This course examines the nature of both science and religion and attempts to explore the possible relationships between them. The primary purpose is to dispel the popular myth that science and religion are entrenched in a never-ending conflict. As a result, this course argues that if the limits of both science and religion are respected, then their relationship can be complementary.
Topics include: Science and Religion Categories and Foundational Principles, Definitions of Science and Religion, Science-Religion Models and Relationships, Intelligent Design and Natural Revelation, the Galileo Affair, Geology and Noah’s Flood, Evolution and Darwin’s Religious Beliefs, the Modern “Evolution” vs. “Creation” Debate, the Problem of Evil, and Interpretations of the Biblical Accounts of Origins in Genesis 1-11.
The course employs a Constructive Teaching Style in order that students can develop their personal views on the relationship between science and religion and on each of the topics listed above.
St. Joseph's College is a Catholic, undergraduate, liberal arts college on the University of Alberta campus. It is an independent institution that is affiliated with the University of Alberta.
De la lección
Astronomy & the Galileo Affair
This is the first of three weeks examining historical events related to Science and Religion in order to draw lessons for today. Beginning with the famed astronomer Galileo, we will discover that he was a devout Christian and that he fully embraced the Two Divine Books (Book of God’s Word & Book of God’s Works) relationship of Science and Religion. His “Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina” (1615) is a rich source of insights on how to interpret Scripture and how to relate science and Christianity. We will then apply lessons from the Galileo Affair to the debate over biological evolution in ordered to assist people struggling with this science today. This week also begins an extensive series of Hermeneutical Principles demonstrating that the Bible has an ancient understanding of the structure of the world known as the “3-tier universe.”