Michael Chrichton's novel "State of Fear" includes an appendix essay on the "Dangers of Politicized Science." I also recommend Chrichton's speech on the problems with a religous approach to environmentalism. He has posted the text from several other speeches on complexity theory, science policy, and genetic research.
Fair warning: Mr. Chrichton is not writing from an explicitly Christian perspective. He does work from a moral framework. I do not agree with all his recommendations.
The reason I recommend his material to you is because I want to encourage efforts towards clear thinking, dialogue that comes out of humility rooted in our incredibly limited understanding of complex systems, and a perspective that does not ignore our human fallibilities in working together. Chrichton has done his homework and critical thinking, and is more practiced than most writers at systematic integration of data across fields. So I believe he is worth listening to.
Keep in mind that our children and grandchildren are growing up in a technologically-sophisticated world. They need our help to learn how to assess options from a biblical framework, and how not to be snookered by sound bites and politicians who have developed an ability to smile even as they straddle a barb-wire fence.
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