As regular readers well know, for the better part of the past week I attended the American Ornithologists’ Unions’ 2008 Annual Meeting where I was surrounded by some of the finest ornithological minds in North America, perhaps in some cases even in the world. The casual conversations I overheard during the breaks between presentations and sessions put to shame most of the lectures of my own formal university studies. The actual presentations themselves? Well, let’s just say that during the few I was able to attend, I couldn’t write fast enough to jot down sufficient notes to record all the new and enlightening information I was hearing. My greatest regret of the entire experience was that I was unable to attend the plenary session entitled “Why Species Multiply” that was presented by the eminent Dr. Rosemary Grant; however, odd as it may seem, I was energized simply by knowing that I was in the same building in which Dr. Grant’s presentation was being made.

Which is why upon my return to Scappoose after my final day at the meeting I was so mentally startled when I drove by this sign in the center of town.


What does it mean? Quite frankly, I’m not quite sure. Heeding the words of my beloved wife, who often reminds me not to be cynical, I tried to convince myself that the theme advertised was the result of a particularly learned Protestant cleric’s attempt to keep his congregation within the bounds of reason by encouraging them to put aside the simplistic creationist arguments against evolutionary theory and stick to their religious studies as if the great debate didn’t even exist. Needless to say, I failed in this attempt. The little manifestation of Diogenes who appears on my shoulder at such times kept telling me that it was to be another session of reason being tortured by the application of facile, tired misinterpretations of the Hebrew Bible to a scientific theory of which neither the presenter nor the audience are likely to have more than a superficial understanding.

For those who may, due to the title Born Again Bird Watcher, have interpreted my sympathies on this topic to lay with the proponents of creationism, I must say that nothing could be further from the truth. The title is partly reflective of a change in the course of my life, partly representative of the change in my own perception of myself as a bird watcher and a naturalist, and, as I understand myself to be metaphysically more of a Buddhist than any other major religion, partly ironic (“Reborn Bird Watcher” simply didn’t have as much poetry to it).

Not hostile to religion, and greatly admiring of those possessing deep and profound faith, I simply prefer to leave it as much alone as it leaves me. Unfortunately, there continue to be some who find that science presents a threat to their own personal beliefs (yet, except for Christian Scientists, are curiously perfectly willing to accept and even welcome most of the benefits of modern medicine). Clinging to an anti-intellectual literal interpretation of the Book of Genesis, they see the idea of evolution as a threat to the foundations of Christianity itself, neglecting of course that the man who they most vehemently condemn for bringing the theory into the popular imagination, Charles Darwin, was a devoutly religious man.

For myself, I prefer to think that science and religion can quietly coexist. Borrowing two simple explanations of the zeitgeist of both from the writings of the late Joseph Campbell, I interpret the dichotomy thus:

“Science gives us the ages of rocks while religion gives us the Rock of Ages.”

and

“Religion tells us how to go to Heaven while science tells us how the heavens go.”

My point of course being that it is only when the purpose of either is misinterpreted does a clash occur. Science says nothing of the mind or purpose of any higher, incorporeal power residing in the universe, nor does religion have anything to teach about the physical structure of the cosmos. It is the difference between the metaphysical and the physical, between that which is intangible by any means other than the act of personal faith and that which is tangible and capable of being observed or measured.

Heady stuff, to be sure; yet something that simply needed to be said. While I have no doubt offended some by what I have written here, my intention was not to do so. Should there be any who following their reading of this offer up a prayer for my soul, know that in all honesty I do truly appreciate it.

Peace and good bird watching.