On Science and the Catholic Faith
God and Modern Science: The Credibility of the Creator
A. Belief Under Assault: Scientific Atheism and the Assault on Reason and Faith
Certain thinkers such as Richard Dawkins claim that religious faith is an outdated form of scientific ignorance and that science has disproved the existence of God. This introductory presentation examines this position and raises a new possibility: that modern science has actually strengthened the credibility of the Christian Faith, which is itself an affirmation of a scientific approach to the universe.
B. The Twist in the Tale: Modern Science vs. Scientific Atheism
From the time of Copernicus up until the end of the nineteenth century, the trend of scientific discoveries had seemed to some people to be leading away from the traditional Christian conception of the universe. But in the twentieth century, science began saying things that were totally unanticipated. In this presentation, we will look at three “twists” in the tale of scientific discovery that have occurred since Einstein’s great breakthroughs, particularly in the areas of cosmology and physics, that point compellingly toward the existence of God and the truth of the Christian doctrine of creation.
C. Going “Deeper than Darwin”: Faith and the Origins of Living Things, Part I
Darwin’s evolutionary paradigm for the origins of life revolutionized the biological sciences and offered the key to unlocking the amazing history of all life, including humanity. Yet it has been poorly received and widely misunderstood by many believers. This presentation reviews the theory, the controversy, and the Catholic Church’s positive reception of the theory. It also offers a new perspective on the controversial points of evolutionary theory and reveals how the fact of evolution deepens, rather than obscures, our understanding of God and the universe.
D. Going “Deeper than Darwin”: Faith and the Origins of Living Things, Part II
Many Catholic thinkers, including Pope Benedict XVI, do more than affirm that evolution and the Christian Faith are compatible; they actually claim that a compelling harmony exists between them! In the words of the 1907 edition of the Catholic Encyclopedia, evolution is “in perfect agreement with the Christian conception of the universe.” In this presentation the data of Divine Revelation is given a fresh look in the light of evolution so that this breathtaking harmony between the two can be fully appreciated.
Catholicism and Modern Science: A Rediscovered Heritage
A. Belief Under Assault: Scientific Atheism and the Assault on Reason and Faith
Certain thinkers such as Richard Dawkins claim that religious faith is an outdated form of scientific ignorance and that science has disproved the existence of God. This introductory presentation examines this position and raises a new possibility: that modern science has actually strengthened the credibility of the Christian Faith, which is itself an affirmation of a scientific approach to the universe.
B. The ‘Big Bang’ About Creation: Is Sacred Scripture Anti-Science?
Much of the controversy surrounding the relationship between faith and science centers around the biblical creation accounts and the proper interpretation of Sacred Scripture. Through a detailed examination of the Catholic approach to Scripture and a close investigation of the message and the shape of the First Creation Account in Genesis 1, this talk reveals that Sacred Scripture is not only compatible with science, but that it fosters it and offers it a transcendent goal.
C. Patroness or Persecutor? The Catholic Church and Scientific Discovery
It is a common misconception that the Catholic Church is the arch-nemesis of the spirit of scientific inquiry and discovery that made modern science possible. Through an investigation of the Church’s teaching and history (including an honest examination of the Galileo Affair), the Church’s patronage of the sciences and her role in stimulating the growth of modern science is revealed. The presentation concludes by introducing the many priest-scientists who have made pioneering scientific contributions throughout the ages.
D. The Twist in the Tale: Modern Science vs. Scientific Atheism
From the time of Copernicus up until the end of the nineteenth century, the trend of scientific discoveries had seemed to some people to be leading away from the traditional Christian conception of the universe. But in the twentieth century, science began saying things that were totally unanticipated. In this presentation, we will look at three “twists” in the tale of scientific discovery that have occurred since Einstein’s great breakthroughs, particularly in the areas of cosmology and physics, that point compellingly toward the existence of God and the truth of the Christian doctrine of creation.
In His Image: Human Personhood and Modern Science
A. In His Image: The Human Person from the Divine Perspective
This introductory presentation sets the stage by unfolding the rich heritage of Catholic faith and philosophy regarding the human person, God’s own image. Topics such as rationality and freedom, body and soul, man and woman and the dynamics of personhood helped to bring into focus the teaching of the Church regarding the incomparable greatness of the human person, “the only creature on earth that God has willed for its own sake.” (Vatican II, Gaudium et spes)
B. Image or Illusion? Scientific Challenges to Human Dignity and Personhood
According to some, modern science has revealed human reason and free will to be illusions rather than the foundations of the divine image in humanity. It has been claimed that a human being is not significantly difference than other animals, and that human intelligence is not significantly different than artificial intelligence. Certain conceptions of the universe also call into question the possibility of human freedom. In this presentations, each of these issues is examined in detail, and the unique dignity of the human species is reaffirmed on the basis of science and reason.
C. The Emergence of the Image: Modern Science and the Origins of Humanity, Part I
Evolutionary science has uncovered some amazing facts about the origins of humanity, and has clearly established our genetic relationship to the other living creatures on our planet. Can the scientific evidence regarding the evolution of the human species illuminate what God has revealed about the origins of humanity in Scripture and Church teaching? In this presentation, Sacred Scripture, the teaching of the Church and the findings of paleoanthropology (the branch of biology that focuses on the study of human evolution) are considered in the light of recent papal teaching regarding these issues.
D. The Emergence of the Image: Modern Science and the Origins of Humanity, Part II
In this continuation, specific issues involved in the relationship between the Church’s teaching regarding the origins of humanity and the data offered by paleoanthropology are considered, such as ensoulment, the Fall and original sin. In conclusion, the rich and important implications of paleoanthropology for Catholic theology are considered.
God and Evolution: Going “Deeper than Darwin”
A. Going “Deeper than Darwin”: Faith and the Origins of Living Things, Part I
Darwin’s evolutionary paradigm for the origins of life revolutionized the biological sciences and offered the key to unlocking the amazing history of all life, including humanity. Yet it has been poorly received and widely misunderstood by many believers. This presentation reviews the theory, the controversy, and the Catholic Church’s positive reception of the theory. It also offers a new perspective on the controversial points of evolutionary theory and reveals how the fact of evolution deepens, rather than obscures, our understanding of God and the universe.
B. Going “Deeper than Darwin”: Faith and the Origins of Living Things, Part II
Many Catholic thinkers, including Pope Benedict XVI, do more than affirm that evolution and the Christian Faith are compatible; they actually claim that a compelling harmony exists between them; in the words of the 1907 edition of the Catholic Encyclopedia, evolution is “in perfect agreement with the Christian conception of the universe.” In this presentation the data of Divine Revelation is given a fresh look in the light of evolution so that the breathtaking harmony between the two can be fully appreciated.
C. The Emergence of the Image: Modern Science and the Origins of Humanity, Part I
Evolutionary science has uncovered some amazing facts about the origins of humanity, and has clearly established our genetic relationship to the other living creatures on our planet. Can the scientific evidence regarding the evolution of the human species illuminate what God has revealed about the origins of humanity in Scripture and Church teaching? In this presentation, Sacred Scripture, the teaching of the Church and the findings of paleoanthropology (the branch of biology that focuses on the study of human evolution) are considered in the light of recent papal teaching regarding these issues.
D. The Emergence of the Image: Modern Science and the Origins of Humanity, Part II
In this continuation, specific issues involved in the relationship between the Church’s teaching regarding the origins of humanity and the data offered by paleoanthropology are considered, such as ensoulment, the Fall and original sin. In conclusion the rich and important implications of paleoanthropology for Catholic theology are considered.