Fund for Annual Research Fellowship Established in Arden Russell's Memory
We invite you to read about the life of Arden Swanson Russell and to contribute in her memory to the J. K. Russell Fellowship. Mrs. Russell helped to establish the annual CTNS J.K. Russell Research Fellowship in honor of her husband and Bob's father. She was a constant supporter of it over the years.
Arden Swanson Russell, Bob Russell 's mother and a long-time supporter and friend of CTNS, died May 16, 2004, in Piedmont, California. Arden was born in Los Angeles on February 4, 1914, the youngest of five children. Her father Albin Gunnar Swanson, was a Swedish immigrant, and her mother, Ester Jane Evans, was of English/Welsh descent. Arden was a devoted Episcopalian and an avid reader. She married John K. Russell in 1940 and lived in Southern California. (link to continue to article)
An Open Letter from Bob Russell
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Dear friends:
I want to share the news that my mom, Arden Russell, died Sunday morning, May 16, after a long illness. As many of you know, she moved up here to Oakland from Los Angeles four years ago to be closer to our family. She spent three wonderful years at Lakepark Retirement Residence just off of Lake Merritt, with a beautiful view of the lake and Oakland / Montclair. Last spring her congestive heart failure rapidly deteriorated and the end seemed near. Charlotte and I moved her to our home in Piedmont after remodeling two bedrooms so she could continue to enjoy the world of furniture and art treasures . . .
*Donations in memory of Arden Russell may be made to the J.K. Russell Fellowship Fund by sending a check payable to CTNS and earmarked “Russell Memorial Fund” or by donating to this fund via the CTNS web site.
CTNS, 2400 Ridge Rd., Berkeley, CA 94709-1212 USA
News:
The 2003-2004 J.K. Russell Research Fellowship Events Scheduled
Niels Henrik Gregersen, Professor of Systematic Theology at Copenhagen University, is the J. K. Russell Research Fellow for 2003-2004. The fellowship events are scheduled for October 5-15, 2004 in Berkeley, CA. Plan now to attend the Fellow's lectures on October 8 and 9.
As the 2004 J. K. Russell Research Fellow at the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences, Niels Gregersen will explore with his audiences and respondents the significance of complexity studies for understanding the emergence of hierarchical structures in biology. What is the ontological status of the emergent structures of the world? In which sense may higher-level structures play a top-down causal effect on the future of evolution? How do the selection rules of complexity fit in the physical laws of nature? Does Darwinian theory need to be supplemented in order to account for the actual ‘progress' in evolution? How can God interact with a self-developing world? And what is the meaning of it all, if scientific theories are interpreted theologically from an informed scientific perspective?
Friday, October 8, The CTNS Public Forum, “Complexity Studies and Theories of Emergence: What Does It All Mean for Religion?” 7:00 pm in the Pacific School of Religion Chapel (PSR), 1798 Scenic Ave., Berkeley, California. Free and open to the public.
Saturday, October 9, The J.K. Russell Research Conference, “The Complexification of Nature: Supplementing the Neo-Darwinian Paradigm” 10:30 am to 4:30 pm, PSR campus, Berkeley, CA. Registration is requested for the day-long research conference. For details and to register, visit the Research section of the CTNS Web site. A box lunch will be included in the registration for those who register by October 1. CTNS members receive a discount.
Wednesday October 13 , an additional community event with Niels Gregersen: “Grace in Nature and Culture: Revisiting Luther's Doctrine of Creation”, the annual Luther Lecture at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS). For information visit www.plts.edu or call 510-524-5264.
Fifty Years in Science and Religion: Ian G. Barbour and His Legacy
May be Pre-ordered Now
The much-anticipated volume on Ian Barbour's work edited by Robert J. Russell is expected to be published in September. Nineteen leading scholars in the religion and science field came together to offer an appreciative yet critical assessment of the impact of Barbour's work on science and religion and to point ahead towards the future. Contributors: Jensine Andresen, Ian G. Barbour, Christian Berg, Philip Clayton, Anne M. Clifford, John B. Cobb, Niels Henrik Gregersen, John M. Haught, Martinez J. Hewlett, Paul O. Ingram, Nancey Murphy, W. Mark Richardson, Robert John Russell, Ted Peters, Roger L. Shinn, Ernest Simmons, Christopher Southgate, William R. Stoeger, Carl M. York.
'Ian Barbour is an unparalleled leader in the contemporary dialogue between science and religion. This volume is a wonderful witness from key scholars in the field to the breadth, depth and integrity of his contribution. It also offers fresh and exciting insights on the diverse range of key issues we face as we move into a new moment in this dialogue.'
--Denis Edwards, School of Theology, Flinders University, South Australia.
