One of my old co-workers is one of the smartest believers I have ever met. He is (was, i don't think he has time anymore, he's doing PHD work I think) a pastor, and at a very young age has been just as driven to find answers about religion as I have...although he has gone quite a different direction. He's 33 I think and has two masters degrees, in Philosophy and Religious studies...I think. But keep in mind, I think both of these were attained at a seminary. He was the one to lend me two books on evolution: "The Greatest Show on Earth" by Dawkins, which I posted about in Repugs book thread, and "Why Evolution is True", by Jerry Coyne, which i'm very close to finishing.
We have discussions on facebook regularly, it's actually a really healthy mental relationship. I don't think i'll ever convince him to come to my side, and I likely won't ever come around to his, but it's fun and keeps me on my toes. He's not a traditional, dumb Christian like we make fun of a lot in here, and he disagrees with much of the institutional policies, but still very much believes in god and the teachings of Christ. He's one of, if not the only Christian I have ever truly intellectually respected. Here is one of them we're working on right now.
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Dangerous bacterium hosts genetic remnant of life's distant past
