The Year of Science

We've got some amazing anniversaries this year -- the 400-year anniversary of Galileo, and the 200-year anniversary of Charles Darwin. This has caused the International Astronomy Union to declare 2009 the Year of Astronomy, and the Coalition on Public Understanding of Science to declare 2009 the Year of Science.

I think that's a wonderful theme to carry through the year.

Religion and evolution: co-dependent?

Two news stories by two different groups have come out that are surprisingly amusing in their synergy.

First, we have news that religion evolved:

Self-control is critical for success in life, and a new study by University of Miami professor of Psychology Michael McCullough finds that religious people have more self-control than do their less religious counterparts. These findings imply that religious people may be better at pursuing and achieving long-term goals that are important to them and their religious groups.

And to go with it, we have this opinion piece that an understanding of evolution strengthens faith:

In my opinion the Darwinian worldview is not just compatible with religious faith but deepens it and makes aspects of it more intelligible.

Religion and evolution: Two great tastes that, apparently, taste great together.