Purpose
To understand the historical and current issues in the relationship between science and religion.  Francis Collins (leader of the Human Genome Project) in his book, The Language of God, says, “The central question of this book is: In this modern era of cosmology, evolution, and the human genome, is there still the possibility of a richly satisfying harmony between the scientific and spiritual world views?”  He answers his own question with a “resounding yes!”  Through readings, discussion and understanding we hope to reinforce for ourselves Collins’ “resounding yes.”

Schedule
Group meets every Tuesday at 5:00 pm in the Common Room.

Concept
Religion and science have certain commonalities and certain differences. Copernicus’ discovery of our heliocentric solar system initiated one of the very early conflicts between science and the Roman Catholic Church.  This was followed by Isaac Newton’s mechanistic worldview, followed by Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.  At present the major differences revolve around two extremes, the atheistic materialism of some scientists and those religious faiths that hold to a literal or inerrant view of the Bible.  These issues are often seen in the press on the one hand as Scientific Materialism and on the other hand as Creationism or Intelligent Design.  Developments in cognitive science seem to be leading toward even more serious differences in the decades to come.

By studying the interface between science and religion we seek to understand these issues and thus understand how to exploit commonalities through dialogue.

There is no requirement for previous understanding of science or of theology.  No member of the group is a scientist or a theologian.  We adhere to the language of the layperson.

Process
A text is selected by group consensus.  The group leader, who rotates among members on a voluntary basis, emails suggested discussion questions from pre-selected portions of the text to the group for each meeting.  Members come to meetings prepared to discuss these questions as well as others of interest.

Books covered to date in order of coverage
When Science Meets Religion                           Ian Barbour
Faith, Science and Understanding                      John Polkinghorne
The Way To The Dwelling Of Light                     Guy Consolmagno
The Work of Love: Creation as Kenosis              Ed. by Polkinghorne
Paths from Science Toward God                        Arthur Peacocke

We are presently studying Alister McGrath’s Science and Religion, An Introduction, available at Amazon.com.

For more info call or email Ken Simmons (703-823-9378 or kensimmons02@comcast.net) or Bill Ryon (703-451-7062 or wryonjr@verizon.net).