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Last Updated: March 19, 2010 8:57 AM

Science & Religion

Spring 2010

Schedule

  • Week of Monday, January 4 -- INTRODUCTION
    • Essential Questions:
      • Why does philosophy play an essential role in the relationship between science and religion?
      • What is science?  How are fields like biology, physics, and psychology similar? 
      • What does it mean to know, believe, and have faith in something?  How do we know something is true?
      • What does it mean to exist?  How is the statement "God exists" different from or similar to the statements "I exist" and "electrons exist"
    • Monday - No Class
    • Tuesday - No Class
    • Day 1 - Activity Schedule
    • Day 2 - Activity Schedule
    • Day 3 - Activity Schedule
      • Introduction to Philosophy
      • Metaphysics - what is reality?
      • Logic
      • HW:
        • Read this interview from Discover with Max Tegmark and write down answers to the following questions:
          • What is his metaphysics?
            • Is he more Platonic (Plato) or Aristotelean (Artistotle)? Why?
            • Is he more of a materialism or idealist? Why?
            • Is he more of a monist or dualist? Why?

      •  

  • Week of Monday, January 11 -- UNIT 1: A PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE
    • Essential Questions:
      • Why does philosophy play an essential role in the relationship between science and religion?
      • What is science?  How are fields like biology, physics, and psychology similar? 
      • What does it mean to know, believe, and have faith in something?  How do we know something is true?
      • What does it mean to exist?  How is the statement "God exists" different from or similar to the statements "I exist" and "electrons exist"?
    • Day 1
      • Finish Logic
      • Epistemology
        • Rationalism & Empiricism
          • Rene Descartes & Gottfried Leibniz
          • John Locke & David Hume
        • Immanuel Kant
      • HW:
        • Read handout from class on the philosophy of science and type answers to the questions below:
          • What does it mean to assume "uniformity in nature"? What does this have to do with induction?
          • Summarize what David Hume meant by "the problem of induction."
          • Karl Popper had a solution to Hume's problem of induction. Popper argued that science doesn't use induction and that science doesn't actually prove that theories are true. What, according to Popper, does science do if it doesn't prove things to be true? In other words, what is it that makes a theory scientific?
    • Day 2
      • The Philosophy of Science
      • David Hume & The Problem of Induction
      • Karl Popper & Falsifiability
      • HW:
        • None
    • Day 3 - AOK's gone to a conference
      • Watch part 1 of Brian Greene's "The Elegant Universe"
      • HW: Due Day 1
          • Read this handout on Thomas Kuhn's philosophy of science.
          • Write / type answers to the following four questions:
            • What is a "paradigm" and what does it have to do with "normal science"?
            • What is meant by a "scientific revolution"?
            • We often think of scientific data as entirely objective. What does it mean to say that data is "theory-laden"
            • Why were Kuhn's ideas considered so controversial? What previously held conceptions about science did he challenge?
    • Day 4 - AOK's gone to a conference
      • Read these two essays responding to the question, Does science make belief in God obsolete?
      • Then read this debate between Pinker and Phillips
      • Complete this worksheet and turn it in by the end of class
      • HW: Due Day 1
          • Read this handout on Thomas Kuhn's philosophy of science.
          • Write / type answers to the following four questions:
            • What is a "paradigm" and what does it have to do with "normal science"?
            • What is meant by a "scientific revolution"?
            • We often think of scientific data as entirely objective. What does it mean to say that data is "theory-laden"
            • Why were Kuhn's ideas considered so controversial? What previously held conceptions about science did he challenge?

           

  • Week of Monday, January 18 -- UNIT 1: A PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE
    • Essential Questions:
      • Why does philosophy play an essential role in the relationship between science and religion?
      • What is science?  How are fields like biology, physics, and psychology similar? 
      • What does it mean to know, believe, and have faith in something?  How do we know something is true?
      • What does it mean to exist?  How is the statement "God exists" different from or similar to the statements "I exist" and "electrons exist"?
    • Monday
      • Holiday - MLK Day
    • Day 1
      • The Philosophy of Science
      • Thomas Kuhn & Paradigm Shifts in Science
      • Review Sheets: Philosophy & Philosophy of Science
      • HW:
        • Begin studying for the quiz on Day 3. Use review sheets as a guide and refer to your notes & readings.
    • Day 2
      • Recap Philosophy of Science
      • Review for quiz
      • HW:
        • Study for the quiz on Day 3. Use review sheets as a guide and refer to your notes & readings.
    • Day 3
      • Quiz 1.1 - Philosophy & Philosophy of Science
      • HW:
        • Read this excerpt from Paul Tillich on faith, and write answers to the following questions:
          • What does it mean to say that faith is "ultimate concern"? In other words, what does "ultimate concern" mean?
          • According to Tillich, what is the relationship between faith and doubt? Are they incompatible?
          • What does Tillich say is the greatest misconception about faith?

