Course Description:
This course introduces students to the historical encounter between the various sciences and Christianity. The course will explore the history and content of scientific methodologies and paradigms employed in both the natural and social sciences. Students will also consider the key controversies within each discipline and the contemporary developments in each of these fields. The course will also examine how Christianity has shaped and been shaped by scientific developments. The aim of the course is to help the student develop an integrated worldview that will provide an understanding of the tension and synergy between science and Christian faith.

Course Outline
The first part of the course will be a brief historical overview of how Christianity responded to the prevailing philosophical and scientific models of the day. In the course of our study, we will consider how Christianity responded to Aristotelianism, Copernicanism, Newtonian physics, the Enlightenment and Darwinian evolutionary theory.

The second part of the course considers how the historical lessons from the encounter of science and Christianity can be applied to contemporary discussions. The historical perspective will provide a foundation for considering the models and paradigms employed in both religion and the sciences. We will consider the various approaches to relating science and religion that Ian Barbour presents: conflict, independence, dialogue and integration. In this second part of the course we will also focus on important issues in thermodynamics and quantum physics, cosmology, evolutionary theory and psychological and anthropological views on human nature

In the third section of the course we turn our attention to the relationship between epistemological authority in science and religion. We will focus on the issues of how authority functions in both science and theology and what exactly constitutes legitimate authority in each. An important element of this section will be the notion of epistemic humility; i.e. recognizing the limits of each authority.

Course Objectives:
By the end of this course, the student will be able to:

• Identify key ideas and figures in the history of science, philosophy and Christian theology
• Articulate and apply different approaches to issues in religion and science (i.e. conflict, independence, dialogue and integration)
• Understand the essential characteristics of the empirical method and the role of paradigms in the various sciences
• Understand how philosophical and theological models operate in shaping a worldview
• Synthesize and integrate materials from the sciences, philosophy and Christian theology into a significant research project

Instructors:
Dr. Darrel Iler (Director)
Dr. Eugene Dunkley
Dr. James Zahniser