Eerdword Interview

My publisher recently interviewed me and featured my books on the Eerdword blog!

Oh, I can talk about my books all day and night, but the “about you” questions were the hardest. ARGGGG. Fortunately, as an adult, I’ve completely embraced my inner nerd.

Here’s a bit of the interview. I’ll put the link to the entire post at the end.

What are three things about yourself that most people don’t know?

I’m a HUGE Dallas Cowboys fan, and that takes perseverance!
I have a life-size replica of the famous “Lucy” in my home office. I found her on sale in an import shop; nobody there knew what it was! I felt very Indiana Jones-ish.
Natural history museums are my happy place.

What do you do when you’re not teaching, writing, reading, or answering questions for EerdWord?

I’m currently managing a herd of five dogs–only two of which are by choice; it’s a long story!
I lead a book club. We’re from different churches and different backgrounds. We choose books (and sometimes podcasts) that may challenge our long-held beliefs.
And always: reading, thinking, researching, and writing the next book!

What can you tell us about your next release with Eerdmans coming this Fall, The God of Monkey Science?

Evolution was the area of science that first offended, but in evolution denial, evangelicals developed a whole way of talking about science.

Evolution-denial arguments were retooled and relaunched to serve another day in the evangelical response to climate science and to the COVID-19 pandemic. The God of Monkey Science explores the political and religious drama that got us to where we are today.

Who did you write these books for?

What most people who reject evolution know about evolution comes from anti-evolution resources. We build a straw man out of arguments no one is actually making, then we tear the straw man down. These books are written in an accessible, popular-science voice for readers who want to know more about the evidence for evolution, climate science, and the pandemic.

Could you describe your overall goal and dreams for your writing and research in a sentence or two?

Conventional Christian wisdom says that accepting evolution is a one-way ticket to atheism. But that’s not what research tells us – to the contrary, it is a rejection of science that is shipwrecking faith.

I want my readers to be people of faith who embrace modern science without fear.

Anything you’d like to say about anything?

Science moves on, with or without us. We can deny it, pretend it’s all a conspiracy, or politicize it, OR we can speak as people of faith in a modern scientific world.