God’s Science 101: Biology, Genetics, and Theology

Podcast-style audio course - 12 Topics
Length: 4 hrs and 40 mins
The Catholic University of America
Audio Download + Subscription
$0.00
Audio Download + Subscription
$0.00
Audio Download + Subscription
$0.00
Audio Sample

What do developments in biology, and genetics in particular, mean for theology?

You couldn’t ask for a more qualified guide than Prof. Paul Scherz, who holds a Ph. D. in genetics from Harvard and a Ph. D. in theology from Notre Dame. A superb lecturer, he will help you answer some of the most pressing questions of our time.

What do evolutionary theory and our growing understanding of genetics mean for Christian theology? In this audio course, you will gain a rich background on the relationship between science and religion, which the Catholic tradition views as source of concord and constructive dialogue. At the same time, you will consider how interpretations and applications of scientific discoveries could pose challenges to traditionally-held Christian beliefs.

In 12 lectures, you will

  • gain proper understandings of both evolutionary theory and theology;

  • explore historical episodes like the Galileo Affair and Charles Darwin’s development of the theory of natural selection;

  • consider different interpretations of Scripture, such as the belief

    What do developments in biology, and genetics in particular, mean for theology?

    You couldn’t ask for a more qualified guide than Prof. Paul Scherz, who holds a Ph. D. in genetics from Harvard and a Ph. D. in theology from Notre Dame. A superb lecturer, he will help you answer some of the most pressing questions of our time.

    What do evolutionary theory and our growing understanding of genetics mean for Christian theology? In this audio course, you will gain a rich background on the relationship between science and religion, which the Catholic tradition views as source of concord and constructive dialogue. At the same time, you will consider how interpretations and applications of scientific discoveries could pose challenges to traditionally-held Christian beliefs.

    In 12 lectures, you will

    • gain proper understandings of both evolutionary theory and theology;

    • explore historical episodes like the Galileo Affair and Charles Darwin’s development of the theory of natural selection;

    • consider different interpretations of Scripture, such as the belief in a “young earth”; and

    • discover how Catholicism has long had the tools to embrace scientific developments.

    Whether you want to understand historical sources of conflict or engage in thoughtful dialogue about important issues, this course is well-suited to your needs. You are sure to find Dr. Scherz’s lectures illuminating.

     Learn about downloadable programs.

$17.99

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Dr. Paul Scherz, Ph.D., is a leading expert on the relationship between science and religion who draws on his dual training as a molecular biologist and theologian. After earning a Ph.D. in genetics from Harvard University, he received the prestigious Helen Hay Whitney Postdoctoral Fellowship to work on models of congenital heart defects at the University of California, San Francisco. His interest in the relationship between his faith and biomedical work led him to pursue theological studies at the University of Notre Dame, where he received a Ph.D. in moral theology. He is an assistant professor of moral theology and ethics at The Catholic University of America, where he teaches courses on bioethics, the ethics of technology, and theology.
 Dr. Scherz has published widely on both science and theology in journals such as Science, Cell, The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal of the Society for Christian Ethics, the National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly, Theological Studies, and the Journal of Religious Ethics. His research examines the interrelationship between ethics, religion, science, and medicine, especially as they relate to innovations in genetic biotechnologies. He is currently working on projects that address genetic risk in our understanding of health and disease, as well as a project on the Christian understanding of death.
 
Praise for Dr. Paul Scherz
“Paul Scherz represents a rare, almost unique combination in Catholic theology: an Ivy-League-trained scientist and an insightful, faithful moral theologian. Even better, he is a great teacher who knows how to make complex scientific material accessible to a wide audience. Paul sees what is ethically important in science, explaining it in ways that enhance the faith and practice of all Catholics. An outstanding resource!”
– David Cloutier, Associate Professor of Theology, The Catholic University of America
 
“With his earlier experience as a promising geneticist and his outstanding ability to locate and illuminate the root of a problem, Paul Scherz has already produced some of our generation’s most insightful work in the theological ethics of medicine, science, and technology. To top it off, he is one of the clearest and most accessible speakers I have ever heard.”
– Luis G. Vera, Assistant Professor of Theology, Mount St. Mary’s University
 

  • Is There a Conflict between Science and Religion?
  • The Relationship between Theology and Science
  • Possible Tensions between Science and Religion
  • Origins of Evolutionary Theory and Genetics
  • How Evolution and Genetics Came Together
  • Concerns over Divine Action
  • Divine Causality in a Contingent World
  • Problems in the Understanding of the Human Person
  • Natural Law, Sociality, and Spandrels
  • Evolution and the Human Mind
  • Eugenics: The Abuse of Evolutionary Theory and Genetics
  • Current Attempts to Apply Genetics and Evolution to Society

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