In this issue:
Cosmology discussion headlines lecture series
Physics professor at the intersection of Islam and science
“Anti-evolution” education initiatives move ahead in two more
Catholic anthology presents unified religion and science theme
Cosmology discussion headlines lecture series
Methodist University in Fayetteville, North Carolina hosted last month a discussion on "Cosmology: Science and Theology in Creative Mutual Interaction."
Robert Russell, founder and director of the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences, spoke as part of an annual Templeton Lecture Series on Science and Religion that is open to the public. As an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, Russell's take on cosmology is unique as he also holds a Ph.D. in physics. Cosmology, defined as the study of the universe and by extension humanity's place in it, is an area that can be challenging, but Russell told local media that if God is the creator of the universe there is reason to pursue mutual creative interaction of theology and science.
Russell teaches a number of religion and science oriented courses during the year and is the Ian G. Barbour Professor of Theology and Science in Residence at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. In 2008, his book Cosmology from Alpha to Omega: Towards the Mutual Creative Interaction of Theology and Science was released by Fortress Press. Russell has also edited a series of books on a conference program co-sponsored by CTNS and the Vatican Observatory. Topics of discussion in the books included quantum mechanics, chaos theory, evolutionary and molecular biology, the neurosciences and quantum cosmology.
According to CTNS' website, Russell's current research topics include: resurrection, eschatology and scientific cosmology; quantum mechanics, biological evolution and divine action; evolution, theodicy and Christology; philosophical assumptions in contemporary scientific cosmology and their theological roots; time and eternity from a Trinitarian perspective in relation to time in physics.
This particular lecture series at Methodist University has been ongoing since 2000 under a grant from the Templeton Foundation and the generosity of Howard A. Bullard, Jr. and Marta Bullard. The initial lecture was from Jesuit priest and astronomer George Coyne on the topic of "When the Sacred Cows of Religion and Science Meet." Last year, Rev. Dr. Ted Peters spoke on "The Battle over Evolution: Who's Fighting Whom about What?"
Physics professor at the intersection of Islam and science
Nidhal Guessoum, a professor of physics and astronomy at the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, has published widely on the compatibility of science and the Islamic tradition.
His most recent book, Islam's Quantum Question: Reconciling Muslim Tradition and Modern Science, was released last fall and takes a good look at the assumption that evolutionary theory is contradictory to Islamic faith. In predominantly Muslim countries only 15% of those surveyed are said to believe that Darwin's theory of evolution is 'true' or 'probably true.' Guessoum contends that evolutionary theory does not contradict core Muslim beliefs, but that many scholars from Islam's golden age to the present adopted a worldview that accepted evolution as a given.
He suggests that like Christianity, Islam needs to take scientific questions or 'quantum questions' seriously if it is to recover its true heritage and integrity.
In a 416 pages, Guessoum takes on topics such as cosmology, divine action and evolution. The book is published by I.B. Tauris & Co. Ltd. It follows an earlier work of Guessoum called Reconcilier L'Islam et la Science Moderne, which was published in France in 2009.
"Anti-evolution" education initiatives move ahead in two more states
The Tennessee and Florida legislatures are seeking to change the educational criteria when it comes to teaching their public school students about evolution. While neither piece of legislation looks to teach "intelligent design" initiatives, each bill wants students to keep an open mind about Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.
In Tennessee, House Bill 368 passed with no testimony or discussion, according to the National Center for Science Education, a group dedicated to promote teaching of evolution in US schools. The bill does not stick to evolution specifically in its text. If enacted, the legislation would require state and local authorities to "assist teachers to find ways to present the science curriculum as it addresses scientific controversies." The wording also asks teachers to "help students to understand, analyze, critique and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories covered in the course being taught." Examples of controversial theories include: biological evolution, chemical origins of life, global warming and human cloning.
In mid-March the bill passed the Tennessee House General Subcommittee of Education, around the same time as Florida legislators moved forward with a Senate Bill calling for public school teachers to provide a thorough presentation and critical analysis of the scientific theory of evolution. Reportedly this most recent bill is a resurrection of previous legislation he authored in 2009.
According to
Tampa Bay Tribune, Wise questioned why you wouldn't teach two theories — "evolution" and "non-evolution."
Roughly 85% of Americans have a religious identity, so it is not surprising that 8 in 10 Americans have a view of human origins that involve actions by God, according to Gallup. Evolutionary views have been generally stable over the last 28 years, although there has been a rise in acceptance of a secular evolution perspective. The shifts themselves have not been large as the basic structure of beliefs surrounding human origins is generally the same as it was in the early 1980s, Gallup researchers say.
Other recent legislative efforts in Louisiana and Kentucky add to the growing anti-evolution movement in the post-intelligent design era. The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) late last year approved high school biology textbooks despite complaints of creationists over the book's teaching of evolution. Groups reportedly were seeking books that at least mentioned creationism or intelligent design. The textbook approval comes five years after the well-known verdict in
Kitzmiller v. Dover, which prevented the teaching of intelligent design in public schools.
In Kentucky, the controversy came as Republican State Representative Tim Moore introduced legislation that has been called the Kentucky Science Education and Intellectual Freedom Act. The proposal was debated in the state legislature as it encourages local school district teachers and administrators "to foster an environment promoting objective discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of scientific theories." While the act does not mention evolution or biology specifically, it does seek to allow teachers as permitted by local school boards to use materials in addition to state-approved texts for discussion of scientific theories. It also adds that the provisions do not promote religious doctrine or discrimination.
Catholic anthology presents unified religion and science theme
The Catholic Academy of Sciences in the United States of America has collected 30 scholarly papers combining the effects of science and religion on each other.
This non-profit volunteer organization was set up nearly 25 years ago to promote reflective analysis by scholars with interests in science and religion and the impact of one study on the other. The "Anthology of Papers Presented to the Catholic Academy of Sciences in the USA" was released last month and offers a wide array of viewpoints on controversial issues.
According to Lee T. Grady, secretary of the organization, Catholics believe in God as creator and scientists believe in the theories of evolution and the big bang — ideas that are also compatible with Catholic teaching. Grady received a bachelor degree in pharmacy and earned his doctorate in chemistry from the University of Illinois at the Medical Center, where he was a teaching assistant in physics, analytical and physical chemistry.
Essays on ethics in politics, euthanasia, evolution, medicine, psychiatry and religion are included in the Catholic Academy of Sciences compilation that is on sale at Amazon.com.
Covalence, April 2011