The Epic of Creation
Scientific, Biblical, and Theological Perspectives on Our Origins
Fall 2009
Chaired by Gayle Woloschak
Monday Evenings 6:30 PM 9:30 PM, September 14 through December 7, 2009 (note
our new, earlier, times).
Common Room 350, Lutheran School of Theology at
Chicago, 1100 East 55th Street, Chicago, IL 60615
We invite you to this unique course and lecture series that will present the scientific story of the emergence and evolution of the universe, life, and humans; provide exegeses of the biblical story of creation; and offer theological reflections on the Epic of Creation.
Leading scientists will tell the scientific story of our origins as inferred from records in starlight, rocks, and fossils. Notable biblical scholars will present exegeses of the biblical story of the world's beginnings and continuing creation as found in the Old and New Testaments and in the myths of other civilizations that shaped biblical concepts of creation. Distinguished theologians will reflect on issues and questions raised by the stories and their implications for Christian understandings of the world, humanity, and God. Throughout we will explore the meaning of the stories, asking what they tell us about the nature of our universe, about human nature, and about our origins and destinies.
Offered by the Zygon Center for
Religion and Science (ZCRS), the Epic of Creation course is designed as a
graduate-level seminary course and public lecture series. All lectures are free
and open to the public. Course credit is available via registration through the
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC) or cross-registration through
member schools of the Association of Chicago Theological Schools (ACTS); the
course number is LSTC T-456. For more information about ZCRS, please visit our
website: www.zygoncenter.org; E-mail us: zcrs@lstc.edu; or call
us: 773-256-0670.
Sept 14 (6:30 PM) The Ongoing Creation of Stars, Planets, and, Possibly, Life: Grace Wolf-Chase, astrophysics, Adler Planetarium/ University of Chicago
Sept 14 (8:00 PM) The Origin of It All: Dan Hooper, astrophysics; Fermi Lab/University of Chicago
Sept 21 (6:30 PM) The Origin of Life: Tatjana Paunesku, molecular biology, Northwestern University
Sept 21 (8:00 PM) The Origin of Muticellular Life and Development of a Body Plan: Gayle Woloschak, molecular biology, Northwestern University/ZCRS
Sept 28 (6:30 PM) From Miocene Apes to Modern Humans, Part 1: The Origin and Early Evolution of Humans: Fred Smith, anthropology, Illinois State University
Sept 28 (8:00 PM) Brain Evolution: Philip Ulinski, neurobiology, University of Chicago (emeritus)
Oct 5 (6:30 PM) Primate Precursors to Human Behavior: Paul Heltne, primatology, Center for Humans and Nature
Oct 5 (8:00 PM) Social and Cultural Responses to Evolution: Barbara Strassberg, sociology, Aurora University
Oct 12 (6:30 PM) The Ancient Near Eastern Background for Hebrew Conceptions of Creation: Bernard Batto, religious studies, DePauw University (emeritus)
Oct 12 (8:00 PM) Panel Discussion of Scientists
Oct 19 (6:30 PM) The Story of Creation from Hydrogen to the Earth: Donald York, astrophysics, University of Chicago
Oct 19 (8:00 PM) Universe Story/ies & Christian Theology: Some Hermeneutical Reflections: J. Matt Ashley, theology, University of Notre Dame
Oct 26 (6:30 PM) The Greco-Roman Context for New Testament Ideas of Cosmogony and Cosmography: Edgar Krentz, New Testament, LSTC (emeritus)
Oct 26 (8:00 PM) The New Testament on Creation: Edgar Krentz, New Testament, LSTC (emeritus)
Nov 2 (6:30 PM) Creation and Wisdom (Proverbs and Psalms): Esther Menn, Old Testament, LSTC
Nov 2 (8:00 PM) New Testament Views of Creation: Robert Brawley, New Testament, McCormick Theological Seminary (MTS)
Nov 9 (6:30 PM) Biological Evolution from the Cambrian Explosion to the Appearance of Higher Primates: James Hopson, biology, University of Chicago (emeritus)
Nov 9 (8:00 PM) Social Dimension of the Epic: Richard Busse, theology, ZCRS
Nov 16 (6:30 PM) Human Salvation in the Epic of Creation: Karl E. Peters, religion and philosophy, Rollins College (emeritus)/ZCRS
Nov 16 (8:00 PM) A Medieval Epic? Islamic-Jewish-Christian Connections to Creation and Science: Robert Cathey, theology, MTS
Nov 23 Thanksgiving Break
Nov 30 (6:30 PM) Reconstructing a Christian Theology of Nature: Anna Case-Winters, theology, MTS
Nov 30 (8:00 PM) The Epic of Creation and Interfaith Dialogue: James F. Moore, theology, Valparaiso University
Dec 7 (6:30 PM) The Epic of Creation--What Does It Mean?: Philip Hefner, theology, LSTC (emeritus)/ZCRS
Dec 7 (8:00 PM) Panel Discussion