ENGAGE WITH LOCAL APOLOGETICS MTGS! Faith & Science lecture series running at Christ the King Church in Alexandria (ctkalexandria.org/) every Sunday from 11:30 AM to 12:15 PM through March 15th. The church is conveniently located just off of I-395, here is a link to the location on Google Maps: goo.gl/maps/mWXse . Sunday the 25th Dr. Jennifer Wiseman will be speaking on Viewing Our Amazing Universe Through the Lens of Faith. Dr. Wiseman studied physics and astronomy at Harvard and MIT, and is currently the Senior Project Scientist for the Hubble Space Telescope at NASA. She studies star-forming regions of our galaxy using radio, optical, and infrared telescopes. Dr. Wiseman also directs the program of Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion for the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Dr. Wiseman is a Fellow of the American Scientific Affiliation, a network of Christians in Science. She frequently gives talks to churches, schools, and campus groups on the excitement of scientific discovery and the complementarity of science and faith. Note: At the bottom of this page is a photo that shows the lecture location, which is just across the street from the church. The lecture handout from the first session is also included. Future faith and science sessions are: Class 3 - 2/1 GUEST LECTURE—Thomas Burnett: Galileo: Hero or Villain? Christianity in the Scientific Revolution. Tom Burnett studied the history and philosophy of science at Rice University and UC-Berkeley, and currently works in science communication at the National Academy of Sciences. Class 4 - 2/8 What Science Is (and Isnt) and How It Works: Key insights from the philosophy of science to inform a Christian understanding of science. Class 5 - 2/15 GUEST LECTURE—Dr. Veil Rives: Christian Faith and the Science of the Mind: One Psychiatrists Approach. Dr. Rives received his M.D. from the University of Alabama and completed his residency in psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He practiced psychiatry for ten years in Northern Virginia. Class 6 - 2/22 Genesis 1 and the Days of Creation: How would the ancient Israelites have understood Genesis 1, and what does it mean for us today? Class 7 - 3/1 Serving God, Preserving His Creation: What does Genesis 2 have to say about Gods creation and the responsibilities given us? Class 8 - 3/8 Finding Harmony Between Science and the Bible: Does the Bible contain or teach science? Well look at several case studies of how Christians throughout history have engaged with challenging issues of science and the Bible, including the question of origins and design. Class 9 - 3/15 GUEST LECTURE—Dr. Stephen Freeland: Science, Faith, and Truth: An Interdisciplinary Perspective. Dr. Freeland studied zoology and genetics at Oxford and Cambridge, and is currently Director of Interdisciplinary Studies at UMBC David Buller is coordinating the series and giving some of the lectures. David is a Program Associate in the Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion program at the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He works primarily on projects involving dialogue between scientists and evangelical Christians, and is currently helping 10 seminaries integrate scientific material into their core curricula. David has a BS in biochemistry and molecular biology and a MA in MA in theological studies, religion and science emphasis, from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. If you need any information please feel free to contact me at 703-380-0749 or [email protected] Regards, Bill Schworer Class 1- January 18 Introducing Faith and Science · The interface of science and Christian belief encompasses a broad range of topics o God created all that is, and so by studying his creation, accurate science cannot but think Gods thoughts after him. (17th century astronomer Johannes Kepler) o Neither our faith nor Christs Lordship are intended to be restricted to merely the personal, interior, and subjective. · Science and faith throughout history: Conflict, Harmony, or Complexity? o The Conflict Thesis: Science and Christianity locked in irreconcilable conflict · The conflict thesis was generated in the late 19th century for polemical purposes. The scholarly consensus today sees it as a myth based on exaggerations, oversimplifications, and outright fabrications. · Nonetheless, the conflict thesis (and warfare language) continues to shape discourse in some Christian circles, some scientific circles, and much public media. o The Harmony Thesis: Science and Christianity fitting like hand in glove · The harmony thesis uncovers several important contributions of Christian thought to the birth and growth of modern science, yet it often oversimplifies or overlooks key points: · It often minimizes instances of real conflict · It often oversimplifies the range of interactions between science and various Christian denominations · It often overlooks foundational non-Christian contributions to the birth and growth of modern science o The Complexity Thesis: Both the conflict and harmony theses contradict or oversimplify a complex historical reality · This is the consensus view among historians of science and religion. · We can hold to a fundamental harmony between science and Christian belief (provided both are properly understood) without feeling the need to assert harmony as a (near-)universal historical reality. ■ There can be value is an occasional creative tension between science and faith, as it can prod us toward closer study and better understanding of Gods Word and creation. · There is superficial conflict but deep concord between science and theistic religion... (Alvin Plantinga) · Science and Faith today o There are numerous examples of leading scientists who are also committed Christians o Science and Religion is an established, respected scholarly discipline, complete with scholarly journals, professional conferences, and university professorships and research centers. o Science and faith is an increasingly common topic of discussion and learning within churches, universities, seminaries and Christian organizations. o o Recommended Readings: · Dixon, Thomas. Science and Religion: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford: Oxford UP, 2008) · Numbers, Ronald L., ed.. Galileo Goes to Jail and Other Myths About Science and Religion (Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 2009) · Numbers, Ronald L.. Science and Christianity in Pulpit and Pew (Oxford: Oxford UP, 2007) · Polkinghorne, John. Belief in God in an Age of Science (New Haven, CT: Yale Nota Bene, 2003) · Ward, Keith. The Big Questions in Science and Religion (West Conshohocken, PA: Templeton Foundation Press, 2008) Christ the King Christ the King ctkalexandria.org
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 13:13:26 +0000