Thursday, February 26, 2004
Fourth annual Goshen College Conference on Science and Religion to feature Georgetown University theologian March 12-14
GOSHEN, Ind.
-- Goshen College's fourth annual Conference on Science and
Religion from March 12 to 14 will examine aspects of the dialogue
between science and religion. At this time, specifically issues
related to evolution, ecology and cosmology will be
considered.
The keynote speaker for the conference will be Dr. John Haught, the
Thomas Healey Distinguished Professor of Theology at Georgetown
University.
Haught will present two public lectures and a private address for
registered conference participants. Haught's first public lecture,
"Science and the Quest for Cosmic Purpose," will be at 7:30 p.m.
March 12 in the Church-Chapel. His second public lecture, "God
After Darwin: Evolution and Divine Providence," will be at 10:30
a.m. March 13 in the Church-Chapel.
The annual
Science and Religion conference is sponsored by the Miller-Jeschke
Program for Christian Faith and the Natural Sciences. The program,
founded by Elizabeth (Miller) Jeschke, aims to stimulate
conversation and scholarship in an area often heavily influenced by
secular thinking.
Carl Helrich,
professor of physics and conference organizer, said, "Haught is one
of the most respected theologians working on the boundary of
religion and science. He is also well known as a dynamic speaker.
We are very happy to have him with us for this
conference."
Haught is a 1970 graduate
of Catholic University. His area of specialization is systematic
theology, with a particular interest in issues pertaining to
religion and science, especially cosmology, evolution and ecology.
Haught recently won the Owen Garrigan Award in Science and
Religion. In 1996, he established the Georgetown Center for the
Study of Science and Religion.
Haught is the author of "Deeper than
Darwin: The Prospect for Religion in the Age of Evolution"
(Westview Press, 2003), "Responses to 101 Questions on God and
Evolution" (Paulist Press, 2001), "Science and Religion: From
Conflict to Conversation" (Paulist Press, 1995) and "The Promise of
Nature: Ecology and Cosmic Purpose" (Paulist Press, 1993), among
others.
The Goshen College
Conference on Science and Religion is unique in that undergraduates
are also registrants. "The discussions flow at a very high level,
but our students are prepared," said Helrich. The conference will
include the lectures, as well as several times to worship together
and plenty of opportunities for informal conversation.
Past conference speakers have
included Nancey Murphy, professor of Christian philosophy at Fuller
Theological Seminary; George F. R. Ellis, professor of applied
mathematics at the University of Capetown; and Antje
Jackelén, director of the Zygon Center for Religion and
Science and assistant professor of systematic theology at the
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
The conference is planned to
maximize interaction between the participants and Haught. Most of
the conference will be devoted to moderated discussion with Haught,
dealing directly with the lecture topics and Haught's thoughts on
related issues. Participants share meals together as an integral
part of the conference. Registration is limited; cost for the
entire weekend is $100, including all meals. There is no charge for
either of the public lectures.
For more information or to
register, contact Doris Yoder at (574) 535-7305.
Editors: For
more information, contact Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.
Goshen College,
established in 1894, is a four-year residential Christian liberal
arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The
college's Christ-centered core values -- passionate learning,
global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and
servant-leadership -- prepare students as leaders for the church
and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program,
Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron's Best Buys
in Education, Kaplan's "Most
Interesting Colleges" guide and U.S.News & World
Report's "America's Best
Colleges" edition, which named Goshen a "least debt college." Visit
https://www.goshen.edu/.
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