Fuller Theological Seminary
Fuller Theological Seminary’s project, “Locating Science, Technology, and Religion (STAR) at Fuller’s Theological Core,” produced several short-form video resources featuring experts in the psychological sciences, created digital spaces within the seminary’s online ecosystem to house science resources (Fuller Studio – Theology and Science), and developed a course, Foundations in the Psychological Sciences, required for all masters students at Fuller Seminary as well as those in other graduate programs across Fuller University.
The films produced through the project (and available online at Fuller Dialogues: Psychological Sciences for Ministry) address various ways that the psychological sciences might inform, guide, and constrain practical theology and, in turn, clarify and enhance the development of theological insight. The following scientists and scholars each contribute their perspectives through multiple short films:
- Dr. Alexis Abernethy brings clinical psychological expertise to a discussion of worship and the body in the series: Uniting the Spiritual and the Physical.
- Dr. Brad Strawn discusses the theological significance of cognitive science in the series: Extended and Embodied Cognition.
- Dr. Cameron Lee brings together theoretical and practical perspectives in the series: Church as a Family System: Getting Unstuck.
- Dr. Cynthia Eriksson focuses on the role of trauma studies for psychological science and faith life in the series: Trauma-informed Ministry.
- Dr. Kenneth T. Wang explores the practice and process of scientific research through the series: Pursuing Truth through Empirical Research.
- Dr. Callaway deepens an inquiry into scientific perspectives on faith through the series: The Cognitive Sciences and Belief.
- Dr. Pamela Ebstyne King brings a developmental science perspective to explore the upside of psychological insight in the series: The Science of Thriving.
- Dr. Warren Brown shores up a neuroscientific view of personhood and relationality in the series: Complex Dynamical Systems.
Project lead and William K. Brehm Chair of Worship, Theology and the Arts, Kutter Callaway, writes: “…if there is one lesson that we have learned from this process, it is that incorporating the sciences into the theological classroom should be not only fun, but contagious. The benefit of having financial support for this endeavor, thanks to AAAS and DoSER, is that we were able to focus on the deep joy that our colleagues derive from their area of scientific research.”
Fuller is an interdenominational evangelical seminary located in Pasadena, California.
