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VO/CTNS Books

In 1988 the Vatican Observatory published a watershed volume on theology, philosophy and science resulting from an international research conference held in Rome: Physics, Philosophy and Theology: A Quest for Common Understanding. This volume included a unique address by Pope John Paul II on theology and science. Based on this volume the Vatican Observatory and CTNS began a twenty year collaboration of further research. The collaboration has produced seven scholarly volumes to date. These volumes include: The five-volume series whose underlying theme is "Scientific Perspectives on Divine...
Vatican ObservatoryDivine Action SeriesScience and TheologyCTNS | Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences
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Scientific And Theological Understandings of Randomness in Nature (SATURN)

Scientific And Theological Understandings of Randomness in Nature (SATURN) SATURN was an interdisciplinary research program in theology and science created and administered by CTNS and supported by a $200,000 grant from Calvin College. The purpose of the SATURN program was to study the scientific warrants for and theological implications of randomness, propensities and indeterminism in nature. We chose the acronym SATURN for this research on the “Scientific and Theological Understandings of Randomness in Nature” because the rings of the planet Saturn exhibit the kind of self-organization...
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Science and Religion Course Modules

Ted Peters has developed the following modules for use by educators in developing courses in science and religion. Please see the links below for information about this project as well as the modules themselves. Ted was the PI of the Science and Religion Course Program (1998-2002), he is on the CTNS Faculty and is a co-Editor of Theology and Science.   What is a Drop-In Syllabus Module? Complete Set of Drop-In Syllabus Modules Individual Modules Introduction to the Science & Religion Dialogue Animals in Science and Theology Astrobiology, Astrotheology, and Contact with ETI Big...
Daniel LehmannLetter from the PresidentPresident
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Programs

CTNS has created and administered a number of Fellowships, programs and research projects central to our mission of bridging science and religion through research, teaching, and public service.
CTNS Event

God and Creation: Jewish, Christian and Muslim Perspectives on Big Bang Cosmology; CTNS 30th Anniversary Conference

Event Date: 
Sunday, December 11th 2016, 1:00pm
God and Creation: Jewish, Christian and Muslim Perspectives on Big Bang Cosmology; CTNS 30th Anniversary Conference Graduate Theological Union Library, Dinner Board Room "God and Creation: Jewish, Christian and Muslim Perspectives on Big Bang Cosmology" has a threefold purpose: (1) To model a new form of interfaith dialogue, one based on a "third party"/ "shared interest", namely science. The participants learn how each faith sees how the other faiths reflect on particular topics in the natural sciences and thereby gain new and unique perspectives on that faith as well as on their own. (2...
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A Word from the Founder and Director

The universe is more mysterious than either science and religion can ever fully disclose, and the urgencies of humankind and the natural environment demand an honest interaction between the discoveries of nature, the empowerment afforded us by appropriate technology, the inherent value of the environment, and the demand that we commit ourselves to a future in which all species can flourish. We can no longer afford the stalemate of past centuries between theology and science, for this leaves nature Godless and religion worldless. When this happens, our culture, hungering after science for...
Daniel LehmannLetter from the PresidentPresident
CTNS Event

What Does God Really Do in an Evolutionary Change?: Divine Concurrence and Transformism from the Thomastic Perspective

Event Date: 
Thursday, April 5th 2018, 7:00pm
Neither Aristotle nor Aquinas assumes the reality of the evolution of species. Their systems of thought, however, remain open to the new data, offering an essential contribution to the ongoing research concerning scientific, philosophical, and theological aspects of the theory of evolution. Many enthusiasts of theistic evolution willingly accept Aquinas' distinction between primary and secondary, and principal and instrumental causes, to describe theologically "the mechanics" of transformism. Is it right, however, to ascribe all causation in evolution to creatures--acting as secondary causes...
science and religionTheology and ScienceCTNS | Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences
CTNS Event

The Spiritual Journey of Homo Sapiens

Event Date: 
Friday, October 9th 2020, 5:00pm
Please join us for an online CTNS Public Forum:   The Spiritual Journey of Homo Sapiens with Dr. Jim Stump     We often talk of our individual spiritual journey -- the highs and the lows that have contributed to my becoming the person I am today. Perhaps we might speak in similar terms about the spiritual journey of our species. According to Christian theology, God intentionally created human beings to be God's image bearers. If that is so, we can see our evolutionary history as a preparation for that calling. Then the challenging times in our species' past might be understood along...
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SSQ Publications

