An Edge Discussion of BEYOND BELIEF: Science, Religion, Reason and Survival

Scientists who are atheists -- surely a much larger proportion than the general public realizes -- have a difficult unsolved problem of how to balance their allegiance to the truth against their appreciation of the social impact of some truths and hence the need for diplomacy and reticence. Not surprisingly, most scientists "solve" this problem with silence, but silence can be just as culpable as lying. The problem is that the dangerous fanatics get an ... Full Story »