Science and Theology

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Science and Theology: Domains and Dogma

Saturday mornings, starting October 29, 9:00-11:30am (7-week series – no class Nov 26)
Instructor: John M. DeMassa, M.Div., Ph.D.
Location: Trinity Church, 300 North Benson Road, Fairfield CT 06824

Description: This course surveys the formal areas of science and theology identifying their topics of study, methodological practices and philosophical assumptions. In addition to comparing and contrasting each, a thorough historical evaluation will be explored helping to set the context for a full discussion on apparent areas of dispute and agreement. The student will also be exposed to contemporary scholarship that has thoughtfully constructed models holding these two great houses of truth in a cooperative worldview. We will lastly explore several questions of interest common to science and theology.

Textbooks: Samir Okasha, Philosophy of Science: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2002);  David Ford, Theology: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2000). Other materials as listed in class schedule.

Schedule of Classes:

Fall Semester Fall 2011
Session 1: Science and Theology: The Big PictureTopics

  • Course Orientation
  • Why study science and theology?
  • What is thinking and knowledge?
    What is science? Part 1
  • Scientific reasoning, explanation in science, realism and anti-realism

Read: Okasha, Philosophy of Science, pp. 1-76

Alister McGrath, Has Science Killed God?, The Faraday Papers, #9, http://www.st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk/faraday/Papers.php.

 Oct 29
Session 2: What is Science? Topics

  • Scientific change and scientific revolutions
  • Philosophical problems in physics, biology and psychology
  • Science and its critics

Read: Okasha, Philosophy of Science, pp. 77-134

 Nov 5
Session 3: What is Theology?Topics

  • Introduction: theology and the religions in transformation
  • Theology and religious studies: how is the field shaped?
  • Thinking of God

Read: Ford, Theology, pp.3-48

 Nov 12
Session 4: What is Theology? Part 2Topics

  • Skills, Disciplines and Methods
  • Through the past to the present: texts and history
  • Experience, knowledge, and wisdom
  • Theology for the third millennium

Read: Ford, Theology, pp.125-175

(Extra: Ford, Theology, pp.49-82)

 Nov 19
Session 5: Science and Theology: Relating the TwoDenis Alexander, Models for Relating Science and Religion, The Faraday Papers, #3, www.faraday-institute.org.

Roger Trigg, Does Science Need Religion, The Faraday Papers, #2, http://www.st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk/faraday/Papers.php.

  

 

Dec 3
Session 6: Nature and Creation John Polkinghorne, The Anthropic Principle and the Science and Religion Debate, The Faraday Papers, #4, additional readings to be posted. http://www.st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk/faraday/Papers.php

Donald B. DeYoung,  Design in Nature: The Anthropic Principle, http://www.icr.org/article/design-nature-anthropic-principle/

Craig Rusbult, The Anthropic Principle: Is the fine tuning of nature due to a Multiverse and/or Intelligent Design? http://www.asa3.org/ASA/education/origins/anthropic-cr.htm
Ernest Lucas, Interpreting Genesis in the 21st Century, The Faraday Papers, #11, http://www.st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk/faraday/Papers.php

  

 

 

 

Dec 10
Session 7: What is Man? Are We Only Material Beings?John J. Davis, Artificial Intelligence & the Christian Understanding of Personhood, The Frontiers of Science, 2002, p.103.;

Michael Poole, Reductionism: Help of Hindrance in Science and Religion? The Faraday Papers, #6; 

Graeme Finlay Human Genomics and the Image of God, The Faraday Papers, #14;

Stuart J. Judge, Nothing But a Pack of Neurons? The Faraday Papers, #16, http://www.st-edmunds.cam.ac.uk/faraday/Papers.php,

Brian Thomas, Study Shows Humans Are Uniquely Designed for Music, http://www.icr.org/articles/view/5975/288/,

Brian Thomas, Origins Breakthroughs of 2010: Human Genetics, http://www.icr.org/articles/view/5857/288/,

Brian Thomas, Evolution Can’t Explain Dancing Babies, http://www.icr.org/articles/view/5314/288/

  

 

Dec 17

Attendance: Very important.
Homework: Projects or questions from each topic may be assigned for each session. These assignments are the responsibility of the student and should not be taken lightly. They will be collected, recorded and count toward your final grade. The best 6 assessments out of 7 will be weighted for the final grade.
Classes will meet at Trinity Church (room to be determined).
Details Subject to Change