The Future of Science and Religion in a Globalizing World

The 60th Anniversary Conference of

The Institute on Religion in an Age of Science

August 2‐9, 2014

Star Island, New Hampshire

Co‐Chairs: Whitney Bauman and Karl E. Peters

IRAS was founded in 1954 in response to a civilization crisis: the moral and motivational resources of traditional religious and cultural practices and beliefs had proved inadequate to constrain horrid barbarity, and techno‐scientific progress had given rise to weapons whose use could destroy civilization. At the same time, scientific advances carried the portent of enormous improvements in the human prospect, and the human sciences seemed to promise understandings that could foster their attainment and help head off catastrophe. IRAS leaders thought that old traditions should be reformed and that the new scientific story about the world and humanity's place in it was “good news” that could enable that reformation.

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of IRAS (and the upcoming 50th anniversary of Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science in 2015), we will consider the relevance and significance of religion and of science—and of IRAS—in a world that has changed in many ways since the mid‐twentieth century. Since that time, on the one hand, the “religion and science” nexus has emerged as a space of significant multi‐disciplinary initiatives in colleges, universities, theological schools and religious communities – space that has continued to attract substantial public attention. On the other hand, the “modern” faith in a future marked by ever increasing scientific and moral progress has become less credible.

In light of developments in the sciences, religious studies and society, we will explore new and enduring questions: “Can either science or religion, or both taken together, enable us to organize and govern ourselves in harmony with the Earth with enough wisdom to cope with the emerging conditions of the 21st Century? If so, what do we require in our understandings of religion, science, ourselves, and the cosmos? Which insights stand the test of time? What about our inherited enterprises of science, religion and society must be re‐conceived, re‐thought and renewed?” The following topics will provide a framework for our inquiries.

  • Today's Big Picture: What Does Science Tell Us about Our World and Our Place in It?

  • The Pluralistic Landscape in Today's World.

  • What Is the Perception of and the Nature of Science in Today's Society?

  • What Is the Role of Religious Thought for the Twenty‐First Century?

  • How Do We Understand the Future of Religion and Science?

  • Agendas for the Future?

FORMAT, ACTIVITIES, AND CALL FOR PARTICIPATION

The conference format will feature a daily plenary lecture in the morning (except for two lectures on Monday), followed by small discussion groups. In the afternoon there will be further discussion groups, as well as workshops and other activities. We will return to the evening session to engage the morning plenary lecturers with questions and comments that will carry our thinking forward in a collaborative‐constructive way.

All conference attendees will be invited to propose workshops on the themes of the conference, as well as workshops that examine the future roles of IRAS in relation to its founding ideas and the wider context of science, religions, and society in which we now live.

In our work and play together, we will be joined by members of another conference called Star Gathering II and the Star Gathering II Youth conference. They will be welcome to attend IRAS sessions. Likewise, IRAS attendees will be welcome to attend the variety of offerings of Star Gathering II.

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS

Nancy Abrams, University of California, Santa Cruz (attorney and cultural philosopher).

Zain Bagir, Director of the Center for Religious and Cross‐Cultural Studies at the Graduate School of Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia (religion, science, and technology).

Whitney Bauman, Florida International University (religion, science, and globalization).

Willem B. Drees, University of Leiden, Editor of Zygon (interactions between religious convictions and practices and contemporary culture, modern science, and technology).

Sarah Fredericks, University of North Texas University (religion, technology, and sustainability).

James Haag, Suffolk University (naturalism and religion).

Mark Juergensmeyer, University of California, Santa Barbara, Director of the Orfalea Center for Global and International Studies (sociology, religion and politics, religious violence).

Karl E. Peters, Rollins College emeritus (evolution and religion).

Joel Primack, University of California, Santa Cruz, Director of the University of California system‐wide High‐Performance AstroComputing Center (theoretical cosmology).

Michael Ruse, Florida State University, Director of the History and Philosophy of Science Program (philosophy of biology).

Lea Schweitz, Director, Zygon Center for Religion and Science, Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago (humanity's relation to God and nature).

Dennis Moon, Senior Minister, South Church UCC, Granby, CT—daily Chapel Speaker

For more information, visit the IRAS website:

To register, please contact Marion Griswold, Registrar at . For instructions on how to register online, go to and click on CONFERENCE REGISTRATION.