Hello, Peaceful Science! I hope this is an ok way to do an intro, but I figure everyone’s probably pretty chill, so… yeah.
I’ve been lurking here since last month. I’m 30, a former YEC and ex-Christian. Approximately a year or so ago now, I was exposed to the first non-YEC material on evolution, and it ended up starting something of a journey of discovery for me not just about science but about the structure of my deeply held beliefs in general.
Anyway, I had been on Reddit’s r/debateevolution until about 3 months ago. Unfortunately due to the way Reddit works, it’s difficult to make a space where bridges can be built effectively. Basically, I had to take a break from the toxicity, as it was taking a toll on my ability to be empathetic.
I first heard of @swamidass on Capturing Christianity’s YouTube channel, but my first real exposure to him was the interview with Pinecreek. It took a while for me to appreciate the ideas introduced during that interview, but they really stuck with me.
I had no idea about Peaceful Science until a video on the Gutsick Gibbon YouTube channel mentioned it and connected all the dots.
What I love so far about PS:
- Experts in the field from multiple faith/non-faith traditions coming together to discuss science
- The effort to reach YECs
- Conversations about religion and religious ideas from multiple angles
- Engagement from members of Creationist organizations
- Learning new things almost every day
- Appreciating how much I don’t know
My interests lie in:
- What differentiates former YEC Christians from former YEC ex-Christians
- Religion and belief
- Learning how to have better and more constructive conversations
- Watching scientists engage YEC stuff
Weaknesses:
- Layman, some calc and physics/chem exposure in college, but that’s it
- Difficulty understanding scientific papers without guidance
- Can be sarcastic, though I really think I’ve improved
- Not as empathetic as I could be
I think you all are doing something special here, and I’m excited to be a part of it!