Last fall, Pastor Will Rose and I recorded our soon-to-be released podcast, Your Matter Matters. From the outset of our conversation, we knew that we could not answer every question. As we talked more with our guests, we realized that we started having more questions and fewer answers. Will and I are geeks, nerds, and even curious adventurers. Both of us serve in parish contexts that are different from one another. Will serves in a university setting, while I serve in a small/rural town. Will in an urban setting does not see that many stars. I see plenty of stars. What we share though are contexts that are thirsty for knowledge and filled with questions.
When we started this podcast, we knew we wanted to model conversation, healthy and civil, on faith and science. However, dialogue not only happens with faith and science. It also happens with faith and politics, faith and policy, faith and history. This list goes on forever. Yet, in our current climate, dialogue, even curiosity, is a rare commodity. Not as hot as gold, silver, or copper, but still a hot commodity.
One of the things you learn as a young pastor is that sometimes you might be wrong. That opens one up to asking questions, and even, simply listening. So little of our modern society has time to sit and listen because we are usually listening to respond.
Saint Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church, practiced the art of the apologetic by investigating his opponent’s argument at length until he got to know their arguments on their own ground. In our modern culture, echo chambers abound, which in the end, doesn’t push us towards one another; instead, we are drawn away from one another. We are drawn into our own positions, with our own facts, and with our own people.
During the podcast, we discussed why is there no conversation about scientists of faith becoming more outspoken. That small remnant exists, yet that’s not what the masses would like to see. They would rather see the scientist and Christian attack one another (e.g. Bill Nye vs. Ken Ham Creation vs Evolution Debate, 2014). Conflict is sexy, yet that does nothing to alleviate the perception that science is at war with faith.
One of the ways that narrative changes is through conversation. The Bible is filled with rich images of creation, humanity examining the stars, the wise men from the East who left to find Jesus. The conversation begins by expressing curiosity for different positions. At times, we feel like we want to trap the person with a gotcha question. Which, following the example of Jesus, we ask another question in response.
Once a question is asked, then the ball continues to roll. These questions may never end with a definitive and final answer. More questions will arise. The most important thing, though, is the value of relationship. How much are you willing to invest in the conversation? For me, that depends on the topic and person; however, give as much time as you are able.
As this article concludes, I would like to offer three insights from doing the podcast. First, what Will and I modeled on the podcast is that the questions never end. The questions are perennial. Second, the conversation between science and faith does not have to end in conflict; it should begin and end with awe and wonder. In this sense science and faith have a shared impetus and can complement one another. As Saint John Paul II said, “Faith and Reason are two wings of the same bird.” And lastly: remember, your matter matters. And if you doubt it—walk outside and look to the heavens.;