Papers on Religion, Secularism, and Science

These papers are from my Scientific Literacy and Cultural Studies Project. I have grouped them here because of their related content and to make them easier for interested readers to find.

The first paper, a pre-print of the published version, provides a provocative look at how at least some segments of the scientific establishment actually exacerbate conflicts with traditionally religions people.

Cobern, W. W. (2007). ID Hysteria says more about some people’s freudian “ID” than about science. Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education, 7(2/3), 257-262.

The second paper is a personal statement of Christian faith vis-à-vis an understanding of evolution. The paper is motivated by Saint Augustine’s dictum, “faith seeking understanding” and is primarily intended for my students. This paper in particular is a work-in-progress and all good-faith comments or criticisms are welcome as I intend to revise this paper from time to time.

Cobern, W. W. (2007). One Christian’s Perspective on Creation and Evolution, SLCSP Working Paper #176. Kalamazoo, MI: Western Michigan University.

The last paper was solicited by the Institute for the Study of Secularism in Society and Culture, which of course is interested in promoting what are called secular values, or what I think of as common sense democratic values. The paper presents a case for methodological secularism, as opposed to philosophical secularism, as the rules of play for school science policy.

Cobern, W. W. (2007). The Competing Influence of Secularism and Religion on Science Education in a Secular Society. Paper presented at a workshop on Science Education and Secular Values Trinity College, Hartford, CT: Institute for the Study of Secularism in Society and Culture.