Relationships between science-based organizations and Christian organizations can be messy, but the American Association for the Advancement of Science is three years into a program that intends to bridge that gap. The association’s “Science for Seminaries” program sends scientists into Christian seminaries to make it clear that one can at once be a believer in science and in God.
The main message computational biologist S. Joshua Swamidass tries to bring to schools is that core scientific beliefs and core Christian beliefs do not have to be in competition. When he first brought his program to Concordia Seminary in Saint Louis, Swamidass breathed scientific life into religious courses, like tying Genesis to the study of cosmology and bringing neuroscience into discussions about the human soul.
As of now, the American Association for the Advancement of Science has sent scientific advisors to 10 schools and influenced the curricula of more than 100 courses. Although discussions about evolution have proved far more difficult than those about cosmology or neuroscience, the association has plans to bring advisors to 35 more schools over the next five years.
Thanks for reading InsideHook. Sign up for our daily newsletter and be in the know.