The volume is available in hardback or paperback. You may print an order form from the CTNS web site or contact Ashgate Publishing to pre-order: Email: ashgate@bookpoint.co.uk or visit the Ashgate Science and Religion Series section of their web site: www.ashgate.com
Inspection copies are available for professors. Write via email: ashgate@bookpoint.co.uk for details.
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Reports from CTNS Research Fellows
In 2002, ten academic institutions were awarded one-time research fellowships through the John Templeton-funded CTNS Science and Religion Course Program. CTNS continues to hear from these fellows working at major research institutions in the USA. (Full descriptions of these programs are found at http://www.ctns.org/research_fellowships.html)
University of Chicago: Published in 2003: On page xiii of Adam, Eve, and the Genome, edited by Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite (Fortress 2003) Susan thanks CTNS for supporting the course and research that led to this interdisciplinary book. She along with her husband at the University of Chicago med school, Richard Thistlethwaite, are recipients of one of the ten SRCP CTNS Research Fellow grants issued in 2002.
The University of Notre Dame: The continuing education center of the university is offering a conference entitled Faith, Ethics and Environment: The Response of a Catholic University , November 7-9, 2004, organized by CTNS Research Fellow, Matt Ashley. (See International Conferences below)
Yale Divinity School : Wesley Avram announced the formation of the “Yale Divinity School Initiative in Religion, Science and Technology” (IRST). He writes: “We've already had two successful events this term, one being the first meeting of a Yale Bioethics Project endorsed working group that IRST has coordinated, Religious Issues in Bioethics. Our first event was a panel responding to the question, "What's at Stake in the Religion and Science Encounter." We had a nice interdisciplinary group of close to 40 in attendance. We then began a graduate/faculty forum with a nice paper presented on "technological culmination" by a YDS Research Fellow, James Vanpelt, working with IRST. This has generated interest in other presentations. We have a nice schedule set for further gatherings this term and are looking toward next year.” For more information, visit their web site: http://www.yale.edu/divinity/religionandscience/
New Book: CTNS just received a copy of a new book translated into English: The Significance of Complexity: Approaching a Complex World Through Science, Theology and the Humanities (Ashgate 2004). Edited by Kees van Kooten Niekerk and Hans Buhl of Aarhus University, Denmark, this book in English was made possible by the support of the Science and Religion Course Program internationally.
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Networking News
Opportunities From Around the World:
Offer of Free 6-Month Subscription
Science & Theology News: Free, 6-month, trial subscription. Discover the monthly newspaper reporting the latest research findings, dialogue, and opportunities in the rapidly-evolving fields of science & religion, and spirituality & health. Enjoy discussion and findings from religious scholars, medical doctors, scientists, policy makers, and more. Sign up at www.stnews.org, or call 1-866-363-2306.
Conference: The Centre for Religion and the Biosciences is offering an International Conference on Environmental Issues: “Fabricated Nature? From Global Ecology to Biotechnology”. University College Chester, Chester, UK, July 8-11, 2004. For information on the conference (scholarships may be available) visit the web site: http://www.chester.ac.uk/crb/fabric.html or email the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at trs.crb@chester.ac.uk or call 01244-375444.
Conference: Ian Ramsey Centre's Oxford Summer Workshop, A Post Human Future , will be held July 19-22 at St. Anne's College, Oxford. The conference will cover such topics as, ethical issues in human genetic engineering, the construction of a secular bio-ethic, consensus in social policy and religious perspectives on bio-ethics. Speakers include John Hedley Brooke, Celia Deane-Drummond and John Polkinghorne. For details please visit
http://users.ox.ac.uk/~theo0038/workshop03.htm or contact the Ian Ramsey Centre at Oxford.
Conference: The Center for Continuing Education at the University of Notre Dame is offering a conference entitled Faith, Ethics and Environment: The Response of a Catholic University, November 7-9, 2004 . Plenary speakers include Michael Buckley, SJ, University Professor of Theology, Boston College; Sandra Postel, Director of Global Water Policy Projects, Worldwatch Institute; and Sheldon Krimsky, Professor of Urban and Environmental Planning at Tufts University. For more information please see the conference web site, http://www.nd.edu/~alcoll/faithethics/index.shtml. This conference has been supported in part by a grant from the 2002 CTNS/SRCP Research Fellowship program.
Conference: Religious Interpretations of Evolutionary Biology, October 21-24, 2004, offered by the Center for Process Studies, Claremont School of Theology, Claremont, California. Free Public lectures in the evenings. Conference registration and more information at: www.ctr4process.org/news/CPSNews.htm#evolution
The Inside Scoop
A CTNS “Alumn” Portrait
In 1997 Lou Ann Trost successfully defended her doctoral dissertation, “An ontology of power, love, and freedom in the theology of Wolfhart Pannenberg”. She worked closely with CTNS Founder and Director, Bob Russell and CTNS associate and Board Member, Ted Peters during her student years at the Graduate Theological Union.
