Department of Lifelong Learning, Virginia Theological Seminary

“Being With Science” will be an invitational process, a replicable course, and curated resources to equip leaders across the Episcopal Church with language and knowledge to lead congregations in critical conversations at the intersection of science and faith. The pilot program will engage participants in the science behind familiar, but not well understood, contemporary topics that challenge their understanding of being fully human, created imago Dei.  Topics will include the science of artificial/augmented intelligence and its relationship to consciousness; the neuroscience of dementia, empathy, and violence; therapeutic cloning and transplants; chronic illness and diet; trauma and its impact on human development; loneliness and mortality; human flourishing and nature.

The overall goal of “Being With Science” is to address the silence around science in most Episcopal congregations despite the emphasis on “reason” in Anglican/Episcopal theology.  In well-facilitated small groups that foster deepening relationships and transformative learning, each participant will be encouraged to read/watch more, and to establish a local science and faith team to respond to contextual interests and concerns. Local teams will be asked to conduct a scientist mapping process in their communities to identify working scientists in the congregation and vicinity who share an interest in science and religion.