Some people might think the very first topic for a “faith in scholarship” blog to address would be the notorious controversy around evolutionary origins for living organisms and especially for human beings. But this blog has run for nearly four years without the word “evolution” appearing at all*! To some extent this is Read more
For the key to the icons, seeĀ this post on the multi-faceted meaning of life. We’re beginning a series exploring the outlines of a Christian philosophy of the sciences. Not, I hasten to add, the Christian Philosophy of Science (as I know there’s a tendency for the tag “Christian” to evoke a sense of dogma!). Rather, Read more
Whatever stage of research we’re at, we can benefit from a masterly overview of how everything fits together. And here at Faith-in-Scholarship we’re sometimes asked what introductions to Christian thinking we can recommend for academics. First, there are some general principles that can guide and inspire us, and that’s where a reading Read more
It was thanks to a conference called “Laws of Nature, Laws of God?” that I had the invitation to join a project of the International Society for Science and Religion about holistic biology – where I was to bring expertise in the science of ecology. So perhaps it’s no surprise that my main contribution to this Read more
Many people ask how Christianity relates to science – often assuming some kind of conflict. Faith-in-Scholarship has always involved scientists, and is more about progress than apologetics – so we’d typically start by pointing out that everyone has a worldview, that the Christian and naturalistic worldviews held by many celebrated scientists are closely Read more
Reductionism is a key issue inĀ many Christian critiques of other ideologies.Ā Claims that the rich diversity ofĀ life as we know it can be explained by a single fundamental kind of reality often soundĀ authoritative andĀ sensational, but fundamental substancesĀ that are supposed to underlie what we experience are thereby attributed with a kind of Read more
Church Scientific is a project of Faith-in-Scholarship in partnership with Blenheim Baptist Church.Ā Launched last October, it seeks to help Christian students and researchers in science-related subjects to explore how a Christian worldview might enhance their scientific work. We believe Church Scientific is unique in bringing Christianity to bear on scientific Read more
One of the challenges facing Christians in many contemporary contexts is how to talk about our faith that Jesus is Lord and Saviour to the people we encounter at work. There may be several basic reasons why it’s difficult: Secularist attitudes (or even legislation) discourage it. We sense that it’s inappropriate Read more
Our āChristian philosophy in diagramsā series began with an ontology:Ā things in relation over time. After ontology (what there is), philosophy typically looks at epistemology (how we know). This week I want to share a proposal based on the followingĀ diagram: The oval represents what goes on in my mind, and itās Read more
A new space for students and researchers to grow their scientific thinking is about to appear in Leeds.Ā Church ScientificĀ is a project to nurture scientific thinkers in building a holistic understanding of how ourĀ insights about the worldĀ originate and develop through imagination, theory-building and experimentation. The project concernsĀ all kinds of pure and Read more