Science, Reason & Religion 2012

In late September/early October, Mayfield Salisbury Parish Church is holding a festival of Science, Reason & Religion. We hope to explore the relationship between these three topics. Speakers from across the theological and denominational divides as well as  scientists, philosophers and theologians will speak at the festival. In our view, the Church has never fully or adequately responded to the 'challenges' of science or reason and, in the present day, the Church is perceivedto be anti-intellectual, superstitious, bigoted and homophobic, at times not without justification. We are spiritual seekers after truth and recognising that there may be more than one truth our festival will be an honest, intellectually rigorous and, we hope, an enjoyable exploration about the nature of reality and what it means to be human.  -      Revd Scott S McKenna

Speakers will include: Professor Keith Ward of Oxford University, Professor John Haldane of St Andrews University, Professor Wilson Poon, and Professor Douglas Blackwood of Edinburgh University. Also planned is a Question-Time style panel discussion, and during this period our minister, Revd Scott McKenna, and visiting preachers will address relevant topics from the pulpit at our Sunday services.

Keith Ward is a philosopher and theologian. He is a Fellow of the British Academy and an ordained priest of the Church of England.  He was Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford University between 1991 and 2004. Two of his main interests are comparative theology and the interplay between science and faith. As an advocate of theistic evolution, he regards them as essentially compatible, a belief he has described in his book God, Chance and Necessity. He has criticized modern day Christian fundamentalism, most notably in his book What the Bible Really Teaches: A Challenge for Fundamentalists.  

John Haldane is a Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Centre for Ethics, Philosophy and Public Affairs at the University of St Andrews. He is also a commentator and broadcaster. In his television work he has contributed to programmes such as The Heart of the Matter and God Under the Microscope.

Wilson Poon is Professor of Condensed Matter Physics Soft Condensed Matter research group at the University of Edinburgh. He specialises in studying well-characterised model colloids to throw light on generic issues in condensed matter and statistical physics. . He is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics and of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and also a member of the Doctrine Committee of the Scottish Episcopal Church. He is keen to develop a comprehensive theology of science. He is a regular book reviewer for the journal Theology.  

Douglas Blackwood is Professor of Psychiatric Genetics and Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist at the University of Edinburgh. He is also an Elder at Mayfield Salisbury Parish Church.