Catholic Perspectives on Science
| Faith and science: "Though faith is above reason, there can never be any real discrepancy between faith and reason. Since the same God who reveals mysteries and infuses faith has bestowed the light of reason on the human mind, God cannot deny himself, nor can truth ever contradict truth." "Consequently, methodical research in all branches of knowledge, provided it is carried out in a truly scientific manner and does not override moral laws, can never conflict with the faith, because the things of the world and the things of faith derive from the same God. The humble and persevering investigator of the secrets of nature is being led, as it were, by the hand of God in spite of himself, for it is God, the conserver of all things, who made them what they are." --Catechism of the Catholic Church, Art. 159. |
Summary Statement: This seminar is designed as a forum for the exploration of Catholic teachings on science. Following a brief survey of the church's role in the controversies surrounding "science and religion," the focus will be on the Catholic views on important current issues such as artificial insemination, cloning, genetic engineering, medical ethics, and stem cell research.
Click here for a tentative outline. The links below lead to SUGGESTED READINGS. Please let me know if you find any broken links. Thanks!
Links:
Anthony Gittins, CSSp., "A Reflection on Mission"
INSTRUCTION ON RESPECT FOR HUMAN LIFE IN ITS ORIGIN AND ON THE DIGNITY OF PROCREATION - REPLIES TO CERTAIN QUESTIONS OF THE DAY (1987)February, 2003, Bishiops' Meeting in Dallas on Biotechnology, Faith, and Science
Address of Pope John Paul II to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences - November 13, 2000
Catholic Perspectives on Faith and Science [A site linked to the Vatican Observatory's website.]
Fides et Ratio (On the Relationship Between Science and Reason) - Encyclical of Pope John Paul II, September, September 14, 1998
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Science and Human Values
Catholic Educator's Resource Center
[A collection of articles and book reviews on the theme of Catholic teachings and science.]"Science and the Church," from the Catholic Encyclopedia
[From the 1912 edition.]Science and the Catholic Church
[A fine collection of links to resources.]Jesuits and the Sceinces, 1540-1995
Jesuits in Science and Technology
[Two sites devoted to the contributions of Jesuits.]The Galileo Affair
[A brief and readable account of the controversy.]The Galileo Affair Revisited [Setting Things Right]
A History of the Warfare of Science with Theology in Christendom
[An interesting treatise written in 1895.]Faith, Science, and the Soul: On the Pragmatic Virtues of Naturalism
[The author argues that "naturalism" can be as satisfying as religion in answering fundamental questions.]Science and Faith (Famous Scientists and their God)
[Quotations from the writings of famous thinkers.]National Catholic Bioethics Center
Center for Genetics and Society
[A site which promotes reaping the benefits of the new genetic technology while rejecting aspects which "would degrade and diminish human life and society."]John Rennie, "Making Sense of Modern Cosmology," Scientific American, July, 2002.
P. James E. Peebles, "15 Answers to Creationist Nonsense" Scientific American, January 18, 2002
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin: Toward a Science Charged with Faith
Teilhard de Chardin and the Noosphere
The Human Phenomenon (Phenomenon of Man)
Thomas A. Shannon, "Human Cloning: A Success Story or a Tempest in a Petri Dish?" (2002)
Paul Lauritzen, " Broadening the Debate on Cloning and Stem Cell Research" (2002)
Geocentrism lives! [An eccentric site]
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