Lest you despair, every single serious Christian I know (including some pretty conservative scientists) thinks that the whole evolution/creation dichotomy is a stupid waste of time, especially insofar as it exists mostly as a completely unsophisticated public– I was going to say “debate,” but it’s really more like a spectacle. Frankly, at risk of veering toward irrelevance, I think ANYTHING that directs so much effort toward the public school curriculum is stupid and a waste of time. Since when did any of us get a decent education in the public school system anyway? I don’t think I’ve been held back much by what I did or didn’t learn in my own podunk town of origin. I certainly didn’t go to school expecting to be inculcated with any hallowed truths. School was about survival; education was for free time. Until we can address that dynamic, I don’t think it matters what the curriculum looks like (although I do think it shameful that the girl who was pulled out of sex ed. for “religious reasons” was pregnant by junior year).

For the record, we didn’t have any billboards there, but on my way home from school every day I did pass a giant cross, fully as tall as the house to which it was affixed, inscribed with “Jesus Loves You.” I can’t say that that had any effect on the formation of my faith.

I agree that it’s really unfortunate when Pelosi lends herself to Michael Moore-ish caricature - I hate it when the messenger undermines the message. I also hate it when the media/blogosphere make unwarranted and inaccurate generalizations about “Red America”; you’ll find me ranting about that in various comment threads. . .seems like when I’m in the city, I’m always defending my hometown, and when I’m back here, I can’t wait to get away. It’s just not a simple relationship, is it?

Firstly, although I found the Pelosi snippet here interesting, I’ve been very disappointed in her. I read and listened to two interviews with Ms. Pelosi and was irked by her snarky attitude about “the other” America. She fell into the media trap of believing there is a red/blue, divided America rather than understanding it to be purple, that the “red” attitudes are as prevalent in NY State as they are Kansas. As a rural boy by upbringing, her posturing pisses me off, especially when it’s compounded by relative ignorance. Her education aside, if I hadn’t known who I was listening to or reading, I could have mistaken Pelosi for Nicole Richie. I’m kidding, of course, but her insights were as “by the book,” as wretchedly simplified, as those we hear from celebrities on the late night shows and when asked complex questions, she laughed them off and resorted to some knee-jerk liberal mantras. I’m far left of center myself, but her agenda touting and inability to think on her feet annoyed me no end.

Secondly, I think the two of you are on the right track. I don’t know that the Bible should be required reading for those in the Sciences, but certainly religious studies, more generally, should be part of the curriculum when pursuing an advanced degree. It need not be couched in such a way that scientists are being taught religious texts so that they are better prepared to defend their own work from fundamentalists. Indeed, I often wonder how blind the specialists are to other realms. The more papers published in PNAS….the more at sea those first authors might be in any other realm, even another research field. It’s the ol’ fox or hedgehog question again, and I’ll always pick a fox.