Comments on Does Coyne Need to Apologize to Eddie?

[swamidass (S. Joshua Swamidass)]

See my final comment here.

@swamidass

To conclude this thread, I start by thanking @Bilbo, @jongarvey, and the blogger to which the link for bringing this to our attention.

Looking this over, I note a few things:

1. It is seems that Conye never opposed Collin’s appointment because Collins believed the Resurrection, as @eddie has said.
2. In responding to @eddie, it seems clear Coyne misspoke on saying he never opposed Collin’s appointment. From these quotes it seems he did.
3. Nonetheless, it seems Coyne opposed Collin’s appointment, it seems, because he was concerned Collins was publicly mixing faith and science as a government employee.

So, in my opinion, @eddie was right to apologize, and that is to his credit. It was also right to be clear that he has opposed Collin’s appointment in the past, though I’m not sure it deserves an apology. It is just a fact he got wrong, and to focus on that distracts a bit from something more important, the third point.

Did Collins publicly mix faith in science as a government employee? That is an important point of discussion. I want to emphasize that this is a legitimate question and concern, that we may have different opinions about. There is a large rift: The Rift Between Atheists and Christians. Part of what we are doing at Peaceful Science is finding ways to span this gap. This is an opportunity to do so, for those who care to understand the nuances of why Coyne:

1. did not oppose Collins for affirming the resurrection.
2. but, nonethless, feared he would in appropriately mix faith and science

Thanks again @bilbo and @jongarvey for bringing this to our attention. Thanks again @eddie for being humble and wise enough to apologize. Peace.

Do you agree or disagree?