De Novo

• The Fundamentalist Mind by Dr. Stephen Larsen — From Christians to Muslims to atheists and new agers, fundamentalism transcends any single religious incarnation; it is an infection of the mind. Larsen uses recent research in neurology and psychology to show that we’re all susceptible to a fundamentalist mentality when we allow our thinking to become too static, and whenever we claim a monopoly on the truth. By making an exercise of seeing things from the perspective of those we disagree with, we can see that we have more in common than not.
• When God Is Gone, Everything Is Holy: The Making of a Religious Naturalist by Chet Raymo — A vigorous affirmation of agnosticism by a wise old retired physicist, Raymo embraces his Catholic heritage and turns his yearning for the holy toward the ineffable, unnameable source of being that permeates all creation. Completely in line with current science, but by quoting poetry and with an ear toward the capricious, Raymo teaches us that the most important lesson that science has taught humanity is to say “I don’t know” – that by humbly submitting to whatever we may find in the universe, rather than looking for meaning in the supernatural, we can more fully appreciate what is. Highly recommended.
• Christian Myth: Origins, Logic, and Legacy by Burton Mack — Christianity, like many religious traditions, conceals a core of mythos beneath a carefully guarded pretense of historicity, justified and propped up by apologists at major Bible colleges in (especially) America. Mack does the legwork of research to show the shoddy foundation of a historical interpretation of the Bible, revealing the powerful core mythological appeal to self-denial that too often gets ignored when Christians look outside themselves for God and the death-and-resurrection of Christ.
• Logic and Mr. Limbaugh by Ray Perkins, Jr. — Having family who listen un-ironically to Limbaugh, I’m interested in understanding his unique appeal. Perkins disguises a logic textbook in a very even-handed takedown of Limbaugh’s modus operandi: the sophistic conflation of emotion and rationality. The unfortunate cheap-shot illustrations throughout this book, however, disqualify it from being given as a gift to said relatives.

Chet Raymo has been almost everything I’ve wanted in a blogger on science and spirituality, which is why I’ve been spending more time reading his amazing insights lately than writing my own thoughts.  I have much to learn from this wise old man, a veteran of scientific practice, a laughing saint and mystic of the highest order.  Searching scientists, scrutinizing people of faith, take note.

In his own characteristically simplistic manner, David Brooks picks up on a cultural current that seems to be gaining steam.  He writes in this week’s NYT about “Neural Buddhism“, a new mentality among scientists fueled by new thinking in neuroscience.  It’s worth a read:

… My guess is that the atheism debate is going to be a sideshow. The cognitive revolution is not going to end up undermining faith in God, it’s going to end up challenging faith in the Bible.

…

In unexpected ways, science and mysticism are joining hands and reinforcing each other. That’s bound to lead to new movements that emphasize self-transcendence but put little stock in divine law or revelation. Orthodox believers are going to have to defend particular doctrines and particular biblical teachings. They’re going to have to defend the idea of a personal God, and explain why specific theologies are true guides for behavior day to day. I’m not qualified to take sides, believe me. I’m just trying to anticipate which way the debate is headed. We’re in the middle of a scientific revolution. It’s going to have big cultural effects.

When science offers more spiritual insight than orthodox religious fundamentalism, the days of fundamentalism are numbered.