The Rules of the Game

[swamidass (S. Joshua Swamidass)]

Highly relevant to this exchange is this (somewhat reformatted) history:

@Patrick

A few years ago (during the Obama Administration) Biologos started touting that Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institute of Health and Founder of Biologos was going to be keynote speaker at their upcoming “Christ in Creation” Conference. Further attendance was not open to the public and required a fee (and Biologos permission) to attend or watch the video feed.

I passed this to the Constitutional Attorneys at the Freedom From Religion Foundation and they sent a strong letter to the NIH Director with copies to Congressional Watchdogs in both the House and Senate. The FFRF letter stated the illegality and unconstitutionality of the NIH Director speaking at a religious creationist conference.

Dr. Collins, to his credit, took heed to this letter, and Biologos ceased advertising his attendance. Dr. Collins, again to his credit, threaded the line very adeptly. He very quietly, on his own funds (not Biologos nor Government) popped in on one of the evenings of the conference, and didn’t speak formally but instead played his guitar with other Biologos staff members.

The headline here might be “Atheists attacks Collins”, but what is here is something different. @patrick has no problem with Collin’s position and participation, as long as the lines are clear.

I’d add also that many Christians in science, including most of those I’ve met at BioLogos, have no idea how these rules works. They are often befuddled about what makes people angry, and what doesn’t. As a matter of survival, I had to figure this out early on in my career. I’ve found, so far, that as I play by the rules, no one has a problem with what I do. Many atheists are even thankful.

@Patrick, am I getting this right?