     

  • Week of Monday, January 25 -- UNIT 1: A PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE
    • Essential Questions:
      • What is religion?  What is the difference between religious studies, theology, and spirituality? 
      • What does it mean to know, believe, and have faith in something?  How do we know something is true?
      • What does it mean to exist?  How is the statement "God exists" different from or similar to the statements "I exist" and "electrons exist"? 
    • Day 1
      • Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion
      • Religious Studies, Theology, & Spirituality
      • Faith as Ultimate Concern (Tillich)
        • Faith in God as Ultimate Concern for God
      • HW:
    • Day 2
      • Applying Tillich's ideas
      • God
        • as Love
        • as Being Itself
          • Ground & Horizon of Being
      • HW:
        • Read this excerpt from Paul Tillich on symbols, and write answers to the following questions:
          • According to Tilich, symbols have 6 characteristics or dimensions. What are they?
          • If faith is ultimate concern, why must faith be expressed through religious symbols?
          • Tillich says that the symbol God has two elements. Describe them as best you can.
          • The word "myth" is commonly used to refer to things that aren't true, but it actually has an older and very different meaning, as in the term "mythology" suggests. What does "mythology" actually mean?
    • Day 3
      • The Philosophy of Religion
        • Paul Tillich, Karl Rahner & Religious Symbols
        • Symbols
        • Religious Symbols
        • Beliefs, Rituals, etc. as Symbolic Expressions of Faith
      • HW:
        • None
    • Day 4

      •  

  • Week of Monday, February 1 -- UNIT 1: A PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE
    • Essential Questions:
      • In what ways do science and religion interact?  In what ways are they different?  Are there any similarities between them?
    • Day 1
      • Review of Philosohy of Religion
        • Christian Theology
      • Introduce Ian Barbour's Typology of Relationships Between Science & Religion
        • Conflict, Independence, Dialogue, Integration
      • HW:
        • Read Barbour Ch 1 pgs 7 - 17 (this covers the Conflict position)
          • take notes & outline
    • Day 2
      • Barbour's Typology
      • Conflict
        • Scientific Materialism
        • Biblical Literalism
      • HW:
        • Read Barbour Ch 1 pgs 17-27 (this covers the Independence & Dialogue Positions)
          • take notes & outline
    • Day 3
      • Barbour's Typology
      • Independence
        • Separate Domains
        • Separate Language & Function
      • Dialogue
        • Limit or Boundary Questions
        • Parallels in Method
      • HW:
        • Read Barbour Ch 1 pgs 27-38 (this covers the Integration Position)
          • take notes & outline
    • Day 4
      • Barbour's Typology
      • Integration
        • Natural Theology
        • Theology of Nature
        • Systematic Synthesis
      • Summary Diagram
      • HW:
        • Finish Quiz corrections if you haven't already

 

  • Week of Monday, February 8 --UNIT 1: A PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE
    • Essential Questions:
      • How has the relationship between science and religion shaped by history and culture?
    • Day 1
    • Day 2
      • Discuss Readings
      • HW:
        • Study for Quiz
          • Faith as Ultimate Concern
          • Symbols
          • Religion as Faith Community & Symbolic System
          • Barbour's Typology
    • Day 3
      • Quiz 1.2 - Philosophy of Religion & Barbour's Typology
      • Prep for Visit from Jesuit Novices
      • HW:
        • None
    • Day 4
      • Visit from Jesuit Novices
      • HW:
        • Begin Studying for Exam on Day 2 next week

 

 

  • Week of Monday, February 22 -- UNIT 2: A THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
    • Essential Questions:
      • Why is there something instead of nothing?  Why is the universe intelligible?  
      • What does it mean to say that the universe is "created by God"? 
      • What does cosmology tell us about the origin of the universe?
    • This week marks the 45th anniversary of the assassination of Malcolm X.  His autobiography is a must read!
    • Day 1
      • EXAM 1 - Philosophy of Science & Religion
      • HW:
        • Read these handouts on creation theology and write answers to the questions below:
          • Henry Drummond coined the term "god of the gaps" to describe a certain type of theology. What does "god of the gaps" mean?
          • What does "first cause" mean and why is it outside the realm of science?
          • Many argue that the universe is "fine-tuned."  What is their basic argument?
          • What does creatio ex nihilo mean? Explain in a few sentences (don't just translate).
          • What does creatio continua mean?  Explain in a few sentences (don't just translate)
    • Day 2
    • Day 3
    • Day 4
      • Astronomy & Creation
      • Discuss Templeton Essays
      • HW:
        • None

