The topic of biological evolution and how it relates to the theology-science discussion is probably one of the most important dialogues as it impacts the broad culture and society through political, educational, and conceptual contexts. The major goal of this course is to provide an educational framework that will promote accurate and informed discussion in the theology-science arena.
Class Schedule:
Week 1: Introduction to Course; Introduction of Evolution; Chemistry of Life
Week 2: Humility: The quest by humans of knowledge, where does our knowledge actually come from?; Christology and Creation from Teilhard de Chardin to Elizabeth Johnson
Week 3: Evolution on a Cosmic Scale; A Visit with Neanderthals
Week 4: Theology and Biological Evolution
Week 5: The Evolution of Culture and the Capacity for Culture in the Human Descent Line; What are Primates Teaching Us?
Week 6: Implications of Evolution I; lab experience
Week 7: Implications of Evolution II
Week 8: Field Trip to Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Lab
Week 9: Evolution and the Human Person
Week 10: Pastoral Perspectives and Open Discussion
Week 11: Student presentations and Panel Discussion
Course Objectives:
The following specific areas of learning will be the focus of the course:
- To acquire a background on the scientific models for biological evolution and specifically to discuss some examples of these models
- To examine theological reflections on the evolution-theology issues
- To examine arguments that are used to counter evolutionary models of the origin of humanity
- To experience scientific experiments examining relatedness among species for particular genes and proteins
- To reflect upon questions in biology, most especially evolutionary biology, that impact our understanding of the human person
Required readings:
Darwin Charles, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life (1st ed.) (London: John Murray, 1859) (or more recent edition of the book)
Science, Evolution, and Creationism by Committee on Revising Science and Creationism, (2008) AVAILABLE AS A FREE DOWNLOAD: http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11876.html
Woloschak, Gayle E. The Compatibility of the Principles of Biological Evolution and the Eastern Orthodox Church. St. Vladimir’s Theological Seminary (2011) 55: 209-231
Woloschak, Gayle E. God of Life: Contemplating Evolution, Ecology, Extinction. God of Life series, Ecumenical Review (2013) 65: 145-159
Dobzhansky Theodosius “Nothing in Biology Makes Sense Except in the Light of Evolution”, American Biology Teacher vol. 35 (March 1973), reprinted in Evolution versus Creationism, J. Peter Zetterberg ed., ORYX Press, Phoenix AZ 1983.
Other PDFs as provided during the course.