Meet the Real Dan Brannan

I study in three domains: biology, theology and philosophy. If they are avenues for pursuing truth (e.g. “all truth is God’s truth”), one would expect that they might synergistically reach Truth. Getting these three groups to talk to each other is an initiative of the Templeton foundation from which I receive support to study with international scholars in all three of these domains in Oxford each summer. It was not always that way. At an international meeting of microbial ecologists in Brazil twelve years ago, I was stunned by a colleague who claimed that a Christian University was an anachronism and an oxymoron. On the flip side, I am also greeted with some disdain from fundamentalists who label me a functional atheist just because I see the value in proper exegesis of Genesis as allegory and I have a philosophical mind. I love science and I love Jesus.  How do I exist

in several arenas where scientific colleagues and brethren criticize?

First, I realize that science is like a good card game. The game is called methodological naturalism.  It is simply a great method to explain how and why things happen. At the card game of science, you can only play naturalistic explanation cards to describe why things happen.  Supernatural cards are trumps. No one trumps because the game ends when you do. The goal is to keep the game going; no one ever wins. Some scientists want to win the game and so they make a false metaphysical leap and say all there is in reality (not just in the game) are naturalistic explanations. They allow metaphysical value statements to slip in under the guise of science.

Second, I explain to my brethren that God works in unexplainable ways. If God is the perfect law giver you’d expect God to abide by those same perfect natural laws...at least most of the time. I also try to explain that bible stories are really complex and that superficial meanings do not convey the depth about the human experience and about God that a metaphorical approach does.  God needs to remain ineffable, mysterious and numinous for me. Explaining how he does things takes away the mystery.

How to get God's revelation in harmony--revelation in scripture, in His created nature, in the traditions of the church, and in one's own spiritual walk--is the work of the holy spirit.  It’s the work I like to do...only I am comfortable not knowing for sure. I can identify with Voltaire's statement several centuries ago: It is truly extravagant to define God, angels and minds, and to know precisely why God defined the world, when we do even know why we move our arms at will. Doubt is not a very agreeable state, but certainty is a ridiculous one. However, at the same time, I am intrigued with St. Anselm's phrase fides querens intellectum (faith seeking understanding). I really do not think I'll ever fully understand in this lifetime. Thankfully, I have the hope of an eternity to learn and accomplish the goal.