Science doesn't let you just make shit up. Until at least one religion presents a falsifiable definition of god, atheism is the default. I generally don't refer to myself as an atheist because I'm Spinzoan. But at least as far as the scientific method is involved, it doesn't exist if it can't be shown to exist.

"The connection between science and spirituality". I know all about science but haven't a clue what people mean by spirituality as it can mean just about anything.
This article has been posted and debated before and it is promoting the Templeton foundation, a religious organisation. Science should have nothing whatsoever to do with the supernatural and to merge theology with science is ridiculous.

So he won a prize for window-dressing "woo". Yippee for him.

“This is a message that I hope will resonate with lots of people, because to me what we really need right now in this increasingly divisive world is a new unifying myth. I mean “myth” as a story that defines a culture. So, what is the myth that will define the culture of the 21st century? It has to be a myth of our species, not about any particular belief system or political party. How can we possibly do that? Well, we can do that using astronomy, using what we have learned from other worlds, to position ourselves and say, “Look, folks, this is not about tribal allegiance, this is about us as a species on a very specific planet that will go on with us—or without us.” I think you know this message well.”

Yes!

I had a great interchange with Marcelo Gleiser on the old Atlantic Monthly forum. He is a person for whom I have the utmost respect and admiration, one who is honest and courageous enough to face our inherent limitations in understanding reality, and to express humility, awe, appreciation and gratitude.

Why should I bother debating this? I have been an atheist longer than I studied science. In my mind, there does not exist a requiredconnection between the two belief systems. maybe that is a male requirement. I am a woman and can easily hold two thoughts in my mind sat the same time, neither of which will diminish the other. I like to thihnk it is a biological feature of a being that can grow and hold a second being within her.