining their faith. They are also demonstrating that those who are promoting their narrow religious views as the norm, are not speaking for most of the world’s religious community,” Zimmerman says.
“Evolution Weekend shows that the disagreement is actually not between religious leaders and scientists, but rather between those who believe that their particular religious views should be incorporated into the science curriculum and clergy who recognize and respect the diversity of different faith traditions,” he adds. “With clergy members and scientists banding together to proclaim that their two fields have much to teach us about the world and the people in it, with the two groups demonstrating that they can work collaboratively, there is now hope that we can put the divisiveness that has been the hallmark of this struggle behind us,” Zimmerman says.
“We can look to a future in which it is no longer controversial to teach our children the best science has to offer. We can create a future in which experts in different fields respect one another and the ideas each has to offer,” he concludes.