▁not , ▁however , ▁consider ▁this ▁diplom atic ▁aspect ▁to ▁be ▁param ount , ▁writing ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 7 : ▁" NO MA ▁represents ▁a ▁principle d ▁position ▁on ▁moral ▁and ▁intellectual ▁grounds , ▁not ▁a ▁mere ▁diplom atic ▁st ance ." ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 7 ▁he ▁had ▁elabor ated ▁on ▁this ▁position ▁by ▁describing ▁his ▁role ▁as ▁a ▁scient ist ▁with ▁respect ▁to ▁NO MA : ▁ ▁C iar án ▁B enson ▁sees ▁a ▁t endency ▁to ▁re - neg oti ate ▁the ▁ ▁borders ▁ ▁between ▁ ▁the ▁ ▁" human ▁sciences ▁and ▁ ▁the ▁ ▁natural ▁sciences ", ▁as ▁in ▁Wilhelm ▁D il they ' s ▁ 1 8 8 3 ▁claim ▁for ▁the ▁distinction ▁between ▁ ▁Ge istes wissenschaft en ▁( human ities ) ▁and ▁Natur wissenschaft en ▁( s cience ). ▁The ▁ast ro phys ic ist ▁Arnold ▁O . ▁Ben z ▁propos es ▁that ▁the ▁boundary ▁between ▁the ▁two ▁mag ister ia ▁is ▁in ▁the ▁different ▁ways ▁they ▁perce ive ▁reality : ▁objective ▁measurements ▁in ▁science , ▁particip atory ▁experience ▁in ▁religion . ▁The ▁two ▁plan es ▁of ▁per ception s ▁differ , ▁but ▁meet ▁each ▁other , ▁for ▁example , ▁in ▁amaz ement ▁and ▁in ▁eth ics . ▁ ▁National ▁Academy ▁of ▁Sciences ▁Also ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 9 , ▁the ▁National ▁Academy ▁of ▁Sciences ▁adopted ▁a ▁similar ▁st ance . ▁Its ▁publication ▁Science ▁and ▁Cre ation ism ▁stated ▁that ▁" S cient ists , ▁like ▁many ▁others , ▁are