Description

The authors of Making Sense of Science and Religion believe that addressing interactions between science and religion is part of all science educators’ collective job—and that this is the book that will help you facilitate discussion when the topic of religion comes up.

Designed for teachers at all grade levels, the book will help you anticipate and respond to students’ questions—and help students reconcile their religious beliefs even as you delve into topics such as evolution, geochronology, genetics, the origin of the universe, and climate change.

The book is divided into three parts:
1. Historical and cultural context, plus a framework for addressing science-religion issues in a legal, constitutional manner.
2. Guidance on teaching specific scientific concepts at every grade level: elementary, middle, and high school science, as well as college and informal science settings.
3. Advice for engaging families, administrators, school boards, legislators and policy makers, and faith communities.

The book’s authors are all personally and professionally invested in the subject. They are a mix of K–12 teachers, college professors, and experts from organizations such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. They know that teaching about the interaction between science and religion is not easy.

But they also know that educators have an ethical obligation to minimize the perceived conflict between science and religion. As the authors write, “When students hear a consistent message during science instruction—that they can learn science while maintaining their religious beliefs—they are much more willing to learn regardless of messages to the contrary that they might hear outside of your classroom.”

*********ENDORSEMENTS*********

“I have been hoping for a volume like this for a long time. Making Sense of Science and Religion marshals the best scholarship on science and religion toward the deeply practical aim of helping science teachers understand what is at stake for both religion and science in the science classroom. This volume should be read by anyone who cares about making science more accessible."
—Elaine Howard Ecklund, author of Secularity and Science: What Scientists Around the World Really Think About Religion

“A thoughtful and thorough guide to navigating the interface between science and faith, Making Sense of Science and Religion combines the elements of a legal handbook and a how-to manual to create a common-sense guidebook for holding respectful conversations on this controversial topic. It’s a must read for scholars, educators, and anyone interested in the impact of science on religious thought.”
—Dr. Kenneth Miller, Professor of Biology, Brown University

“This book is at once thoughtful and practical. The authors make a compelling, well-researched case that respecting students’ religious beliefs and addressing their faith-motivated questions not only is ethical and legal, but actually leads to better learning outcomes in the public school science classroom. Their gentler, humbler approach will be useful for teachers of any belief who want to reach all students in their science classrooms.”
—Deborah Haarsma, astronomer and president of BioLogos

Table of Contents

Table of Contents Preface About the Authors and Contributors Part I: Broadening Perspectives on Science-Religion Interactions 1 Science and Religion as Part of Our Professional Responsibilities Joseph Shane, Lee Meadows, Ronald Hermann, and Ian Binns 2 The Need for History and Evolution as a Science-Religion Case Study Joseph Shane 3 The Arc of History Bends Toward Teaching Evolution Barbara Forrest 4 Can You Teach That in a Science Class? The Legality of Addressing Religious Beliefs During Science Instruction in Public Schools Ronald Hermann 5 What the Public Thinks: Understanding the Current Context for Teaching Scientific Topics With Religious Implications Kathleen (Casey) Oberlin Part II: Practical Suggestions for All Teachers of Science 6 Addressing Science-Religion Interactions by Teaching About Science in the Elementary Grades Ian Binns and Mark Bloom 7 Science and Religion in Middle School and High School Classrooms Lee Meadows, Lindsey Porter, Nathan Einsig, and Josh Hubbard 8 Science and Religion in Higher Education Lisa Borgerding 9 Lessons About Science and Religion From Informal Science Educators Briana Pobiner, Trish Mace, and Jennifer Collins Part III: Beyond the Classroom 10 Talking About Science and Religion Beyond the Classroom Joseph Shane 11 Promoting Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion Through the American Association for the Advancement of Science Robert O’Malley, Curtis Baxter, Christine DiPasquale, Se Kim, and Jennifer Wiseman 12 The Future of Science and Religion in American Schools David Long Index