• Tuesday, October 20, 2009 (11:30am)
  Human Evolution: Biological Facts and Theological Challenges
  Darrel R. Falk, PhD, Professor and Co-Chair of the Department of Biology at Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego.
  
  
• Thursday, November 5, 2009 (7:30pm)
  The Soul of Kalapapa
  Dr. Fred Woods; Richard L. Evans Chair Professor of Religious Understanding, Brigham Young University
  
  
• Friday, November 13, 2009 (7:30pm)
  Mutiny on the Bounty Night
  Prof. Jerry and Mrs. Nina Jackson. Dr Jackson is Professor of Business at JP Catholic University

This is an unusual time in the history of both the sciences and Christianity. We now mark the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. As fifteen decades have come and gone never perhaps has a scientific theory been subject to so much scrutiny, and never perhaps have the basic elements of a biological theory been so thoroughly substantiated from its wide range of sub-disciplines. And yet a significant proportion of individuals in the Christian community, especially in America, believe that despite the extensive scrutiny, the science of biology has it wrong.

Genetics likely provides the strongest evidence of all for the creation of humans through an evolutionary process. This sub-discipline includes the study of the passage of genes through generations. It has long been possible to follow certain traits to trace family lineage. With the completion of the first phase of the human genome project the resolution provided by genetic tools has moved well beyond tracing lineage over several generations. It now enables one to follow particular genes back many thousand years, indeed, back into the eons of time. The data provided through such analyses tell us a great deal about human origins, that is, about the early stages of our lineage. Indeed, there is now a sense in which we can peer over God’s “shoulders,” looking to see what it means to have been “formed from the dust of the ground.”

Although it is now clear that Darwin was largely correct about his theory of evolution, it is equally clear that he was premature in jumping to the theological conclusions that caused him to lose faith in the God of Christianity. Darwin’s concerns about the existence of a benevolent God who would bring about new life through horrific suffering, or a God who worked through apparent-randomness was not the new theological challenge he thought it was.

Dr. Darrel R. Falk is Professor and Co-Chair of the Department of Biology at Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, California and Co-President of The BioLogos Foundation. He is the author of the IV Press book, Coming to Peace with Science: Bridging the Worlds between Faith and Biology. Originally from Canada, Dr. Falk obtained his PhD in Genetics at the University of Alberta and pursued post-doctoral work in Drosophila biochemical genetics at the University of British Columbia and the University of California, Irvine. He served on the faculty at Syracuse University prior to his decision to teach in a Christian liberal arts college. Dr. Falk has been the principal investigator on grants from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He has spoken on the subject of science and evangelical faith in many churches and universities over the past several years and is most noted for his view that mainstream biology and the evangelical Christian faith are fully compatible. Dr. Falk and his wife, Joyce, have two grown daughters, two sons-in-law and three precious grandchildren.

The Soul of Kalapapa

This lecture will explore the interfaith relationship between Catholics, Protestants and Latter-day Saints, especially as it pertains to the work Father Damien and a Hawaiian Mormon named Jonathan Napela did with the patients at a leprosy settlement on the Hawaiian island of Molokai. The presentation will demonstrate how Kalaupapa serves as a model of the Latin maxim: “In the essentials; unity, the non-essentials, liberty; and in all things, charity.” Register Now

Fred Woods PhD is the Richard L. Evans Chair Professor of Religious Understanding at Brigham Young University. He is a native of Southern California. In 1991, he completed his Ph.D. at the University of Utah in Middle East Studies (with an emphasis in Hebrew Bible). Fred taught in the Church Educational System (Seminaries and Institutes) for twelve years, Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho) five years, and has been a professor at BYU since 1998. In 2001, he was a visiting professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and at BYU-Hawaii for three summer terms (2004-2006). Fred has been a research fellow for other institutions and was awarded the Richard L. Anderson research award in 2002. He was appointed as a Richard L. Evans Chair in 2005, which position he currently occupies. Fred and his wife JoAnna are the parents of five children and two granddaughters.

Mutiny on the Bounty Night

This evening’s entertainment combines Hollywood license with history as the Jacksons give insight on three movies telling the story of Fletcher Christian and Captain Bligh on the HMS Bounty. The movies include the 1935 version staring Clark Gable as Lt. Christian, the 1962 version staring Marlin Brando, and the 1984 version with Mel Gibson. Featured will be the differences and similarities between the movies, interesting details about their stars and locations, and which one portrays history most accurately. (Wearing your18th Century British Naval uniform is optional!) Register Now

Prof Jerry and Mrs. Nina Jackson. Dr Jackson is Professor of Business at JP Catholic University.