Friday, January 8, 2016

4 talks about the positive interaction of science and theology

Next week I am giving four talks at the annual summer school for clergy from the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane. Here is the current draft version of the slides. I welcome any feedback.

Awe and wonder: Science and worship

Augustine on Faith and Reason

The Biblical origins of modern science

Creation: from the Big Bang to the multiverse

Overall my goal is to illustrate the positive interaction of science and theology, particularly in history.

Monday, January 4, 2016

The struggle for women to have a voice

My daughter took me to see the movie Suffragette.
It was very moving and challenging. It is hard to realise that in most countries 100 years ago women did not have the right to vote. It did not come to Switzerland until 1971!
The movie "nicely" puts the denial of voting rights in the broader context of unequal pay, poor working conditions, child labour, domestic violence, sexual harassment, child custody issues, ....

After any "historical" movie my nerdy family reads and discusses Wikipedia pages about the relevant background. Reading the biography of Emmeline Pankhurst showed how like many influential leaders she had "clay feet". She was intolerant of dissenting views, even from her own children, and during world war one was extremely nationalistic, completing suspending her suffragette activities.