Risks for ecologists engaging with faith communities

While science and religion both provide explanatory stories, they differ in that science uses facts to assemble theories that are always subject to revision, rejection and replacement. None-the-less, they are not incompatible. About one third of scientists believe in God, half are religiously affiliated. For the general public, both exceed 80%. Scientists have insufficient cash or clout to affect the political change needed to address environmental issues. For effective implementation, scientists must gain support from the religious lay public. The risk is not to ecologists who engage with faith communities, but to all if they do not.