St. John’s Seminary

It has become increasingly apparent to the faculty of St. John’s Seminary and Catholic bishops that seminarians need to acquire a basic knowledge of science. Doing so will help them better understand the psychological and sociological forces that influence human beings and their ability to know and live in accordance with the natural law, as well as to be able to respond to the perception that science and religion are incompatible. To that end, St. John’s Seminary is using the Science for Seminaries grant to increase the seminarians’ contact with science in its courses. The history of theology courses are exploring the rise of science in the Renaissance and are concurrently using a compound microscope to look at microscopic organisms and blood cells. The logic and philosophy of nature courses are examining the scientific method, how to analyze scientific studies, and the fundamental aspects of the natural world and concurrently using a stereo microscope to examine minerals and plant flowers. St. John’s Seminary is also developing a website that will host links to original studies and summaries of key findings in astronomy, quantum mechanics, relativity theory, and the psychology of human emotions and personality in order for students to more effectively explore these topics in their courses in metaphysics and anthropology. Finally, in May 2020, St. John’s Seminary is hosting a conference  “Space in the Catholic Imagination.”  The conference will bring together Catholic astronomers, theologians, and science fiction authors to investigate the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe, examine nearby planets through a telescope, and look at any theological implications in regard to anthropology and soteriology.

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