June 20, 2008
P.Z. Myers PZ Myers is a biologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris and the author of Pharyngula, the most heavily-trafficked science blog online.
In this conversation with D.J. Grothe, P.Z. Myers explains the purpose and impact of his blog, and whether his priority is to advance science education or atheism. He talks about what he sees as his roles in the scientific community and the atheist movement, and how related these roles are. He explores the relationship between science and atheism, and argues that the more a public learns science, the likelier it is that they will become atheistic. And he talks about where a science educator's atheism fits in the classroom. He also addresses the position of leading scientific organizations such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Academies of Science regarding evolution being compatible with religious belief, and their use of religious scientists as spokespeople, and he assesses their motivations and strategies to advance science to a largely religious American public.
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I had the opportunity to meet PZ Myers on a couple of occasions during his recent trip to Seattle. I was just thinking that he would make a great guest for Point of Inquiry. I’m glad to hear him on the show.
I’m listening to this a second time; I’ll have more comments afterwards.
Great episode. I had a chance to meet PZ at the AA conference, when he got himself kicked out from the movie Expelled in MN.
I agree with him, atheism and science go hand in hand. Some people don’t like the word, and like Sam Harris, this it shouldn’t exist.
Well, I agree it shouldn’t exist in an intellectual community such as ours...but it does exist, and we have to embrace it. And maybe,
in the future it will fade away with religion.
v1ktor
PZ Myers is a biologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris and the author of Pharyngula, the most heavily-trafficked science blog online.
http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/
Nice interview. I recommend the blog.
D.J. notes that pharyngula is the one of the most cited blogs (or WWW sites) from richarddawkins.net.
They also noted that this is an incredibly successful blog with 1.0-1.5 MILLION independent hits each month. I saw the effect of this earlier this year at the time of the Expelled http://www.expelledexposed.com/ controversy—there was an online poll and PZ gave a link to it on his blog, and what started out as a vote dominated by fundamentalists rapidly turned into an I-do-not-believe-in-God vote. At the time I thought that someone was hacking the voting site, but now I’m not so sure. With a million visitors---
The interview also touched on the topic that the AAAS and National Academy of Science have issued statements on the teaching of evolution—statements which are notable for emphasizing that science and religion do not overlap (and that one can ‘believe’ in evolution and still be a Christian, etc.). PZ takes the position that these guys are just trying to position themselves politically to support evolution. DJ asks if this is dishonest, which I think is perhaps too extreme a word—I would have to pull up the statements but a careful wording might say “many scientists are able to reconcile evolution and their firm Christian belief” - which is true.
In addition to pharyngula, the scienceblogs.com site has many more, and one of the things this interview encouraged me to do was browse the full list.
As usual, I played this ep on my iPod while I did my Sunday chores around the house. Great guest, and I look forward to hearing the rest of the interview next weekend.
I love this guy’s flat-out, unapologetic agreement that yes, studying science does lead to atheism. To which I responded (inside my head of course): well ithen, hurrah for studying science! 
Great episode! I look forward to hearing the second installment next week.
I love this guy’s flat-out, unapologetic agreement that yes, studying science does lead to atheism.
I also agree with PZ that having Dawkins testify for evolution is not something to worry about.
I don’t know when the follow up to this will be recorded, but I’ve heard PZ mention that he occassionally stops people in Coffee Shops to discuss evolution; maybe it is because he lives in a religious area. It would be interesting to hear him ellaborate on his interactions with locals and experiences with teaching evolution in the classroom.
<sigh>
Touting science as a gateway drug to atheism is a fabulous idea. It’s not enough that we have to deal with neglect and disinterest in the sciences by the general population as it is, this way we can arrogantly provoke open war against it. Helpful too to antagonize or marginalize the scientists who themselves aren’t atheists. The world doesn’t have enough conflict over religion.........so it would be a great idea to add science to the list of ideologies fighting against those that have the “wrong religious views”. One excellent way to get the ball rolling is by implying, as PZ does, that the NAS is “lying” when it says there is no necessary conflict between religion and science.
PZ’s got an provocative and entertaining blog, but he doesn’t know much about the complex issues of philosophy and belief in a broad context, besides maybe in the manner of religious beliefs he grew up in.
I don’t know when the follow up to this will be recorded, but I’ve heard PZ mention that he occassionally stops people in Coffee Shops to discuss evolution; maybe it is because he lives in a religious area. It would be interesting to hear him ellaborate on his interactions with locals and experiences with teaching evolution in the classroom.
Oh dear, if he does that in the south, he could be shot!
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