A weekly dose of science for the church
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The Shadow Side of Self-Driving Trucks
Clearly, self-driving autonomous trucks will make truck drivers a relic of the past. The industry needs an army of engineers, mathematicians, and technicians to keep these systems working safely and at optimal levels. This seismic industry shift presents a prime opportunity for helping BIPOC students see STEM as a viable alternative… We can use our social capital, influence, and collective wisdom to help guide this shift in ways that are equitable and just.
Ministry Profile: The Culture [and Programs] of Blackhawk Church
Blackhawk Church was doing what Science for the Church wants to see other churches do more than a decade before Greg and I dreamed up this newsletter. Dolson and Lindroth’s relationship in the 90s led them to ask what programs might allow them to talk about science and faith for the church.
How Carver Became an Emblem in One Seminary’s Science and Faith Programming
But Grant will add to the model by integrating Carver’s life in a curriculum aimed as regenerating souls too. “Our souls have been ravaged the last two years, so we will do soil work and soul work,” said Grant. “Everyone is experiencing trauma and seeing it in the pandemic. Carver’s life shows us how one engages in a lifelong journey to fulfill one’s God-given potential” despite trauma.
George Washington Carver on Revitalizing Soil and Soul
While many science and faith conversations are dominated by questions about how life began on Earth or if God exists, Black people aren’t questioning that, said Grant. What they do wonder about can be discussed through the life of Carver: “Why is there so much evil and why are we treated less than human? We want to look at the nature of evil, and what does it mean to be human? What does it mean to be disregarded and dehumanized?”
James Webb Telescope: The Heavens Declare the Glory of God
From ancient times, we have peered into the skies seeking to understand the magnitude of God’s handiwork… This quest has led theologians and scientists alike to peer into the skies for clues to help them build and support cosmogonic theories. So, following this great tradition of scientific and theological inquiry, the James Webb space telescope images provide us with the latest window into God’s creative impetus.
How Do We Really and Truly Relate our Faith with Science?
How do we bring science to our faith? And what difference does it make in our church ministries? I’m certainly fascinated by the first question, but it’s the second one I’d like to focus on here. Why? Because it’s our actions that demonstrate what we truly believe. They do in fact speak louder than words.
Devotional: Our Minds and the Mind of Christ
I Corinthians 1:10; 2:16 10 “Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you but that you be...
How Judaism Engages Science: My Conversation with Geoff Mitelman
…in Jewish discussion of texts, such as the Torah and the Talmud, there’s a good deal of argumentation—“show me the text”—it’s like science (and to some degree, like Canon Law in Catholicism). We call this havruta or “pairs,” since two people learning together are better than one learning alone. It’s therefore not lectio divina—a silent reflection on Scripture. Instead, there’s lots of gesticulations and textual work. Traditionally, in the Jewish school or yeshiva, it’s cacophony.
How Islam Engages Science: An interview with Nidhal Guessoum
At Science for the Church, our focus is on the relationship between science and Christian faith. We also engage with other perspectives, including those found in religions that share a belief in one...
Science in Support of Children’s Ministry: (more) Q&A with Erin Smith
How do churches create circumstances where children experience social support? How do churches help children create relationships that allow them to experience the love of Christ? Developmental psychologist Erin Smith helps us dig into these questions.
Psychology for the Church: Q&A with Erin Smith
I worked with a professor who had a research program probing religious cognition. They were asking fascinating questions around how we know and how we come to decide what is real. The implications in their research for both religion and science were really important.
A Conversation with Ted Peters on Theology and Science
Ted Peters brings together both pastoral ministry and academic theology. His interests range from quantum physics to genetics to the possibility of extraterrestrial life and the implications for Christian theology.