This site is dedicated to introducing our book, Settled Science, to those seeking a better understanding of how the natural and supernatural worlds came to be, and humanity’s extraordinary adaptation to both.

Whether we want to admit or not, I believe most people know that global warming is real and accelerating due mainly to our activities. The questions our generation has to answer are: will we face up to it and at least try to reverse it? Because dealing with it will be very expensive and unpleasant, many choose to deny it exists at all and others suggest waiting for the evidence to become clearer. Who benefits by waiting? We do. Who is put at risk by waiting? Our children and grandchildren.

Webster’s definition of the verb “to know” is “to be sure of” or “have true information about.” To know something, we must be aware of it and believe it to be true. We often say we know something when what we really mean is that we are aware of it. Whether we believe it or not depends on how well we understand it and the intensity of our desire to believe it. No matter how irrational or evil something might seem to others, if your desire to believe is strong enough, you will. (See “Slippery Slope of Irrational Hope .”)

Recently I accidentally stumbled onto a cable TV talk show and heard an ex-preacher/politician, now temporarily working as the show’s host, discussing with guests how important it is for all of us to respect the opinions of others, especially those different from our own. So far so good. I thought he was being consistent because he was one of the presidential contenders in last year’s Presidential debates who said he didn’t believe in the theory of evolution but thought it should be offered in public schools for students’ consideration alongside theories of Intelligent Design. He suggested all political and religious views not only should be allowed but welcomed because they enrich the whole society. Great, my sentiments exactly! He suggested that all religions (including Zoroastrianism, I suppose) be celebrated with a national holiday. This was stretching it a bit, but okay with me. Then the kicker: he recommended that April 1^st be designated as the holiday for those who do not believe in God.

Scientists tell us it is almost a certainty that life forms elsewhere in the universe have evolved in the same way as those on Earth. However, it is also almost certain that none of those other life forms look like us, for instance. Why not?

It’s my guess you would not play poker without looking at your cards, so why blindly gamble with the future of your soul? As far as I know, all religions require their practitioners to strongly believe its particular way of getting their souls into Heaven is the only true one and all other paths are either blind alleys or pathways to Hell. Religious believers often make the argument to atheists and agnostics: “…suppose you are wrong and find out after you die there really is a reckoning!”

All around the world change is in the air. The hue and cry for changing our political leaders and old arrangements between nations is raging. What about changing some of our old religious beliefs to ones that allow for the possibility that ours might not be the only correct ones. This one change would allow for the unfreezing of minds and softening hearts. Impossible you say? Our ancestors did it, why can’t we?