Anarchy Evolution: Faith, Science, and Bad Religion in a World Without God
by Greg Gaffin
New York, It Books, 2010

Dr. Greg Graffin is a bit like a secret agent, leading two lives. It's likely that most of the students in Graffin's biology courses at UCLA don't realize that their professor fronts one of the biggest, most influential, and longest-lasting bands to rise out of the late-70's California punk scene. How one man could reconcile these two seemingly opposite careers seems baffling. Thankfully, his newest book, Anarchy Evolution, gives us a window into a man who's lived "life at the intersection of art and science – or, more specifically, at the intersection of evolutionary biology and punk rock."

The author describes himself as one who's "always had a problem with authority." Upon moving from Wisconsin to suburban L.A. in the 1970's, Graffin discovered that what many considered a rebellion by the youth of southern California – rock and roll music, drug use, the beach lifestyle – had actually become another form of authority. As a teen who had never done drugs, lacked the sexual sophistication of his peers, and wore dorky off-brand sneakers, he suddenly found himself thrown into an environment where he didn't fit in. The young punk scene attracted Graffin as it was a place, at least in those early days, where youth could experiment with their own fashions, music and lifestyles and yet still belong.

Likewise, the discovery of the scientific method – and specifically evolutionary biology and the works of Charles Darwin – gave Graffin the tools necessary to rebel against the authority of the "just-so" statements of dogmatic belief, and uncover the truth lying beneath. Furthermore, Graffin explains how his understanding of the natural sciences has given him a lens through which to analyze his own life and experiences. It is the parallels, and contradictions, between science and life in general which he uses to explain his worldview.

Graffin raises many of the arguments which one may expect after reading the back cover of the book. The punk-rock professor explains in detail the many logical flaws, as he sees them, with the argument for God (and particularly a personal, theistic God), and pulls no punches when it comes to those attempting to push "intelligent design", people who "spend their time attacking the ideas and words of biologists instead of offering verifiable ideas of their own." He writes about the illogicality of arguments that atheists are immoral, and uses his own experience as an example of how an atheist can find purpose in their life without a sacred text to give them the answers to all of life's big questions.

However, Graffin does not shy away from attacking dogmatic views wherever they can be found, including the areas in which he had typically found refuge from such thinking. He describes how his band went into hiatus and nearly broke up during a time when the California punk scene had declined into uniformity and violence. At this time, as an undergraduate and master's student, his passion became performing field work that challeneged what he saw as gaps in scientific theories which had long been assumed true.

In an interesting twist, Graffin takes to task the current "pop atheist" trend, and even the title "atheist" itself. This is a bit surprising from a man who named his band Bad Religion, complete with a logo that depicts a Christian cross struck through in the fashion of a no-parking sign. However, Graffin explains that he would rather be regarded as a "naturalist", suggesting that the title atheism is like "being called an 'a-instrumentalist'" instead of a lead singer.

Though I suspect that Graffin is no Marxist, perhaps communists and progressives can draw a lesson from his unrelenting skepticism. We argue that our worldviews are guided by scientific principles, and we shouldn't be afraid to put our money where our mouths are. Dogmatic ways of thinking can permeate all belief systems, but constructive skepticism can help us re-affirm what we find to be true, and reconsider what we suspect might not.

In some ways, Graffin's work carries the torch of the late Carl Sagan, but brings Sagan's appeal to new areas (biology and Earth sciences) as well a new generation of curious minds. He also brings a hopeful message: that while religion is often devisive, science can – and has – cut across the barriers of race, language, nationality, and culture to unite people world-over. I can't help but think of the scientists on both sides of the Cold War divide who, despite all political and ideological barriers, managed to reach across to each other and collaborate for the good of humanity. Science, as Graffin argues, gives us a common ground upon which all people can stand and make sense of the world we share. And in the end, he even leaves room for a little faith in an atheistic life. Not faith in the supernatural, but faith in the people with whom we share the closest relationships in our daily lives.