andphi's Journal: Pearls before Swine?

I sometimes wonder what to do when the /. community starts talking about science and religion. The prevailing (that is, mostly loudly espoused) opinion seems to be that those of us who believe are at best honest but deluded fools and at worst hypocritical, dangerous, predatory lunatics who are eager to discard contemporary civilization in favor of the Dark Ages. (Apparently, we're all militant fundamentalists.) Our belief systems are a variety of intellectual disease which should be held privately and not spoken publicly. We endanger our children's mental well-being by teaching them what we know to be true and hope to see beyond the river.

It becomes hard not to feel like I am under attack. I become angry and defensive. I think that must be hubris on my part, for it is not I whom they attack, nor even my faith, for their criticisms could take in all the Abrahamic faiths, but God and the idea of Him. I think it's hubris because I'm neither God nor anyone in a position to defend Him, nor am I my faith, nor even a good example of a person practicing my faith. Still, I get angry and keep reading.

I don't say anything as I no longer see the point. This also causes problems, because while not currently really an evangelical (I don't evangelize, therefore I'm not actually an Evangelical), I was raised as one and trained to speak up when the conversation turned to religion and faith. I thought about this the last time an science and religion article was posted - something to do with evolution and education - and remembered something Jesus said about casting your pearls before swine. This is also ironic for a once and future Evangelical, since we have Jesus Himself saying: "Sometimes you shouldn't even bother because it won't be worth it." But he said it, and that interpretation doesn't seem to be inconsistent with the rest of scripture, considering the towns Jesus left because no one was listening and His instructions to the disciples about doing likewise (To paraphrase: In every town, seek out a man of peace and stay with him. If you can't find such a man, knock the dust from your shoes and move on.), so it must be good advice at least some of the time.

That is the final dilemma: I don't like thinking about my fellow slashdotters as the swine wallowing in their mudhole. It's a sad thought, because as much as the other geeks here may sometimes confuse and infuriate me, I identify with them. That even some of them seem past reaching is a tragedy.

I don't know if there's a question here. It's just something I wanted to get off my chest.