Does Evolution-God Relationship Have to Be a Zero-Sum Game?
Philip Clayton: Only when one affirms some sort of “live and let live” policy is it possible even to begin a serious discussion about evolutionary biology and (say) belief in God. When evolutionary and religious explanations are construed as fighting for the same territory, they will unleash their weapons upon each other—as today’s religion wars show. When we recognize and acknowledge their different strengths, a far more interesting discussion emerges. (Religion Dispatches)

Cycles of Controversy and Cooperation Between S&R
Mark Pinsky: In medieval times, theology was known as “the queen of the sciences,” existing for the most part in harmony with astronomy and cosmology, as well as with astrology and alchemy. Catholic observers were pioneers in celestial observations. Even so, there were occasional (and infamous) bumpy moments, clashes between religious authorities and believing researchers such as Galileo, Copernicus, and Kepler, whose findings were seen as challenging church doctrine. (USA Today)

Atheism Schism
Michael Ruse: There are several reasons why we atheists are squabbling—I will speak only for myself, but I doubt I am atypical. (guardian.co.uk)

Should Health-Care Package Cover “Spiritual Care”?
While advancing below the radar as debate focuses on larger issues such as the “public option,” the Christian Scientists’ proviso has begun to stir controversy because it rekindles debate on three long-running and sensitive issues: freedom of religion; the constitutional separation of church and state; and the question of whether faith-based approaches should be treated as equivalent to science-based medicine. (Tom Hamburger and Kim Geiger, Tribune Newspapers)

BOOKS
The Tree That Time Built
Using her own poem “Anthropoid” as a springboard, and in conjunction with editor Linda Winston, Mary Ann Hoberman, children’s book author and current U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate, has spent the better part of nine years collecting verse illuminating nature in general, and evolution in particular. (Ben Fulton, The Salt Lake Tribune)