The Whirlwind Photo Tour of Africa

Cat: EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!! Augh!!! Ick!! Ahhh! So. Not. Going. To. Africa. That is NOT a cute baby elephant, my friend!

Okay, back to writing, because at least there the snakes are imaginary. If you were to write about any current affairs or cultural topic in the world, what would it be and why?

On Science and Religion

Paul: I think it would have to be the pursuit of scientific knowledge just for the sake of it, particularly in the field of cloning. I know it’s not really current, but the revival of “new atheism” and the ongoing push to secularise the US is everywhere at the moment.

Cat: I never really knew it as a current topic, but Marc’s quite connected to the online non-theist community, and it seems to be an ongoing conversation. What angle interests you?

Paul: It seems to me there was a time when the aim of science was to learn more about God’s universe. At some point it was agreed to remove God from scientific debate because He was seen as an easy answer to hard questions. If they couldn’t explain something, they could just use God. Over time, however, they have reached the point where they see science and God as mutually exclusive. Science is no longer about explaining God’s universe, but more about removing God from that universe.

I have always enjoyed science and marvel at the discoveries that make our lives easier and safer. I just worry that, in their quest for knowledge, they are working outside of any moral framework. They don’t even fully understand how a cell works, and yet they want to mess around with the DNA within that cell.

It has been pointed out that DNA contains information, which suggests an intelligent designer, but so determined are the atheists to further separate God from science, they are now trying their best to refute this by proving that DNA contains information that does not necessarily need an intelligent source.

In my mind, a good scientist will follow the facts wherever they lead instead of trying to push the facts towards his or her own world view. My hope is that they will eventually find themselves looking in awe at God’s creation and lamenting the time they wasted trying to go in the opposite direction.

Cat: Questions of bias confirmation fascinate me. And also, what challenges constitute valid grounds for worldview shift. I think that in everyday life, we slide into ideas without realizing, and become entrenched without noticing. And then sometimes, an anvil lands in the midst of our best-laid plans. Speaking of which…

Watch Out For That Anvil

Cat: Now for the suspense and imminent anvils part. Quixote and I had an email convo with you a little while back, and we all hit it off so well that it seemed like a grand idea to add you to the roster of Occasional Bohemian Guest Blogger(s).

And then! You said yes!

And now! We feel cool!

So. How do you plan to deal with the demands of completely unobligated scheduling and highly whimsical content standards which I, as an Evil Editorial Type, intend to impose?

Paul: Panic is always my first option. Then carb-overloading helps. After that I try a few cold sweats and the occasional waking in the middle of the night. At this point I try prayer, because I’m the kind of person who usually leaves the obvious solution to last. I do this because I think I hate bothering God with stuff that I figure I should be able to handle myself.

Of course, I then remember the scriptures that teach us how important we are to Him, and then I do what I should have done right from the start and get on my knees. One of these days I hope to remember to start with prayer, then I won’t need the donuts. I’m sure my bathroom scales will appreciate it.

Cat: I’m not going to quarrel with your existing method, since the scriptures and prayer do get remembered. It seems in keeping with the epic angst of the literary lifestyle. But most pressingly…will there be donuts?

Paul: There will always be donuts. The donut is, after all, one of the four major food groups. However, my “thing” for the Spongy Nectar is actually only a temporary measure until I find a cheesecake to match the one I used to buy at this little franchise in Africa. It’s sort of a vague quest which involves trying cheesecake whenever I come across it in the hope that my taste buds are finally reunited with their true love. But, in the meantime, donuts will do very nicely, thank you.

And we mustn’t forget the trusty anvil which is, as Wile E. Coyote has shown many times, the single most useful implement in the world after the Swiss army knife and double-sided sticky tape. In fact I carry one with me at all times because you never know when you are going to need one.

Cat: Excellent. As you know, we are not exactly Wile E. Quixote-free around here, and that anvil may need to be requisitioned for misadventurous derring-do. Well, well. I believe this constitutes a successful shanghai’ing, then.

Paul: On that note, I will say thank you very much for having me and allowing me to ramble on the way I love to do so much.

Cat: We look forward to more of the same. Welcome to Scienda, dear fellow.

P.A. Baines’s first guest post will run next week. In it, we experience a taste of life in Holland, meet a fascinating individual named Hoog van Longbroek, and have the treat of one of Paul’s spiritual life-application musings. In the meantime, you can continue to find Paul online at his own site, PABaines.com, and as an alumnus of the New Authors’ Fellowship.