The Problem of Evil and Suffering
David Bain: For those who believe in an all-good, all-powerful agent-God, we’ve seen that they face a question that remains pressing after all these centuries, and which is now horribly underscored by the horrors in Haiti. If a deity exists, why didn’t he prevent this? (BBC News)

“Acts of God”
It is horrifying to witness the cruelty—and, why not say it, stupidity—of those claiming to be men of faith, such as Pat Robertson, who attributed the earthquake to a punishment enacted by God because the Haitians made a pact with the devil. Cavemen would have agreed. (Marcelo Gleiser, 13.7: Cosmos and Culture Blog, NPR)

Online Petition Opposes the Possibility of a Partnership Between Baylor College of Medicine and Baylor University (its Former Parent Institution)
“The religious ideologies that permeate throughout BU’s academic policies may adversely affect both scientific progress and the culture at BCM, particularly in relation to issues such as evolution, embryonic stem cells, and sexual orientation,” reads the petition, whose signers include students, faculty, and staff and alumni. “While we respect everyone’s right to religion in his or her own life, we believe that science and medicine must be separate from religion, and urge you to reject any such merger.” (Todd Ackerman, Houston Chronicle)

Can Science-Minded Children Be Raised to Have an Interest in Religion?
Shelley Emling: I’ve found myself writing and speaking a great deal these days about the reconciliation of science and religion, often preaching to the choir in rooms filled with educated people who understand that the two are not incompatible. But somehow I fear I’ve failed to make a connection with my own children as I’ve attempted to get this same message across. (The Huffington Post)

BBC Will Launch an “X Factor”-Like Science Show
The series This Kid Could Change the World will see children from across the country pitch science ideas against each other. (Urmee Khan, Telegraph)

Q&A
Shankar Vedantam
We know genocide is a greater tragedy than a lost dog. Or do we? Washington Post staff writer Shankar Vedantam discusses the “telescope effect” and the manner in which our brains process tragedy and empathy. (The Washington Post)

OBIT
Zilda Arns Neumann
Zilda Arns Neumann, sometimes called Brazil’s Mother Teresa, was among those who died tragically during Haiti’s earthquake. She was in Port-au-Prince to share lessons from the enormous church-based child health program she established in Brazil. (Katherine Marshall, Georgetown/On Faith, Newsweek/The Washington Post)