Andrews Autumn Conference on Religion and Science

Keynote speaker Gregory Boyd presents Oct. 23-24

Nancy Murphy speaks during last year's Autumn Conference. (Photo by Brian Tagalog)

“Ten years ago, Carl S. Helrich Jr., professor of physics at Goshen College in Indiana and director of the Midwest Religion and Science Society, approached us with the idea to establish a conversation on issues of mutual interest in the area of science and religion,” recalls Gary Burdick, associate dean for research at Andrews University. “That first year the conversation consisted of 30 Mennonites and Adventists spending a Sabbath afternoon in the architecture library, discussing how we might have a science and religion dialogue, and what would be the important questions to address. That is how the Andrews Autumn Conference on Religion and Science was born.”

This annual conference is a function of the Midwest Religion and Science Society. Those organizing and presenting at the conference represent a variety of faith backgrounds including Seventh-day Adventist, Anabaptist, Church of the Brethren and Catholic.

The 2015 conference takes place October 23–24 and features keynote speaker Gregory Boyd, senior pastor of Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, and author of “God at War,” “Is God to Blame?” and “Benefit of the Doubt.” Boyd’s presentation is titled “The Danger of Certainty-Seeking Faith” and he will speak at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, October 23, at Pioneer Memorial Church on the campus of Andrews University.

The conference will continue at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning, October 24, in the Biology Amphitheater (registration is at 8 a.m., also at the amphitheater). Boyd will present on “Honesty: The Foundation of Biblical Faith.”

Also on Saturday, Steve Harnish, professor of mathematics at Bluffton University (Bluffton, Ohio) will present “Mathematical Truths, Doubts and (Un)Certainties: Dynamics of a creative relationality,” Richard Rice, professor of theological studies at Loma Linda University (Loma Linda, California), will present “Trust and Doubt in the Drama of Faith” and Carl Helrich, professor emeritus of physics at Goshen College, will present “Uncertainty.”

Past events covered topics such as “Questions at the Interface of Religion and Science” and “Foundations of Religion and Science” and featured speakers including Earl Kumfer from St. Francis University (Fort Wayne, Indiana), Paul Keim from Goshen College, Nancy Murphy from Fuller Theological Seminary (Pasadena, California) and several Andrews University professors.

All events are free and open to the public; free registration is required for the October 24 portion of the conference. For registration information email research@andrews.eduor call 269-471-3042.