# An Imagination Game to Bridge Divides

**URL:** <https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/an-imagination-game-to-bridge-divides/13230>\
**Category:** Peaceful Science\
**Created:** [February 18, 2021, 6:04pm UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/an-imagination-game-to-bridge-divides/13230 "2021-02-18T18:04:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 12\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/peacefulscience/original/2X/6/6b7bf72453a5c60b0919b6b89a27dc18bc52382c.png) [@system](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 6:04pm UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/an-imagination-game-to-bridge-divides/13230/1 "2021-02-18T18:04:48Z")

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> **[An Imagination Game to Bridge Divides](https://peacefulscience.org/articles/imagination-game-aaas/)**
>
> Let’s play Rob O’Malley’s imagination game. How would you respond? How would you build bridges across these significant divides?

> Let’s play Rob O’Malley’s imagination game. How would you respond? How would you build bridges across these significant divides?

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**Author:** ![swamidass](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.peacefulscience.org/swamidass/32/3_2.png) [@swamidass](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/swamidass)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 6:06pm UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/an-imagination-game-to-bridge-divides/13230/2 "2021-02-18T18:06:11Z")

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Another great article from @Kristel. This one quotes @art.

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**Author:** ![John\_Harshman](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.peacefulscience.org/john_harshman/32/1121_2.png) [@John\_Harshman](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/John_Harshman)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2021, 6:16pm UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/an-imagination-game-to-bridge-divides/13230/3 "2021-02-18T18:16:47Z")

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For convenience, perhaps the various scenarios ought to be posted.

> [@](#):
>
> 1. Student after a university human evolution class asks: “So were Adam and Eve Australopithecines?”
> 
> 2. A colleague posts about a STEM job search at their [religiously affiliated] institution on social media: “Apply! Our department is fun and we get along! The Catholic Jesuit stuff doesn’t affect what we do or teach. At all.”
> 
> 3. Question at a museum talk: “I’m all for clean water and air, sure, but haven’t the earth’s resources been given to us to use as we see fit?”
> 
> 4. Comment in an online forum: “Evolution is racist ideology. Scientists want us to believe that some people are less evolved than others, but I know that we are all created in God’s image.”
> 
> 5. Question at a meeting with tribal representatives: “Previous scientists’ work with us has been exploitative and harmful to our people and to our sacred lands. Why should we allow your research to proceed?”
> 
> 6. Question from [a] high-school age student in a classroom engagement: “If what science says about the origins of the universe and the origins of life are true, doesn’t that mean that everything is without purpose?”
> 
> 7. Question at a public talk: “Who decides if your work with human remains is ethical? How do you respect the religious beliefs of the dead?”
> 
> 8. Question from a 2nd grader in a classroom engagement: “Do animals have souls?”

I’d say that the majority of those questions would be theological and outside the scope of a scientist to answer. One could certainly address misunderstandings of the science, as in #4 especially.

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**Author:** ![RCOMalley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@RCOMalley](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/RCOMalley)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2021, 5:09pm UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/an-imagination-game-to-bridge-divides/13230/4 "2021-02-20T17:09:24Z")

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Hi all- Josh requested that I pop in and answer any questions. Thanks for your interest in the DoSER workshop and this exercise! I readily agree with John\_Harshman above that constructive responses in many of these scenarios are not necessarily about just presenting more science, or correcting potential misconceptions about science.

I will add that none of these scenarios are really hypothetical. These are scenarios that I’ve either been in myself, or seen play out, or that others have shared with me. Whether we are scientists or otherwise, there will always be times we are pushed outside our comfort zones or areas of expertise. But given that, how does one respond? Is it enough for me to just say ‘that’s outside the scope of what I’m comfortable talking about’?

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**Author:** ![swamidass](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.peacefulscience.org/swamidass/32/3_2.png) [@swamidass](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/swamidass)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2021, 5:13pm UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/an-imagination-game-to-bridge-divides/13230/5 "2021-02-20T17:13:35Z")

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What was the hardest question for you, and how would you respond?

