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The Society for Catholic Scientists has gathered for its seventh conference, drawing more than 100 Catholics in the field of science from around the world. The event, held at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in early June, saw these scientists forge connections, express their Catholic faith, and learn from one another’s experiences.
According to Chicago Catholic, the Society for Catholic Scientists was formed in 2016 by Stephen M. Barr, who serves as the organization’s president, and five others. The goal of the organization is to highlight the compatibility between faith and science, while spurring comradery between scientists of faith.
The former is perhaps the more pressing issue, as recent surveys have estimated that some 70% of young Catholics perceive faith and science as contradictory. In addition, there is a notion held within a portion of the scientific community that the simultaneous belief in God and science is impossible.
The latter goal is no less important, however, as opinions within the industry can often leave Catholic scientists feeling as though they must walk a tightrope, balancing their professional and faith lives. Barr, who is a professor emeritus in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Delaware, noted that the fellowship is a support system for Catholic scientists who often feel “isolated” or as though “they also are invisible.” He commented to Chicago Catholic:
“People rarely hear from scientists who are believers,” Barr said. “We want to witness to the scientific community and to the world at large that there are many scientists who are believers. Be a place where Catholic scientists can interact with each other.”
God's two books
Barr pointed toward the ancient Catholic stimulus of scientific discovery and advancement. He suggested that “God wrote two books," namely the book of Scripture and the "book of nature," and that scientists of faith can learn of God from both.
This year’s conference was held without a theme, but there were a variety of presentations on topics including artificial intelligence, evolution, mathematics, adult conversion, and philosophy.
The topic of mathematics was particularly interesting, led by a talk from Martin Nowak titled “Does Evolution Lead to God?”
Nowak noted that mathematics is an avenue for understanding truth and has been gifted to us by God. This led him to argue that science requires mathematics to find and express truth, but mathematics does not need science to do the same.
“All understanding is ultimately mathematical,” Nowak said. “The thought of God is the most mathematical thought. God has given us to understand some aspects of this mathematics.”
Read more quotes from the seventh conference of the Society for Catholic Scientists at Chicago Catholic.
