God & Science
Central Pennsylvania Forum for Religion and Science
The Central Pennsylvania Forum for Religion and Science, under the direction of Dr. Richard Schaeffer, Professor of Chemistry, sponsors a variety of events, all intended to help promote better understanding of religion and science-including medicine and social science-in this region. We continue the university's established tradition of hosting speakers who represent diverse religious and disciplinary perspectives. Most events take place on our campus, but some are held in other locations.
All of our events are announced here. PLEASE BOOKMARK THIS PAGE FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. Information about each event is also sent by email upon request. To add your name to our list, or to update your email address, contact Dr. Schaeffer at rschaeff@messiah.edu.
All of our events are open to the public-indeed, it is the people of Central Pennsylvania whom we seek to serve. Most events are free; any exceptions will be clearly announced. Our budget comes mostly from contributions. If you wish to donate to the Forum, please contact Dr. Schaeffer.
Events for Fall 2025
Edward B. "Ted" Davis Lecture
Wednesday, September 10 at 7:30 pm in Frey Hall, Alexander Auditorium (Frey 110)
Please join us as the Central Pa Forum for Religion and Science and the Messiah University Honors Program welcome Edward B. "Ted" Davis, Professor Emeritus of the History of Science at Messiah University, to deliver a talk entitled "1925 and All That: Fundamentalists, Modernists, and the Scopes Trial on the Occasion of its 100th Anniversary."
Talk Description: In the spring of 1925, rookie teacher John Scopes agreed to stand trial for teaching evolution in a Tennessee high school, to test the constitutionality of the new law. Using powerful cartoon images and popular religious pamphlets from the period, this talk shows why teaching evolution was so controversial among traditional Christians, describes how liberal Protestants responded to science, and introduces some alternative perspectives from prominent Christian voices today.
Dr. Davis has written many books and articles about Christianity and science in the Scientific Revolution and modern America, most recently: Protestant Modernist Pamphlets: Science and Religion in the Scopes Era (Johns Hopkins, 2024). He was an advisor for exhibits at the National Museum of American History and the Museum of the Bible.
Rebecca Harris Lecture
Thursday, November 6th at 7:00 pm in Frey Hall, Alexander Auditorium (Frey 110)
Please join us as the Central Pa Forum for Religion and Science welcomes Rebecca Harris, Assistant Professor of Biblical and Religious Studies at Messiah University to deliver a talk entitled “On 
Earth as it is in Heaven: Synchronizing Time in the Dead Sea Scrolls”
Abstract: Mircea Eliade famously distinguished between sacred and profane (or ordinary) times, arguing that the religious person lives in both times simultaneously. Within this simultaneity, there are varying degrees to which a religious person may embrace the rhythms of sacred or mundane times. For members of the Dead Sea Scrolls sect, the regular, frequent practice of sacred time—synchronizing the activities of the religious community with the worship of angels in the heavenly temple—created a space for liminal experience and ontological transformation. In this presentation, Dr. Rebecca Harris discusses how the cognitive dimensions of religious experience and frequent ritual activity might have shaped the angelic aspirations of the Dead Sea Scrolls sectarians.
Events for Spring 2026
Coming Soon
Click here for a campus map and directions.