A Culture of Science and Faith
RE 351E
Spring 2006
Prof. David J. Bryant and Prof. Stephen P. Weppner
Bryant: SE 217, Ph: 864-8278, bryantdj@eckerd.edu
Weppner: SHC 115, Ph: 864-8976, weppnesp@eckerd.edu
webpage: http://academics.eckerd.edu/instructor/weppnesp/RE351E
http://academics.eckerd.edu/instructor/bryantdj/RE351E
Course Description and Objectives:
This interdisciplinary course will examine two seemingly different approaches to the environment that religion and science developed. The significance of the disparity will be examined by analyzing the writings of prominent theologians and scientists.
By the end of the course you should be able to:
critically discuss the goals and methods of religion and science
critically discuss and analyze the spectrum of scientific philosophy as it relates to the environment
critically discuss and analyze the spectrum of religious philosophy as it relates to the environment
critically discuss and analyze the varieties of relationships and interactions possible between the two approaches
Course Requirements:
Attendance, participation in discussion (10%)
Quizzes and Warm-Ups (15%)
Five to ten-minute oral presentation (10%)
Two four- to six-page essays (30%)
Midterm (15%)
Take home final (20%)
Texts:
Wilson, E. O., Consilience, Random House; 1999
Rolston III, Holmes, Genes, Genesis and God, Cambridge University Press; 1999
Wilbur, Ken (Editor), Quantum Questions: Mystical Writings of the World's Great Physicists, Shambhala; 2001
Updike, John, Roger's Version, Knopf; 1986
Huchingson, James E. (Editor), Religion and the Natural Sciences, Wipf and Stock
The Eckerd honor code reads as: On my honor, as an Eckerd College student,I pledge not to lie, cheat, or steal, nor to tolerate those behaviors in others.
On every assignment that you attempt in this class you be asked to write “pledged” to affirm this honor code.
Schedule:
Jan. 31, Introduction to course
The Spiritual Realm
Feb. 2 and 7 Religious approaches to the world
Ward; God: A Guide for the Perplexed, Chapter 1, pg. 1-66 (Library Reserve)
MacCormick: Metaphor in Science and Religion, pg. 88-97 (Huchingson)
Feb. 9 E-perspectives
McCoy: Creation and Covenant, pg. 212-225 (Library Reserve)
Kabilsingh and de Silva: Dharma Gaia, pg. 8-19 (Huchingson)
Engagement
Feb. 14 The scientific revolution
Wilson: Consilience, Chapters1-4, pg. 3-71 (Wilson)
Feb. 16 Range of possible interactions
Barbour: Ways of Relating Science and Religion, pg. 6-30 (Huchingson)
Fuller: Ever Rethinking the Lord's Prayer, pg. 99-103 (Huchingson)
Feb. 21 E-perspectives
McFague: A Holistic View of Reality, pg. 357-362 (Huchingson)
Gilkey: Nature, Reality and the Sacred, Chapter 10, pg 143-157 (Library Reserve)
Kellert: The Good in Nature and Humanity, Chapter 4, pg 49-64 (Library Reserve)
Feb. 23 and Feb. 28 Quantum Mystics
Heisenberg: Quantum Questions, pg 33-73 (Wilbur)
Schroedinger: Quantum Questions, pg 84-97 (Wilbur)
Einstein: Quantum Questions, pg 101-111 (Wilbur)
Jeans: Quantum Questions, pg 129-139 (Wilbur)
Planck: Quantum Questions, pg 149-154 (Wilbur)
Swimme: The Cosmic Creation Story, pg 110-117(Huchingson)
Life in the Cosmos
Mar. 2 Evolution and Creationism
Barbour: Theological Issues in Evolution, pg 265-273 (Huchingson)
Asimov: The “Threat” of Creationism, pg. 275-283 (Huchingson)
Miller: Finding Darwin's God, Chapter 6, pg. 165-191 (Library Reserve)
Mar. 7 The Anthropic Principle
Wald: Life and mind in the Universe, pg 214-219 (Huchingson)
Feinberg/Shapiro: A Puddlian Fable, pg. 220-221 (Huchingson)
Gish: Evolution, A Philosophy, not a Science, pg 265-272 (Huchingson)
Kansas School Board Science Curriculum
Mar. 9 E-perspectives
Lovelock: God and Gaia, pg 383-386 (Huchingson)
Berry: Human Presence, pg 388-392 (Huchingson)
Goodenough: The Sacred Depths of Nature, pg 63-88 (Library Reserve)
Mar. 14 Midterm Exam
Mar. 18 Miracles and Prayer
Hick: Miracles, pg 161-167 (Huchingson)
Dawkins: Miracles and Probability, pg 169-171 (Huchingson)
Tillich: Systematic Theology, pg. 115-118, 274-276 (Library Reserve)
Allen: Christian Belief in a Postmodern World, chapter 9, pg. 165-181 (Library Reserve)
Bryant: Faith as Trust, 7 pages (Library Reserve)
Wilson and Rolston
Mar. 28 and Mar. 30
Wilson: Consilience, Chapters7-8, pg. 136-196 (Wilson)
Apr. 4 and Apr. 6 and Apr. 11
Rolston: Genes, Genesis, and God, preface, Ch 1,3,6, pg 1-50, 108-205, 292-387 (Rolston)
Apr. 13 E-perspective
Wilson: The Future of Life, chapters 5 and 6, pg 103-148 (Library Reserve)
Rolston: Values Gone Wild, pg 1-9 (Library Reserve)
Fiction, Roger’s Version (Updike)
April 18, 20, 25
Possibilities for a Productive Future/ Student Talks
Apr. 27 Darwin’s God
Miller: Finding Darwin's God, chapter 9, pg 260-292 (Library Reserve)
May 2 and May 4 Connections
Buber, I and You, pg 67-70 (Huchingson)
Goodenough: The Sacred Depths of Nature, pg. 167-174 (Library Reserve
Fisher: The Good in Nature and Humanity, Chapter 8, pg. 113-122 (Library Reserve)
Conclusions
May 9 A Livable Future
Farley: The Good in Nature and Humanity, Chapter 7, pg 103-112 (Library Reserve)
Williams: The Good in Nature and Humanity, pg 215-229 (Library Reserve)
Cobb: Ecology, Science, and Religion: Toward a Postmodern Worldview, pg. 99-112 (Library Reserve)