God and Modern Biology

Educational Enrichment in Science and Religion for Catholic Parish

Leaders and Educators

Summer 2012 Workshop• June 26 – Science and Religion• July 10 – The Big Bang and Cosmology• July 17 – Biotechnology• July 24 – Evolution July 31 – Reflection and Strategies

» Evening Celebratory Banquet

All sessions at Dimenna-Nyselius Library on the Fairfield University campus: 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM

9am

:00 Gather - Continental Breakfast :30 Welcome/Updates Sauer/Collins:45 Topics in Science and Religion Sauer

10am:00 A few words about context Sauer:30 Reflection Period/Break

11am:00 Small Groups :50 Break

12pm

:10 Mass – Feast of St. Ignatius (Chapel)

:30 Lunch (Library Cafe)

1pm:00 :30 Taking it Home – Context & Goals Klaf

2pm:00 Personal Reflection Period :30 Role Group Meetings

3pm:00

:30 Break

4pm:00 Next Steps and Surveys Sauer:30

5pm:00 Final Thoughts Sauer/Collins:30 Social and Banquet (Alumni House) All

Day 5 - Schedule

GoalsBuild a community for engagement on issues

relating to science and religionIntellectual and spiritual development for

program participants• Develop educational materials and programs

for use in Catholic parishes and schools• Scientifically literate and theologically

articulate Catholic citizens

Topics in Science and Religion• Cosmology – Multiverse theories– Eschatology– Astrobiology

• Earth’s Environment – Global Warming– Population growth– Stewardship

Topics in Science and Religion• Physics– Particle physics (Higg’s boson, etc.)– Dark matter– Quantum uncertainty

• Evolution – Human evolution– Intelligent design– Abiogenesis (chemical evolution)– Evolutionary theology

Topics in Science and Religion• Biotechnology– Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)– Gene therapy– Cloning– Human Genome Project– Designer babies– Uses of genetic information

Topics in Science and Religion• Advanced technology – Robotics– Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• Neuroscience– Theories of mind – Neurotheology

Monthly Meetings• September, October, November, February,

March, April/May • Format?– Lecture/discussion– Book discussion– Workshops

• Day of Week?– Week night (what day?)– Saturday (morning/all day)

GoalsBuild a community for engagement on issues

relating to science and religionIntellectual and spiritual development for

program participantsDevelop educational materials and programs

for use in Catholic parishes and schools• Scientifically literate and theologically

articulate Catholic citizens

Ignatian Pedagogical Cycle

Institutional Role Peer Groups

• Religious education (Group A)• Parish leaders (Group B)• Diocesan schools (Group C)• Lay ministries (Group D)• Parishioners (Group E)

Sponsors

• John Templeton Foundation• Humanities Institue of Fairfield University• Fairfield University’s Center for Faith and

Public Life• Fairfield University’s Center for Academic

Excellence• Diocese of Bridgeport

Contact Information

• Glenn Sauer - 203-254-4000 x 2741– Cell 203-394-8439

• Trina Wong - 203-254-4000 x 2037– Cell 203-671-5836

Email: gmb@fairfield.edu