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**Author:** ![John\_Harshman](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.peacefulscience.org/john_harshman/32/1121_2.png) [@John\_Harshman](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/John_Harshman)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2021, 5:22pm UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/an-imagination-game-to-bridge-divides/13230/6 "2021-02-20T17:22:32Z")

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> [@RCOMalley](#):
>
> Is it enough for me to just say ‘that’s outside the scope of what I’m comfortable talking about’?

Depends on context. If any of these occurred in a classroom environment, it would be improper to discuss them. You might suggest a conversation later, outside of class, when you could present your own ideas while not wearing the teacher hat. But a science class is no place for theology.

As for the ones outside a classroom, #2 is just weird, and I would have no response. #3 is close enough to a classroom that I wouldn’t touch it. #4 deserves a response. #5 seems to invite further discussion of just what you propose to do. In #7, the dead don’t have beliefs, though their putative descendants might.

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**Author:** ![RCOMalley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@RCOMalley](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/RCOMalley)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2021, 5:26pm UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/an-imagination-game-to-bridge-divides/13230/7 "2021-02-20T17:26:15Z")

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#2 would unquestionably be the hardest question for me, due to the nature of social media and the potential professional (not to mention legal) dimensions of responding (or of not responding, and letting it stand without comment).

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**Author:** ![RCOMalley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@RCOMalley](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/RCOMalley)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2021, 5:42pm UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/an-imagination-game-to-bridge-divides/13230/8 "2021-02-20T17:42:29Z")

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Speaking for myself, I want to acknowledge that apart from occasional ‘Skype-A-Scientist’ type sessions I don’t have a lot of experience addressing challenging questions in K-12 settings. I do think there can be more challenging parameters (school policies, parent relationships, local culture and practice) to navigate as a K-12 educator and so I can readily accept hesitancy to engage in that context.

In college/university settings, though, if one of these questions came up in class, I would personally have no hesitation in attempting at least a short response to any of the other questions (save maybe for #2) in class- though recognizing that it might need to shift to a private conversation or follow up. If someone is brave enough to raise something like this publicly and in good faith, I feel they deserve a substantive answer…plus it’s a near certainty that others in the room are wondering similar things.

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**Author:** ![stlyankeefan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.peacefulscience.org/stlyankeefan/32/3773_2.png) [@stlyankeefan](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/stlyankeefan)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2021, 6:05pm UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/an-imagination-game-to-bridge-divides/13230/9 "2021-02-20T18:05:44Z")

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I must be missing something because I don’t see the issue with question 2. I attended a Jesuit university for grad school. I can’t remember the religion of any of my professors ever coming up, but I doubt they were all practicing Catholics or signed a Jesuit statement of faith. The only time I saw a priest was in my Bioethics class. I later worked for the same university and was not required to sign a statement of faith, but I was not teaching faculty.

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**Author:** ![RCOMalley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@RCOMalley](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/RCOMalley)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2021, 6:21pm UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/an-imagination-game-to-bridge-divides/13230/10 "2021-02-20T18:21:53Z")

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In the context of a STEM job search, it perhaps doesn’t signal a welcoming department for someone who claims that faith identity (and also has some legal dimensions; e.g. is it discriminatory to single out a specific faith tradition in this way). I find it hard to imagine someone posting a similar comment about, say, an art history position. The issue in this case is if/how to discuss it with the colleague in a constructive way

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**Author:** ![stlyankeefan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.peacefulscience.org/stlyankeefan/32/3773_2.png) [@stlyankeefan](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/stlyankeefan)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2021, 6:30pm UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/an-imagination-game-to-bridge-divides/13230/11 "2021-02-20T18:30:56Z")

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I hadn’t thought about it from the perspective of someone who is Catholic. I do think it’s reasonable for any potential job applicant, STEM or not, to ask about faith statements when applying at universities with religious connections. I work for a university that requires all employees, from the president to the janitor, to sign a statement of faith. That requirement is posted in every job ad.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/peacefulscience/original/2X/6/6b7bf72453a5c60b0919b6b89a27dc18bc52382c.png) [@system](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 6:31pm UTC](https://discourse.peacefulscience.org/t/an-imagination-game-to-bridge-divides/13230/12 "2021-02-27T18:31:37Z")

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