Lou Ann Trost continued her affiliation with CTNS after receiving her Ph.D. from the GTU, serving in the senior position of Program Director from 1998-2003, while also teaching courses at the GTU. Dr. Trost was deeply involved in environmental concerns as faculty advisor of TREES (Theological Roundtable on Ecological Ethics and Spirituality) and in teaching such classes as, "Topics in Ecology, Theology and Ethics: Population and Consumption." She currently serves as the Associate Director for Parliament Program, for the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions, in Chicago, IL, and as Book Review Editor for CTNS's peer-reviewed journal, Theology and Science.
Staff News
Dr. Robert John Russell, CTNS Director, recently visited Kyoto, Japan, where he lectured at Ryukoku University on Buddhist-
Christian dialogue regarding science. His lectures were sponsored by the University and the new Center of Humanities, Science and Religion and were initiated and hosted by Professor Ryusei Takeda, Director of the Center. Bob gave a public lecture entitled "The Role of Philosophy in Einstein's General Relativity and Big Bang Cosmology," based in part on his lectures given in the People's Republic of China three years ago. He then gave an undergraduate lecture on "Science and Religion Today: 12 Questions to Buddhists and Christians in Dialogue" and a graduate seminar which extended his public lecture to include the role of theology in the development of relativity and cosmology. Bob hopes that these conversations with faculty and students at Ryukoku University will contribute to the growing intercultural and inter-religious dialogue about the importance of science to contemporary religion and the implicit role of religion in constructive scientific research.
After more than four years at CTNS, Darlene Simmons left her position as Accounting Specialist in April. She is now working in Oakland with a CPA firm who specializes in helping non-profit organizations. We miss you, Darlene.
CTNS is fortunate to welcome Dale Loepp to CTNS as Staff Accountant. Before becoming an M.A. student at the GTU, Dale worked as a CPA. He is not new to CTNS, having worked with finances for the CTNS/SSQ II program for over a year. Now concluding his first year as a doctoral student in Hebrew Bible, Dale is able to continue his studies while keeping CTNS finances in order. Welcome, Dale.
Academic Teaching
Summer 2004: Ted Peters and Martinez Hewlett are co-teaching a Graduate Theological Union Summer course on The Evolution Controversy (STSS0447) afternoons June 21 – July 2. They are co-authors of a new book, Evolution from Creation to New Creation (Abingdon 2003). For more information, visit the web site, www.gtuss.org. Course details are found at http://www.gtuss.org/2004/contents/courses/t/Peters/Index.htm
Fall 2004: Bob Russell and Ted Peters are preparing for their joint CTNS/Graduate Theological Union course for the 2004 Fall semester. This doctoral level course, STHS.5112:
“History of Theology, 1965 to Date”, begins on Tuesday, September 7. For more information visit: www.gtu.edu or the CTNS teaching section
Looking Ahead…
New features for CTNS members coming soon to the web site including:
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An automated reply to CTNS Members' request for their unique User I.D. and Password for Theology and Science on-line access.(Visit the "Get Involved" section)
- Past issues of The CTNS Bulletin will be on the CTNS web site and will include an on-line searchable data base.
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On-Line registration for the Annual J.K. Russell Research Conference, and more.
Sneak Preview: Theology and Science Vol. 2, No. 2 (October 2004):
Featured articles:
Carl Feit. “Science as a Paradigm for Halakhic Thought: An Introduction to the Theology of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik.”
Sobhi Rayan. “Al-Ghazali's Use of the Terms “Necessity” and “Habit” in his Theory of Natural Causality.”
Derek Jeffreys. “The Soul is Alive and Well: Nonreductive Physicalism and Emergent Mental Properties.”
Response by Nancey Murphy. Counter-Response by Jeffreys.
Robert Ulanowicz. “Ecosystem Dynamics: A Natural Middle for Science and Theology.”
As well as book reviews and a continuing dialogue and responses.
Announcement
Beginning in 2005, the CTNS peer-reviewed journal, Theology and Science will move to three issues per year. Stay tuned for details about this new and exciting phase.
Your comments about this newsletter are welcome: Email CTNS at CTNSinfo@ctns.org. The next CTNS E-News will be published in late October.
CTNS, The Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences, 2400 Ridge Rd., Berkeley, CA 94709-1212 USA, Ph: 510-848-8152 -Fax 510-848-2535
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