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 Spring 2025
Edward B. "Ted" Davis Lecture
Tuesday, March 25 at 7:00 pm in Frey Hall, Alexander Auditorium (Frey 110)
Please join us as the Central Pa Forum for Religion and Science welcomes Edward B. "Ted" Davis, Professor Emeritus of the History of Science at Messiah University, to deliver a talk entitled "Historical Roots of the American Evangelical Encounter with Natural History." (Originally presented at Henry Center conference, "Adam, the Fall, and the Goodness of God" at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.)
Abstract: American evangelicals began seriously to engage natural history in the early nineteenth century, when Benjamin Silliman became the first professor of natural history at Yale. He and his pupil, Amherst geologist Edward Hitchcock, embraced "deep time" in geology and defended its consistency with Genesis. Hitchcock went further, exploring in depth the implications of this popular new science for theodicy and natural theology. Regardless of whether subsequent authors knowingly accepted or rejected their conclusions, these two Antebellum natural historians have substantially influenced evangelicals down to our own time. This paper presents some of their most important attitudes and ideas, with an eye on the modern evangelical conversation about origins.
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.
Events for Fall 2025
Coming Soon
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