The Metropolitan Opera has reportedly commissioned a new opera from Osvaldo Golijov, a composer whose work I usually like. Apparently it’s going to be about the “relationship between science and religion.” That could be interesting. On the other hand, I suspect it’s most likely to to resolve into some pap about ultimate harmony. It won’t … Opera on science and religion

I was looking over reports of a “Quran and Scientific Truths” conference held in Istanbul, Turkey. (I can find only this in English; there’s a lot more in Turkish.) There’s nothing all that new in it—mostly the usual science-in-the-Quran nonsense. But, as always, the conference included a host of Turkish academics in engineering and science … What are they thinking?

The political versions of religious nonbelief usually include affirmations of rationality in public policy. The recent Copenhagen Declaration on Religion in Public Life has “We submit that public policy should be informed by evidence and reason, not by dogma.” All this assumes that there is a single agreed upon form of rationality. Maybe it also … Rational policy?

I’ve just finished a collection of John Gray’s essays, Gray’s Anatomy. Gray is perhaps my favorite conservative thinker—conservative in the European tradition, which has some intellectual depth, rather than the mindless combination of Jesus and market-worship that is American movement conservatism. I’m not conservative myself, since my temperament inclines me not toward “if it’s not … Gray’s Anatomy

Let me put in a plug for Maarten Boudry, Stefaan Blancke, and Johan Braeckman’s paper in Foundations of Science, “How not to attack Intelligent Design Creationism: Philosophical misconceptions about Methodological Naturalism.” Here’s the abstract: In recent controversies about Intelligent Design Creationism (IDC), the principle of methodological naturalism (MN) has played an important role. In this … Methodological naturalism

I’ve been in Ireland a week now. Interesting. The only person walking up to me to say “Jesus loves you” was an immigrant from Africa. We had a tour guide in a ruined abbey who had a great sense of humor about Catholicism. And most of the big impressive historical churches in the country belong … Ireland

I’m off to a conference in Ireland, and I’ll be doing some touristing around while I have the chance. And when I get back, I take off again, now to California, in a few days. We’ll see if anyone else picks up the slack, or if this will be a quiet June on this blog. … Away in June

Time, once again, to advertise the “Jesus and Mo” online cartoons. Your name Your email Subject Your message (optional)

It’s easy to get pissed off at religion, particularly the conservative monotheistic variety. Think of the Catholic hierarchy, or your favorite set of mullahs. Get your blood boiling over the misogyny, the homophobia, and the general attitude toward sexuality that is always stuck in ancient agrarian social realities. Roll your eyes at the boneheadedness regarding … What’s wrong with faith per se?

Some Muslim stereotyping: And a generic salvation story. Africans play the lead roles, but there’s nothing specially African about it. Your name Your email Subject Your message (optional)