Sulayman Nyang: OnFaith on washingtonpost.com

I think bio-sociologist E.O. Wilson was correct and cautious in his assertion that: “An alliance between science and religion, forged in an atmosphere of mutual respect, may be the only way to protect life on earth.” There are several reasons for supporting this statement.

The first and more powerful argument is that science and religion have singular and collective interest in their definitions and understandings of the world we live in. Science cares about the nature of the world and its activities have enabled us to understand and appreciate much of life and death on this planet. With science the human being has made tremendous progress in the long and endless journey to the deciphering of the physical, chemical and biological realities of our material universe. Men and women of our age have come to understand and appreciate the animal world and the linkages and subtle distinctions between Man and the rest of the animal world.

Even though science now tells us that the chimpanzee matches 97% of our DNA, this new revelation has affirmatively underscored what we have learned many Millenia ago about human origins. This convergence between science and religion with respect to the common origins of human beings on this planet deserves some careful consideration.Monogenesis is the mantra of Creation and both science and religion dance to it.

I expect some dialogue between theologians and priests who are interested in the world of science without developing any nasty and prejudiced antagonism against advocates of the two groups. [More….]