Opinion

OTHER VIEWS

Conflict Of Science, Faith

n Pennsylvania, they're
debating whether "Intelligent
Design:' as promoted in the
textbook Of Pandas and People
ought to have a place in the pub-
lic school science curriculum.
And as religious and civic
groups, and not-for-profits from
every segment of society line up
on one side or the other of what
has become a national debate,
the one thing that is clear is that
we've found yet another issue to
deeply divide the American pub-
lic. We realize, of course, that this
disputation is only a re-pack-
aged version of the longstanding
confrontation of "Creation
Science" vs. "Darwinian
Evautfon.."
To the scientists supporting
Darwinian Evolution, I say: "Yes,
I think you could very well be
right." To the proponents of
"Intelligent Design" I say: "Yes, I
believe that you are in all likeli-
hood right!" But if the "evolu-
tion-ists" and the "design-ists"

I

can both be right, does it mean
that the values and virtues of
each belong in the same discus-
sion, that they be debated in the
same forum? Absolutely not!
And it's not because it's arguing
"apples and oranges." It's more
like "apples and umbrellas" —
each is functionally and struc-
turally foreign to the other.
Evolution does not require the
necessity of a theological con-
struct in order for it to be stud-
ied or promoted as science. And
"Intelligent Design" does not
require the necessity of scientific
inquiry in order for it to be stud-
ied or promoted as theology.
And since scientific inquiry
requires tools outside the
purview of theology, and theolo-
gy cannot be measured using the
tools of scientific inquiry —
debated together — each
absolutely disrupts the "realm of
truth" of the other. It's why reli-
gion has no intrinsic interest in
scientific inquiry, and science

has no vested interest in
dicted and replicated.
the theology of religion.
And while those toiling
Science and religion live
in one room can
and breathe and grow in
describe to those in the
completely different
other the process and
worlds.
progress of their
The challenge for
respective endeavors,
those of us invested in
neither has anything
Rabbi Joseph that will particularly
making theological
Klein
sense of what it means
inform the other, for
Community their investigations fol-
to be in covenant with
View
God is that we want God
low very different rules,
to be both transcendent
with very different
(in absolute control of
goals and expectations.
the universe, who has everything This is not to imply that one is
"in hand," who assures us that all more valid than the other, or
is going according to plan), and
even more accurate. It only
immanent (God hears me and is means that each is its own proj-
with me, understands and com-
ect.
forts me). This is the discussion
And Jewish tradition has
that occupies us as believers in
always had a presence in both
the God of Creation.
rooms: in the one that is chal-
Meanwhile, in another room,
lenged by the purpose and
are those investigating fossil and meaning of life and our lives in
genetic and astronomical evi-
covenant with our God, and in
dence to account for Creation.
the other one that is challenged
They are interested in what can
by the origin and direction and
be measured and observed, pre-
development of life. But because

we can't be in two places at the
same time, at any given moment
we can only engage in one of
these very human challenges.
What we cannot do is think it
appropriate, or even reasonable,
to assume that this is a single
debate with truth accorded to
the winner.
In both of these rooms we
eagerly and earnestly engage our
hearts and minds in the search
for truth and meaning. But let's
remember that one room has its
place in the personal space of
church or synagogue, and the
other is found in the public
arena of our schools. And yes,
both of these discussions have
merit and both yield truth, and ,
each is an endeavor that
deserves our attention -- just
not in the same venue and espe-
cially not in the political forum
of public policy. ❑

Rabbi Joseph P Klein is rabbi of
Temple Emanu-El in Oak Park.

Lessons From Rabin's Murder

Chicago
n a chilly, drizzly morn-
ing during the recent
Sukkot holiday, a group
of about 15 Israeli paratroopers
paid a visit to the military ceme-
tery at Mt. Herzl in Jerusalem.
While there were memorial cere-
monies scheduled later that day
to honor those who had fallen in
battle 32 years earlier, in the Yom
Kippur War, these young men
were there for a different reason.
Their military guide led them
to the section of the cemetery
reserved for national leaders, and
they hovered at the grave of the
late Prime Minister Yitzhak
Rabin. They read Hebrew poetry
and reflected on the life and
death of the man whose assassi-
nation shook the country, and
the world, exactly 10 years ago.
Much has changed in Israel
since an assassin's gun removed
Rabin from the helm of Israeli
government on the night of Nov.
4, 1995, but the search for peace
that he championed continues to
this day. Nobody can say how the
events of the past tumultuous

0

50

decade might have been different
if he had survived, but every
Israeli agrees that the Jewish
state is a different place because
of that night's events.
Much like Americans and the
Kennedy assassination, Israelis
can tell you exactly where they
were and what they were doing
when they heard the news from
Tel Aviv that night. As the 10th
anniversary arrived, those mem-
ories came flowing back with
vigor.
Supporters of the Oslo process
who were eager to demonstrate
that there was widespread popu-
lar support for the government's
policies had called a rally in
downtown Tel Aviv. The enthusi-
astic behavior of the large crowd
seemed to mean that the goal
had been achieved.
People brought signs, chanted
slogans, heard speeches, sang
songs and for a grand finale, all
the VIPs — led by the premier
and his foreign minister, Shimon
Peres, stood in a long row on the
stage, right in front of City Hall,
and sang "The Song of Peace."

Within minutes of the
today. Soldiers visit
song's finale, the rally
Rabin's grave not merely
became irrelevant, over-
to become acquainted
taken by the stark reality
with their country's his-
of three bullets in
tory, but also to be
Rabin's back. The prime
warned of the dangers
minister had been on his
inherent in the deep
way to his waiting car
divisions that plague
Carl Schrag
when an Israeli law stu-
Israel. New programs
Special
dent who had been hid-
have been implemented
ing nearby took aim and Commentary in schools aimed at
shot.
teaching children to
The entire world watched as
engage in civil discussion about
Israel went through an often-
issues that divide society.
ugly process of grief and recrim-
Confronting different viewpoints
ination. World leaders paid trib-
is difficult and often unpleasant,
ute at Rabin's funeral on Mt.
but it may be the best way to pre-
Herzl, and hundreds of thou-
vent future assassinations.
sands of people made pilgrim-
Did Rabin make the right
ages to the scene of the killing
choice in recognizing the
and the burial site.
Palestine Liberation
In time, international attention Organization? Is Israel better off
moved on to other matters, and
because of Oslo? Or was it all a
the sharp, painful edge sur-
disastrous mistake? The jury's
rounding the first assassination
still out, but from the vantage
of an Israeli premier began to
point of 2005, it seems inevitable
fade.
that something had to change,
But the impact on Israeli soci-
that the pre-1993 reality couldn't
ety has been profound. What was be sustained.
unimaginable a decade ago has
Israelis don't afford themselves
become a very potent reality
the luxury of looking back and

wondering too much. This is the
path that was chosen, and these
are the consequences of those
choices.
The painful acrimony that sur-
rounded the recent withdrawal
from Gaza shows just how deep
the differences of opinion
remain, and the fact that Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon is sur-
rounded by a huge security detail,
underscores how seriously the
worst-case scenarios are taken
today.
On Nov. 4, Israelis focused
once again on Rabin — the man,
the leader, what he stood for and
what happened to society when
healthy debate crossed the
boundary into intolerance,
incitement and hatred.
The young paratroopers who
reflected on the tragedy a few
days ago in Jerusalem are part of
an ongoing effort to ensure that
that the lessons are learned. They
are lessons that all of us must
learn. ❑

Carl Schrag is a writer, lecturer and
former editor of the Jerusalem
Post.

November 17 .2005

AkT