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Vosburg Book Seeks to Bridge Science and Religion

Harvey Mudd chemistry professor David Vosburg and spouse, Kate Vosburg, have co-authored a new book, Jesus, Beginnings, and Science: a Guide for Group Conversation, which they hope will increase dialogue and understanding between scientific and religious communities.

鈥淟ike efforts from the聽聽and the聽, our book aims to build bridges between scientific and religious perspectives,鈥� David Vosburg said. 鈥淪cience and faith can be compatible and even mutually enriching if we can approach both with a posture of humility and wonder instead of hostility and fear.鈥�

The new book is the culmination of Vosburg鈥檚 project, 鈥淐atalyzing Compatibility of Evolution and Christian Faith on Secular Campuses: Curricular Resources for Student Groups,鈥� which received an $80,772 grant from The Biologos Foundation in 2013. Founded by Francis Collins鈥攄irector of the National Institutes of Health and former director of the Human Genome Project鈥� seeks to promote discourse on the relationship between science and religion and to emphasize compatibility between science and Christian faith.

The Vosburgs developed the materials over several years of research and field-testing and a productive sabbatical year with the聽聽at the University of Cambridge. Kate Vosburg is a campus minister with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.

鈥淔ield-testing parts of the book with Mudd students, Cambridge students, young adults and older adults gave us helpful insights into the different tensions that many people bring into conversations about science and religion,鈥� said Kate Vosburg. 鈥淪ome are afraid that fully embracing science may require them to change religious beliefs, to reject parents’ or pastors’ teachings, or to abandon cherished faith communities. Others have a fairly good grasp of scientific issues and are eager to learn more about the Bible so they can better understand their religious friends.鈥�

鈥淰ery few have found good ways to have gracious, productive discussions about science and religion,鈥� said David Vosburg. 鈥淲e hope that our book can catalyze dialogue that will deepen readers’ understanding of the Bible, of science, and of each other.鈥�

Jesus, Beginnings, and Science聽includes twelve guided discussions for Bible study groups that focus on selected biblical passages addressing creation, human origins and science. The materials are designed for a general audience and can be used by groups with no previous training in the sciences or experience with the Bible.

Each section presents scriptural passages and suggested questions for further discussion, such as, 鈥淲hat specific beliefs about origins (if any) should be central to being a Christian? On what beliefs about origins is it fine for believers to disagree?鈥�; and, 鈥淚f you have personally changed views about origins, what caused the change?鈥�

Along with the readings and discussion guide, the book presents reflections from a scientist on each topic, as well as a wide variety of theological positions that Christians have taken both historically and currently on the nature of creation and human origins. The book鈥檚 appendix includes a wealth of resources for further reading on the intersections of scripture and science.

鈥淲e hope readers will realize that the Bible is rich, diverse and awe-inspiring鈥攎uch like science!鈥� said David Vosburg. 鈥淲hile the Bible is not a science book, it does speak deeply to our interactions with the natural world and addresses many questions of meaning, identity and purpose that science itself cannot.鈥�

The book is now available at聽听补苍诲听.