Darwinism and Christianity topic at next Scientia Jan. 21

Darwinism and Christianity topic at next Scientia Jan. 21
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Can a Darwinian
believe in God? Professor of Philosophy Michael Ruse will
examine the answer to this question at the next Scientia
Colloquium at 4 p.m. Jan. 21 in the Kyle Morrow Room, Fondren
Library.

In the abstract
to his lecture titled “Darwinism and Christianity:
All in the Family,” Ruse said, “I argue that Darwinism
is the child of Christianity, with all that that entails.
It is indebted to its parent but at the same time shows
strains and tensions. I shall trace the history of Darwinism
showing its Christian roots, and then I shall consider the
relationship after it appears on the scene (in Charles Darwin’s
“Origin of Species”). I shall argue that in major
respects, the Darwinians (T.H. Huxley particularly) set
Darwinism up as a rival secular religion to Christianity,
and that this is a move that still affects science/religion
relationships to this day.”

A professor at
Florida State University, Ruse is the author of several
books, including “Can a Darwinian be a Christian? The
Relationship Between Science and Religion,” “The
Evolution Wars,” “Genetically Modified Foods:
Debating Biotechnology,” “Mystery of Mysteries:
Is Evolution a Social Construction?” and “Taking
Darwin Seriously.”

He is the founder
and editor of the journal Biology and Philosophy and editor
of the Cambridge University Press Series in the Philosophy
of Biology.

Ruse has held
visiting fellowships, scholarships or professorships at
Cambridge University, Harvard University, Indiana University
and University of Guelph, Canada. He is a Fellow of the
American Association for the Advancement of Science and
of the Royal Society of Canada.

Ruse also provided
expert testimony in the 1981 Arkansas “Scopes II”
creation trial in which the ACLU fought to strike down a
law requiring balanced treatment of creation and evolution
in public schools.

The lecture is
free and open to the public. A wine-and-cheese reception
will follow the lecture.

This year’s
Scientia examines “Evolutionary Biology as a Paradigm
Science.” Founded by Salomon Bochner, Scientia is an
institute for the history of science and culture with a
goal of promoting dialogue among the disciplines. For more
information visit the Scientia Web site at <www.ruf.rice.edu/~scientia/>.