33. Science & Faith Part 1 - Dr. Janet Kellogg Ray (Science Educator & Christian) - Science Asks How & When. Faith Asks Who & Why.

33. Science & Faith Part 1 - Dr. Janet Kellogg Ray (Science Educator & Christian) - Science Asks How & When. Faith Asks Who & WhyAlexis Rice sits down with Dr. Janet Kellogg Ray, science educator, university lecturer, Christian, and author of Fish with Feet: Human Evolution and the Image of God, for a deeply honest conversation about evolution, evangelicalism, scientific literacy, and the false choice so many Christians were handed between faith and science.Raised in conservative Christianity and young earth creationist culture herself, Janet shares how studying biology transformed her understanding of both science and God - not by destroying her faith, but by expanding it.Together, Alexis and Janet unpack the deep distrust of science embedded in many American evangelical spaces, why evolution was framed as spiritually dangerous, and how generations of Christians were taught that accepting evolution, climate science, vaccines, or scientific expertise itself could somehow threaten their relationship with God.At the center of this conversation is one of Janet’s most powerful insights:“Science asks questions of how and when. Faith asks questions of who and why.”Science cannot answer every meaningful question in human life. And faith and science are not enemies competing for the same territory - they are often answering entirely different kinds of questions.💬 In This Episode• Growing up in young earth creationism• Why evolution became linked to “moral decline” in evangelical culture• The rise of anti-evolution apologetics in America• How churches built alternative Christian media and education ecosystems• Why many Christians distrust scientists and experts• COVID, vaccines, public health, and evangelical fear of science• What scientists actually mean by “theory”• Adam and Eve, Genesis, and the tension between theology and biology• The Big Bang, the Cambrian explosion, and misconceptions about evolution• Why curiosity should not be treated as rebellion against God• Galileo, science denial, and refusing to “look through the telescope”• Authority vs expertise and the danger of scientific illiteracy• Why science and faith can coexist without conflict• How asking questions can actually deepen faith rather than destroy itJanet offers a compassionate invitation for Christians who feel trapped between intellectual honesty and spiritual belonging: you do not have to reject science to love God.📚 Books & Resources Mentioned• Fish with Feet: Human Evolution and the Image of God (@Eerdmans) • The God of Monkey Science (@Eerdmans) • Baby Dinosaurs on the Ark👥 People & Accounts Mentioned• Janet Kellogg Ray: @janetkelloggray • Neil deGrasse Tyson: @neildegrassetyson • Hasan Minhaj - IG: @hasanminhaj @hmdk • Francis Collins • Kenneth MillerSupport the showAbout The Sacred SlopeWhere the slippery slope becomes sacred ground.For the spiritually tender—raised in or rooted in Christianity.Come explore our global, diverse, inclusive Christian faith, deconstruction, and spiritual identity in a rapidly changing world. Through conversations with clergy, scholars, and cultural voices, the show creates space for people navigating faith after certainty, church harm, or political co-option of religion.🎧 WATCH: YouTube / Spotify     LISTEN: Apple Podcasts + everywhere     FOLLOW: @thesacredslope (IG, FB, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, Bluesky)🔗 Connect🎧 Explore episodes & community: linktr.ee/TheSacredSlope 🎙 Hosted by Alexis Rice 🎵 Music by Brett Rutledge, Eddie Irvin & Sean Spence 📬 Nominate a guest: [email protected]🌿 Community Guidelines 🌿Fruit of the Spirit:  ❤️ love • 💫 joy • ☮️ peace • 🕊 patience • 💝 kindness • 🌿 goodness • 🙏 faithfulness • 🤲 gentleness • 💪 self-control