Physics and the God of Abraham

To explore what the latest scientific research can contribute to the understanding of human beings and their relationships to God and the universe, Gonzaga University and Whitworth University are sponsoring a weeklong program of public lectures and academic symposia April 23-27, 2001 titled "Physics and the God of Abraham." Coordinated by Michael Tkacz, associate professor of philosophy and director of the Institute for Christian Philosophy & the Natural Sciences at Gonzaga and Whitworth Professor of Physics Lois Kieffaber, the program features several leading clergy-physicists who have written and lectured extensively on science and religion. The featured speakers include John Polkinghorne, an ordained Anglican priest, past president of Queens College at the University of Cambridge and former professor of mathematical physics at Cambridge; the Rev. William R. Stoeger, a Jesuit priest who is staff scientist at the Vatican Observatory and visiting professor of astronomy at the University of Arizona; and the Rev. Robert J. Spitzer, S.J., president at Gonzaga University and author of an upcoming book on faith and reason.

Conference on Human Nature

On July 22-29, 2001, the Center will be holding a seminar entitled, How Might Christians Think and Teach about Human Nature? Led by Dr. C. Stephen Evans, professor of philosophy from Calvin College, and featuring presentations from Dr. Nancey Murphy from Fuller Seminary and Dr. Jim Waller from Whitworth University, the seminar will focus on a variety of issues associated with human nature. Key questions will center on the nature of human freedom as well as the issue of innate goodness and/or selfishness. The role of genetics, as well as environmental factors shaping human behavior, will be discussed. The central purpose of the seminar is to bring scholars together in order to reach a stronger understanding of the ways in which the academic disciplines treat the issue of human nature. One of the unique features of the conference is the exploration of the opportunities and challenges associated with integrating those theories with traditional theological categories related to original sin and being made in the image of God.

The following faculty have been selected for participation in the seminar: Dr. Cliff Cain, Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Franklin College, Franklin Indiana; Dr. Mark Edwards, Assistant Professor of Sociology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon; Dr. Howard Ducharme, Professor of Philosophy, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio; Dr. Jim Halteman, Professor of Business and Economics, Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois; Dr. Stephen Haynes, Associate Professor of Relgious Studies, Rhodes, College, Memphis Tennessee; Dr. Heather Looy, Assistant Professor of Psychology, The King's University College, Edmonton, Alberta; Dr. Avak Howsepian, Lecturer in Psychology, Trinity International University, Santa Ana California; Dr. Scott Moore, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Baylor University, Waco, Texas; Dr. Colleen McCluskey, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, St. Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri; Dr. John Owen, Assistant Professor of Government and Foreign Affairs, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia; Dr. Andrew Yuengert, Associate Professor of Economics, Pepperdine University, Malibu, California; Dr. Lois Kieffaber, Professor of Physics, Whitworth University, Spokane, Washington; Dr. Donald Calbreath, Professor of Chemistry, Whitworth University, Spokane, Washington; Dr. Adrian Teo, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Whitworth University, Spokane, Washington.

For more information, please contact Dale Soden.

On November 30 and December 1, 2001, Dr. Darrell Guder, the Peachtree Professor Evangelism and Church Growth at Columbia Theological Seminary, and Dr. Craig Van Gelder, professor of congregational mission at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota will be leading a workshop on the nature of the missional church in North America. Professors Guder and Van Gelder have written extensively about the subject and are among the leading scholars in the country on the subject.

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