 

  • Week of Monday, March 1 -- UNIT 2: A THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
    • Essential Questions:
      • What does it mean to be human?
      • What does it mean to say that humans are "created by God"? 
      • What does evolutionary biology tell us about the origin of the human beings?
    • Day 1
    • Day 2
      • Hominization: The Evolution of Humans
      • The Evolution of Religion
      • Introduction to Creation Theology
      • HW:
        • Read the handout from Monica Hellwig on Creation and write responses to the quesitons below:
          • 1) What underlying question or questions does religion answer in its creation stories?  Why are these questions not scientific?
          • 2) According to Hellwig, what are some points that emerge from the Genesis stories to answer these questions?
          • 3) The Genesis stories describe humans as "made in the image of God"?  According to Hellwig, what does this mean?
          • 4) Hellwig says that "an evolutionary view of the universe and of the human situation may in fact be more helpful context for the doctrine of creation than was provided by a static view" (pg 41).   What does she mean?
        • Read the response to question 20 in John Haught's book and answer the question below:
          • 5) Why does Haught say that evolution "supports rather than undermines the biblical sense of our being created in God's image and likeness"?
    • Day 3
      • Evolution & Creation
      • Did religion evolve?
      • Creation Theology
      • Introduction to Creation Theology
        • Genesis Stories
        • The Imago Dei
      • HW:
        • None
    • Day 4

 

  • Week of Monday, March 8 -- UNIT 2: A THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

    • Monday

      • Midterms in other classes
    • Tuesday
      • Quiz 2.1 - Astronomy, Evolution & Creation
      • HW:
        • None! Relax, take a break, and gear up for the last quarter of your SI career!
    • Wednesday
      • Midterms in other classes
    • Thursday
      • No class, Teacher Inservice
    • Friday
      • No class, Quarter Break

 

  • Week of Monday, March 15 -- UNIT 2: A THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
    • Essential Questions:
      • What does it mean to be human?
      • What does it mean to say that humans are "created by God"? 
      • What does evolutionary biology tell us about the origin of the human beings?
      • Is religion a byproduct or adaptation of evolution?
    • Day 1
      • Review Quiz 2.1
      • Creationism
      • HW:
        • Read responses 50, 51, 56, & 57 in John Haught's book and write answers to the questions written below.
          • 1) Explain a few different approaches to creationsim, such as "old-earth", "creation science."
          • 2) If Genesis is not interpreted literally, what other interpretations are possible?
        • Visit ICR's website and read about their mission & principles
        • Take the virtual tour of the creationism museum
        • Read responses 63, 64, 66 in John Haught's book and write answers to the questions written below.
          • 3) How is intelligent design different from creationism?
          • 4) Why does John Haught say that evolution is more in line with Genesis than intelligent design?
    • Day 2
    • Day 3

 

  • Week of Monday, March 22 -- UNIT 2: A THEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
    • Essential Questions:
      • What does it mean to be human?
      • What is consciousness? Is it unique to humans?
      • Are our brains "wired" for religion? Does this make religion more or less "real"?
    • Day 1
      • Evolutionary Materialism
      • Read responses 73-77 in John Haught's book and write answers to the questions written below:
        • Dawkins' "God Hypothesis" is similar to what Haught calls the "God of 'special creation,'" which is bad theology. Instead, how does Haught suggest we think of God as creator?
      • Evolution & Creation
      • Independence: NOMA
      • Dialogue: Hierarchy of Levels
        • Complexity & Self-Organization
      • HW:
        • Read Barbour, pgs 99-101 and write an answer to the question below:
          • What does NOMA mean?  Explain.
        • Read responses 52, 53, 41 in John Haught's book and write answers to the questions written below:
          • What is meant by a "hierarchy of explanations"?
        • Read responses 33, 34, & 35 in John Haught's book and write answers to the questions written below:
          • How does evolution enrich and change our understanding of creation and God?
        • Read the chapters handed out in class from Ted Peters & Mary Hewlett's book:
          • What is "theistic evolution"? Why do the authors say that theistic evolutionists are so silent?
    • Day 2
      • Introduce Synthesis Paper
      • Integration: Theistic Evolution
      • HW:
        • Read responses 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 93, 94 in John Haught's book
        • What did the Jesuit paleontologist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin mean when he described humans as "having a within as well as a without"?
        • Explain the authors mean by creatio continua?
    • Day 3
    • Day 4
      • Quiz 2.2 - Evolution & Creation
      • Neuroscience & Human Nature
      • Introduction to Neuroscience
      • The Human Brain
      • HW:
        • Position Paper (due Monday)
        • Read handouts on consciousness and write responses to the questions below:
          • What is meant by the "hard problem" of conciousness? How is that different than the so-called "easy problems"?
          • Consciousness is not easily defined. What are some ways to describe it? (See box on p 7)
          • Would you press the button?

