Callisto 2.0 by Susan English (love story novels in english txt) 📖

but with Tanya, I had found a kindred spirit. “My parents are true believers.”

“True believers?” Tanya raised an eyebrow.

“I suspect you and I had similar experiences growing up.”

“Ah, I see.”

I looked deep into Tanya’s hazel-green eyes—yes, she understood. “I never could believe like they do.”

“No, you’re a scientist.”

“Science and religion aren’t exactly mutually exclusive,” I said, or was that my mother’s thought? It was another of her mantras, not those words, perhaps, but the sentiment. Forever trying to save my soul.

“Science and stubbornly clinging to dogmatic beliefs, even in the face of contradictory evidence, most assuredly are mutually exclusive,” said Tanya. “Though the behavior is not only the purview of adherents of organized religion—plenty of people find it difficult to accept new ideas.”

“That’s true.” I studied the smooth surface of the table, running my fingers along its 105

edge. “You know, I get someone being spiritual, I’m the first to admit there are things in this life science can’t explain. Science can only answer questions which are testable and falsifiable.” I lifted my eyes to hers. “Many of humanity’s most basic questions lie outside the scope of science.”

“Well put!”

I gave Tanya a subdued smile. “And it’s not like scientists claim to have all the answers. A preponderance of evidence doesn’t mean something is an immutable truth.

Any scientist worth her salt knows that.”

“Yes, but say that to a ‘true believer,’ as you call them, and they conclude science supports their ideas because scientists can’t say with certitude they are wrong.”

“Those people don’t understand the scientific process. They don’t get that a hypothesis is tested over and over again, hundreds or even thousands of times, and if it’s not shown to be wrong, it gains merit in the scientific community.” I took a breath, warming to my subject. “So, we can consider it to be a good model of the physical world. Then we can alter and refine our hypotheses, so any predictions fit the observations. That doesn’t mean we accept anyone’s notion as true, just because they think it’s true.” I stopped myself, a little embarrassed, realizing Tanya knew all this. Was I really talking to Tanya, or was I talking to my parents, desperately trying to get them to understand my point of view? I strongly suspected the latter.

“Exactly. We all have opinions, but the function of science is to use actual data to support or refute explanations of observed phenomena. Scientists back up claims with hard data, not opinion or speculation.”

My entire body relaxed—I hadn’t realized I had been so tense. “Scientific inquiry encourages us to think systematically and critically. It’s an amazing tool that helps us gain a deeper understanding of the world around us and our place in the Universe, and to make informed decisions about our lives and our communities. My study of science inspires me to appreciate the beauty and complexity of nature. I don’t need a god for that.”

“You’re preaching to the choir, my sister!”

I felt my face grow red. “Thanks, Tanya, and sorry. You don’t deserve a lecture!”

“Hey, I understand. You need to ground yourself in your personal worldview, which, by the way, I share, after talking to your family. I know how it is. Sometimes you question your own reality, your ability to reason and think logically.”

“You’re right. I just go a little crazy sometimes. Growing up in a world full of logical fallacies and superstition wasn’t easy.”

Tanya gave me a gentle look.

“What always got to me is the blind faith in a hodgepodge of poorly written ancient texts, so much contradiction and pretty bizarre claims and rules.”

“You mean, for example, ‘Thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed’? The worst possible advice for farmers. Everyone knows a diverse field is more robust, more able to withstand pests and plagues. Look at the farming disasters that went along with 106

monocrops.”

“For me it was the cruelty. Once I took a marker to my parents’ Bible. They have a physical book. I wanted to highlight all the places where the biblical god ordered the death or destruction of innocent people. You know, to point out his wrath and lack of mercy, his ruthless vindictiveness against people who believed in a different god, the passages where he ordered the slaughter of children, where he not only condoned but encouraged rape.” I shook my head. “I stopped after highlighting almost every line for the first dozen pages I had turned to.”

“I’ll bet your parents were thrilled.”

“They didn’t think it was a particularly good exercise. To be honest, I don’t think either of them ever read the Bible, not in its entirety, anyway. Only the bits and pieces the reverend at their church tells them to read.” I looked down at my hands. “For a few years my parents worshiped Zeus and Hera, and the whole Greek clan,” I said, my voice barely over a whisper. I hadn’t told anyone that, not even Olivia. It felt like a betrayal, like I was shining a light on a shameful secret. I regarded Tanya, trying to gauge her reaction.

She looked surprised, but not shocked. She understood this part, too, I realized. The part about being from a family like mine: the confusion, the shame, the love, the pain, the stifling dogma that flew in the face of logical reason, all of it. Thank you, Tanya, I said silently. Thank you for understanding and not judging. I shrugged, feigning indifference, though my stomach was in knots. “There was a revival of ancient Greek religion in California around the time I was born, and my folks met at a meeting. They were both in their early forties and had never been married. I don’t know for sure, but my guess is they were feeling a little desperate to find someone or something to give their lives direction. They were all about worshiping the whole pantheon, apparently.

That’s where I got my name, Callisto.”

“How interesting.”

“After a few years they were lured, or shamed, back to the ‘true’ word of god. Both of them were brought up as fundamentalist Christians. But by then, it was too late to change my name to something more biblical, like Sara or Ruth.”

Tanya reached over and squeezed my arm. “I imagine that your parents, like mine, are doing the best they can with what they know.”

My eyes filled with tears. I blinked rapidly.

She gave me a wry look. “I believe my gender identity crisis was the best thing that could have happened to me. Being so fundamentally different from my family and the rest of the people in my community helped me see everything: social norms, religious beliefs, all the underlying assumptions, with a critical eye.”

“But Tanya, they truly believe. Although I suspect there are religious leaders who are con artists, manipulating and exploiting people’s blind faith for their own personal gain.”

“Oh, that’s true, but I’d like to think they are the exceptions, not the rule.” She looked 107

me straight in the eyes. “I believe in the goodness of humanity, and I’m convinced the god who lives in the hearts of the majority of people is not the god of organized religion.”

“Thank god for that!”

Tanya broke into laughter.

“We’re an odd species, humans,” I said.

“That we are!” Tanya popped a beer ball into her mouth.

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