Faith in Science: Scientists Search for Truth Edited by W. Mark Richardson and Gordy Slack Routledge, 2001   Science vs religion-the two have traditionally been seen as having an adversarial relationship, from before Galileo to this day. Faith in Science demonstrates how misleading this portrayal is, by allowing those who know best—scientists—speak for themselves. W. Mark Richardson and Gordy Slack, philosopher and science writer respectively, conducted interviews with twelve of the world's top scientists on subjects ranging from the existence and nature of God to the role of religion...
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Science and the Spiritual Quest

“Science and the Spiritual Quest” was an international program conducted by the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences in collaboration with several partner organizations and funded by a major grant from the John Templeton Foundation. From 1996-2003, SSQ focused on the ethical and spiritual questions raised by the best of contemporary science particularly for its scientific practitioners. Our mission was to invite leading scientists into dialogue, through private workshops, on the connections between their scientific pursuits and their spiritual practices, and to present the results of...
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Fifty Years in Science and Religion: Ian G. Barbour and his Legacy

Fifty Years in Science and Religion: Ian G. Barbour and His Legacy Edited by Robert John Russell ISBN: 075464118X (paperback) 0754641171(hardback) Publication Date: 12/23/2004    Fifty Years in Science and Religion brings together nineteen leading scholars in the field to offer an appreciative yet critical assessment of the impact of Barbour's work on science and religion and to point ahead towards future critical areas, goals and tasks that await new research and visionary exploration. This book includes a unique autobiography by Barbour in which for the first time he shares and...
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Course Award Winners 1995-2002

Nearly eight hundred US $10,000 Course Awards were distributed to institutions and professors across the globe over the history of the entire SRC program. Though the program has ended, the community of scholars and the legacy of pedagogical resources that the Course program created continue to influence ongoing dialogues between science and religion. This program was made possible by a generous grant from the John Templeton Foundation. Course Award Winners by Year
Science and Religion Course ProgramSRCPSyllabiTheology and Sciencescience and religionteachingJohn Templeton Foundation
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SSQ/UIP Paris Conference

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Paris, France Conference Overview United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Paris, France,  The SSQ Paris Conference, “Science and the Quest for Meaning” was a unique event representing a worldwide awakening to the need for integration of the various dimensions of our lives. We are driven to explore the natural world with intellectual precision and rigor; driven to question who we are and what our place in the world might be; and driven to find a moral basis for our actions. The SSQ...
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Buddhism and Ecology

BUDDHISM AND ECOLOGYCourse Number: ENVS 296Institution: University of VermontInstructor: Dr. Stephanie Kaza, Assoc. ProfessorEmail: skaza@zoo.uvm.eduCourse Description:A survey of classical texts and modern commentaries relevant to a Buddhist perspective on ecology and the environment. This is a senior level seminar investigating Buddhist foundations for ecological thought, Buddhist ethical and doctrinal questions related to ecological problems, and current challenges in Buddhist thought as it intersects modern ecological science. We will consider classic principles evoked by Buddhist...
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Courses

  CTNS faculty offer a variety of MDiv, MA and PhD level courses through the Graduate Theological Union (GTU). Dr. Robert Russell and Dr. Ted Peters oversee MDiv and MA students and supervise a number of doctoral students currently pursuing their dissertation research in theology and science at the GTU. To register for courses please visit
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The Russell Family Research Fellowship in Religion and Science

Annual Russell Family Research Fellowship in Religion and Science   The annual Russell Family Research Fellowship in Religion and Science brings internationally distinguished scholars in religion and science to the GTU. Since 1981, Russell Fellows have been in residence at CTNS/GTU every year to conduct research, teach doctoral and seminary courses and present public lectures at the GTU and at other San Francisco Bay Area locations. The annual Russell Family Fellowship in Religion and Science was created in memory of John K. Russell (1896-1958). Mr. Russell, born of Italian immigrants,...