io9 has posted a brief interview with Neal Stephenson, who has finally returned to proper SF with his latest novel, Anathem. The book takes place on a world divided between the Avout, who are sort of science-monks, and the religious Deolators. This could, of course, fall into some oversimplification traps involving a perceived science/religion conflict, but based on his responses it seems Stephenson knows things are more complex than that. When asked about the (in)compatibility of science and religion, Stephenson replies:
There are many, many examples of legitimate scientists who espouse some form of religious faith, so I don't see any essential hostility. I grew up in a community of church-going scientists and engineers. The recent science/religion fireworks are driven by a theological movement that is as controversial within Christianity as it is in secular culture.
Thank you, Neal, for realizing that not all Christians are creationists!
I hope to be reading Anathem soon, so expect more on Stephenson in the relatively-near-future.
Read the full interview here.
Science and religion – Friends or Foes?
There may be a way to build a bridge between them.
Many religions have something in common: They see nothing between god and the human species. Some people tried to fill this gap and told us about Cherubims and Seraphims.
Could human thinking be used to fill that gap?
This is what I started: http://www.BetterThanThinking.com
I welcome any comment.
Posted by: Sixela | September 15, 2008 at 05:46 PM