José O. Solá

A Train Ride, A Book, and Three Curious Minds On my way back to Edinburgh from Oxford, I was reading The Landscapes of Science and Religion. I didn’t expect much—just a quiet six-hour journey with some reading time. But as I sat at one of those shared train tables, the student next to me glanced over and asked, “What are you reading?” I showed her the cover—and suddenly, all three women at the table were in conversation with me. They were fascinated by the topic. What followed was an unexpected but wonderful journey through questions of belief, knowledge, and how science and religion relate. Eventually, we went around the table sharing what we do. When they found out I lecture in Science and Religion, they were genuinely surprised. When I explained my journey—moving from engineering to theology—they were even more intrigued. “I didn’t even know that was a thing,” one said. Each of them brought something different: one thought science and religion weren’t compatible. Another wasn’t sure—she said she didn’t know enough to make a judgment. The third stayed quiet, listening carefully but never revealing her position. What struck me most was their curiosity. Sometimes all it takes is a book cover and a little openness to spark a deep, honest conversation. I'll be writing a full review of the book soon, but this experience reminded me why this field matters. Science and religion aren’t just academic subjects—they’re living conversations. And people are more ready to explore them than we often assume. I love my job!