Katey Walter Anthony on Science and Faith
June 8, 2022
It’s been a few years since I caught up with Dr. Katey Walter Anthony, probably best known to most folks for her YouTube demonstrations of students in Alaska lighting methane pockets on frozen arctic lakes. (below)
Dr Anthony is one of the most highly respected experts on permafrost and tundra, in particular the many lakes that form as permafrost warms and thaws, and the increase in greenhouse gas production being observed over the arctic.
I’m working on a new update from methane experts, which I hope will be out soon, but I wanted also to talk to Dr Anthony about her new book, Chasing Lakes, which is important not just as a story of science discovery, but also personal and spiritual discoveries, that places Dr Anthony along side Katharine Hayhoe as a key scientist willing to speak openly about her Christian faith. That part of our conversation is at the top.
Climate Denial Crock of the Week 
June 8, 2022 at 1:33 pm
I am so thankful as a Christian who takes science seriously to see this. Thank you for posting it. I’ve already bought the book.
June 8, 2022 at 1:46 pm
you’re very welcome.
Dr Anthony is only one of the key scientists I know that has deep spiritual
roots. I was pleased she has been willing to speak out.
June 10, 2022 at 5:46 am
I have met many scientists (socially) and can tell you that they are no different than other people. Some are people of faith and some are not. The problem for me is this: politically minded conservatives see scientists as liberals; see liberals as atheists; therefore scientists are atheists. This form of pretzel logic is their own problem. Speaking of pretzel logic, I have never understood why many bible thumpers support violence in all its forms like storming the capital on 01/06 then dropping to one knee to pray. I think this is a different form of pretzel-logic which says “I believe in god so everything I do is sanctioned by him). For more info check out this report which was coauthored by the Southern Baptist convention and FFRF:
Click to access Christian_Nationalism_and_the_Jan6_Insurrection-2-9-22.pdf
June 10, 2022 at 5:35 am
I still remember a little Sunday school pamphlet I received in 1968 which was authored by Wernher von Braun. Here is one quote: “Science and Religion are not antagonists but sisters. Science teaches us more about the creator by studying the creation”.
Now I was raised as an evangelical Lutheran in a church that professed a bias against science so I morphed into a Deist in order to prevent my head from exploding. But here is something the pro-religion people do not seem to understand: their religion is safe because science will never be able to prove, or disprove, by experiment the existence of god. In fact, science has nothing to say about religion. Unfortunately, religion has plenty to say about science and almost always ends up looking foolish. The trial of Galileo by the Vatican first springs to mind.