ESN loves to share what likeminded scholars and groups are doing in our Highlighting Community blog feature. Next week at University of Minnesota, historian of science and previous American Scientific Affiliation president Ted Davis will join a forum discussion on faith and science and give a lecture on Galileo and Eden. See below for details. Ted has a busy speaking schedule this spring, including talks in Texas and central PA, so stay tuned for more. For previous interviews with Ted at ESN, see this link.
Foundations Forum Discussion: Scientific Inquiry and Faith
With almost 80 percent of Americans professing some type of religious faith, it is important to consider how these views interact with science. Can faith somehow support scientific inquiry? Or does faith necessarily clash with the callings of science?
Join us the evening of January 26th for a discussion moderated by University of Minnesota professor Jennifer Alexander. We’ll host Dr. Michael Ruse, a secular philosopher of science from Florida State, and Dr. Ted Davis, a Christian historian of science from Messiah college, to discuss the relationship between science and faith. Organized by Campus Atheists, Skeptics, & Humanists, Anselm House Students, and the Round Table, with the help of many other student groups. More detail here.
Date: Thursday January 26 at 7 pm
Talk by Ted Davis: Galileo and the Garden of Eden: Galileo’s Hermeneutics, Modern Christians, and Natural History
To defend Copernican theory from the charge of being contrary to the Bible, Galileo argued that God’s “two books†of Scripture and nature could be harmonized by recognizing that Scripture is “accommodated†to ordinary human language and ideas, which are not scientific. Galileo’s hermeneutical strategy was widely imitated by scientists and clergy in the nineteenth century to help Christians accept an ancient Earth. Since then, however, American Christians have responded to these hermeneutical strategies in varying ways. This talk analyzes what Galileo said, shows how his arguments were reprised in nineteenth-century arguments about the relationship between natural history and Christianity, and explores the trajectory of these arguments into the present day.
Hosted by Anselm House and the University of Minnesota Center for Early Modern History, further details here and here.
Date: Friday January 27 at 3:30 pm
About the author:
The Emerging Scholars Network is always seeking opportunities to identify, encourage, and equip the next generation of Christian scholars to be a redeeming influence in the academy, church, and the world. As you have an announcement, a "call for papers", an event, a prayer request (e.g., campus, field, higher ed), a resource suggestion, a review, etc., which is in concord with our Kingdom of God endeavor, please send materials (marketing/sales material not accepted) for consideration to post via email or the ESN Writer Survey. Thank-you. To God be the glory!