 

 

  • Week of Monday, April 5
    • No Class - Spring Break

 

 

 

  • Week of Monday, April 26 -- UNIT 3: AN ETHICAL PERSPECTIVE
    • Essential Questions:
      • What does it mean to be human? Can humans even be understood apart from the environment? 
      • What does it mean to work for justice in an age of science & technology?
      • Can science tell us what is right and wrong?
      • When does it become unethical to manipulate the environment for technological purposes?  Is our technology making Earth inhospitable to life, including human life?  
      • Should some scientific pursuits, like human cloning or nuclear weapons, be legally prevented?  What are the ethical and moral reasons for instituting such laws?
    • Day 1
      • Bioethics & Genetic Engineering
      • Catholic Social Teaching
      • Principles of Bioethics:
        • Respect for Autonomy
        • Non-Maleficence
        • Beneficence
        • Justice
      • HW:
        • Read the first section only (pgs 15-20) from the handout in class on bioethics & genetics and write responses to the questions below
          • What does Peters mean by the "gene myth"?
          • Peters describes two forms of genetic determinism: Puppet & Promethean. Describe the difference between them.
    • Day 2
      • Bioethics & Genetic Engineering
      • Intro to Genetic Engineering
      • HW:
        • TBA
    • Day 3
      • Bioethics & Genetic Engineering
        • Transgenics
      • HW:
        • Finish reading the handout in class on bioethics & genetics (pgs 25-34) and write responses to the questions below
          • Most religious ethicists are okay with somatic therapy but have concerns for germline therapy. What are some of the ethical concerns they raise?
          • Most religious ethicists are critical of genetic enhancement in any way. What are some of the ethical concerns they raise?
          • Ted Peters describes three meanings for the phrase "playing God." What are these three meanings and which one is most relevant to genetics?
          • Why is the notion of humans as "created co-creators" important for genetic engineering?
          • Peters writes that "Virtually all Roman Catholics and Protestants who take up the challenge of the new genetic knowledge seem to agree on a handful of theological axioms." What are these axioms?
    • Day 4

 

  • Week of Monday, May 3 -- UNIT 3: AN ETHICAL PERSPECTIVE
    • Essential Questions:
      • What does it mean to be human? Can humans even be understood apart from the environment? 
      • What does it mean to work for justice in an age of science & technology?
      • Can science tell us what is right and wrong?
      • When does it become unethical to manipulate the environment for technological purposes?  Is our technology making Earth inhospitable to life, including human life?  
      • Should some scientific pursuits, like human cloning or nuclear weapons, be legally prevented?  What are the ethical and moral reasons for instituting such laws?
    • AP Exams this week
    • Day 1
    • Day 2
    • Day 3
      • Quiz 3.1 - Bioethics & Genetic Engineering
      • HW:
        • None
    • Day 4
      • Guest Speaker
      • HW: None

 

 

  • Week of Monday, May 17 -- UNIT 3: AN ETHICAL PERSPECTIVE
    • Essential Questions:
      • What does it mean to be human? Can humans even be understood apart from the environment? 
      • What does it mean to work for justice in an age of science & technology?
      • Can science tell us what is right and wrong?
      • When does it become unethical to manipulate the environment for technological purposes?  Is our technology making Earth inhospitable to life, including human life?  
      • Should some scientific pursuits, like human cloning or nuclear weapons, be legally prevented?  What are the ethical and moral reasons for instituting such laws?
    • Day 1
    • Day 2
      • Nuclear Weapons
      • HW:
        • TBA
    • Day 3
    • Friday
      • Faculty Inservice

 

  • Week of Monday, May 31 -- FINAL EXAMS FOR THE REST OF SI

 

 



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