I happened to glance through an old BYU College of Life Sciences spring 2024 magazine called Impact.

I have to share a little blurb from an article called Sharing Truth in Science by Study and by Faith.

A microbiology associate professor, Ryan Cardner, explained he was teaching some students about anemia caused by severe blood loss. He "explained that this is likely what the Savior experienced when He suffered for our sins in the Garden of Gethsemane." (Well, duh, gaping wounds that bleed tend to do that.)

He went on to say, "I feel that the most important thing that I can point out to the students is that the scientific principles they are learning about in class can also teach them important principles about our Savior."

Sheesh! That is a comically gratuitous attempt to insert Jesus into a micro class. Why didn't he explain the scientific principles about Jesus "dying" and coming back to life? Why didn't he explain the scientific principles about Jesus flying around back and forth from heaven in his space robe? Why didn't he explain the scientific principle that if Jesus could make fishes and loaves, he could make red blood cells too?

Even as a Mormon I would have been rolling my eyes in that class.

This is why students are not learning critical thinking the same way they would in nonreligious science classes!
This is why I had employers who gave each other the side eye when asking me about going to BYU and microbiology.

The article went on to give other examples. Another associate professor of cell biology got a "Spiritually Strengthening Award" because "he gave the most spirit-filled testimony of God's power as the Creator that I have ever heard in any STEM classroom."

I thought BYU was getting better but apparently not. This is not appropriate for people seeking a degree in sciences. At least in my day the professors would tell us they are skipping certain topics due to conflicts with church teaching (certain parts of evolution and embryo development for example).

When people are hired for their degree in life science, they are not being hired for their stupid Mormon testimony for cripes sakes.

BYU is doing their part to dumb down science education, IMO.

Oil and vinegar do not mix because oil is hydrophobic (water-fearing) while vinegar is a water-based solution, causing them to separate into distinct layers when combined.

BYU and science do not mix because BYU is reality phobic (truth fearing) while science is fact-based, causing them to separate into distinct layers pretending they actually do go together.


The Mormon religion is stuck with its past while science is not. When science is wrong it's cause for celebration as it means new more reliable information has been found. Being wrong is only a bad thing if you tie yourself to it.

Those who provide the paychecks are the ultimate arbiters of truth. The smart profs know how to play the game. Sprinkling doctrine around like fairy dust increases the odds of promotion.