HOW DOES GOD INTERACT WITH THE WORLD?

We are delighted to let you know that we have a date for you for our first online talk!

“HOW DOES GOD INTERACT WITH THE WORLD?”

Revd Dr John Polkinghorne KBE FRS

Tuesday 20th April

7.30-9pm on Zoom

We will be watching a video presentation together, given by the recently deceased Revd Dr John Polkinghorne, at Cambridge University. His talk is thought-provoking and insightful. In it, he discusses some of the modern implications of our understanding of the nature of the universe and the different Christian viewpoints there are about God’s ongoing interaction with his creation.

Following the presentation, we’ll be having some time for feedback and discussion. We watched the presentation together as a team recently, and with just a few of us, had a very interesting discussion, and some heated debate, and are looking forward to continuing this with you, on 20th April.

If you’d like to join us, the link to the Zoom Room is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87689085201?pwd=NitNbXVRZEVlYlQvMFRUK0RMaGZ5QT09.

The meeting ID is 876 8908 5201, and should you need it, the passcode is 733678.

If you need any further information, please email us on bibsciworcester@gmail.com and we’ll try to help.

To download our flyer, please click here.

 

 

ZOOM SOCIAL EVENING

Happy New Year to you all!

The team has continued to meet over the autumn months, to look at the best way forward for us, in these days of tiers and lockdowns, and at the new opportunities that technology offer us to continue to meet.

We would like to invite you to join us for a Zoom Social Evening, on Tuesday 26th January, at 7.30pm. This will be an opportunity for us to meet up and spend some time together, and will include a quiz, some discussion, and time for some of the team to update you on what we’ve been working towards and planning over the last few months, and to give you the chance to let us know what you’d like to see in the future months too.

If you’d like to be part of this, please could you email us, at bibsciworcester@gmail.com, and we’ll send you an invitation to join the Zoom Room nearer the time.

We hope that you are all keeping well, and will let you know about future events in the coming months soon!

COVID-19 UPDATE

COVID-19 

Lockdown has got us thinking. Over the last few months, we have been having conversations about the best way forward, in these strange times, and these are ongoing. We are in the process of reviewing and re-thinking what we do, and the new opportunities that the wider use of technology offer us.

It is unlikely that we will be able to launch our usual autumn season of talks in September, although we will review this in line with government guidelines nearer the time. As we’ve all learned over the last few months, situations can change very rapidly!

Once we have more concrete plans in place, we will let you know, but in the meantime, wanted you to know that we are working on the way forward for us in these times.

We hope you are all keeping well, and will update you on plans for the new season when we can!

March 2020

THE GALILEO CONTROVERSY

Rev. Dr. Stephen May

Tuesday  17th March
Lindisfarne House, 4 Barbourne Terrace, Worcester WR1 3JS
7.30 for 8pm

Rev Dr Stephen May

Galileo is widely seen as one of the prominent martyrs in the so-called “war of science and religion.” This talk will seek to unravel the facts from the myths surrounding the case, while both looking at its continued iconic status and the lessons the Church should learn from it.  Does the popularised version of the controversy used to pummel the church speak to issues of culture wider than questions of historical accuracy?

Included will be a consideration of how far the issue was one of personalities as much as principle, the determination of contrasting philosophies, the nature of scientific method, and the use and abuse of Scripture in such debates.

Stephen is a former lecturer in Systematic Theology at the University of Auckland, and is a member of the Bible and Science committee, with an early love of astronomy, a first degree in history, and continuing interests in it, as well as the relation of science and faith.

Doors open at 7.30pm for coffee and cake, and the event will begin at 8pm.

FEBRUARY 2020

UNDERSTANDING MENTAL ILLNESS AND CHRISTIANITY

Dr. Gabriel Kego, Psychiatrist
Anthony Goodman, Psychiatric Social Worker
Tuesday  18th February
Lindisfarne House, 4 Barbourne Terrace,
Worcester WR1 3JS

We welcome Dr. Gabriel Kego and Anthony Goodman, with a presentation on the topic “Understanding Mental Illness and Christianity”, which will look at different types of mental illness, and how we may be able to help recovery.

The seminar will be particularly useful for those with a passion to help people with mental health issues, who’d like to know more.

Doors open at 7.30pm for coffee and cake.

The event begins at 8pm.

ALL WELCOME

Entry and refreshments free – optional  donation – free parking.  

JANUARY 2020 – TEST OF FAITH

TEST OF FAITH

Does science threaten belief in God?

Is God a delusion?  Are science and Christian faith incompatible?

Tuesday  21st January

Lindisfarne House, 4 Barbourne Terrace,

Worcester WR1 3JS

 

This film looks at questions such as: “Are science and Christianity in conflict?”  “Has the Big Bang pushed God out of the universe?”  “Are humans no more than biological machines?”  “What does it mean to be made “in the image of God?”

It features interviews with a number of leading scientists and theologians, and was produced by Dr. Ruth Bancewicz of the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, in Cambridge.

The film will be followed by discussion of the issues raised.

Doors open at 7.30pm for coffee and cake.

The event begins at 8pm.

ALL WELCOME

Entry and refreshments free – optional  donation – free parking.  

 

NOVEMBER 2019

ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY AND RELIGIOUS CONCERN

Rev. Mark Turner

Tuesday  19th November

7.30 for 8pm

Lindisfarne House, 4 Barbourne Terrace,

Worcester WR1 3JS

The Christian doctrine of creation, and its implications for our stewardship of the earth and its resources.

Mark Turner is Rural Dean of Stourport, and a former industrial chemist.  He has organised symposia on this topic for schools and churches.

Doors open at 7.30pm for coffee and cake.

The event begins at 8pm.

ALL WELCOME

Entry and refreshments free – optional  donation – free parking.  

 

 

OCTOBER 2019

SEEKING TO KNOW

A HUMANE PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE AND RELIGION

with Professor Andrew Steane, Oxford University

Tuesday 22nd October

7.30 for 8pm

Lindisfarne House, 4 Barbourne Terrace, Worcester WR1 3JS

 The current generation proponents of atheism, such as Richard Dawkins, are keen to promote a view of science and religious faith as being mutually exclusive. This is despite a significant number of leading scientific thinkers down the ages expressing how their deeply held faith in a creator God is compatible with and indeed enhances a scientific understanding of the universe.

One such leading scientist with a deeply held faith is Andrew Steane, Professor of Physics at Oxford University, specialising in Relativity Theory and Quantum Mechanics. He will discuss how science explains the world around us, and how its branches interplay to form a network of ideas that capture the essence of physical reality. Central to this is the recognition that biology is shaped, not random. Further, he will discuss how Christian thinking and commitment encourages this interplay of ideas, and helps us both understand and respond to reality.

Doors open at 7.30pm for coffee and cake.

The event begins at 8pm.

ALL WELCOME

Entry and refreshments free – optional donation – free parking.  

MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH

“THE BIO-ETHICS LANDSCAPE: MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH”

Tuesday 17th September, at Lindisfarne House, 4 Barbourne Terrace, Worcester WR1 3JS

A video presentation by Professor John Wyatt, giving an overview of the central ethical dilemmas raised by modern biotechnology and medicine, from a practising Christian’s perspective.  This is not just a matter for academic debate, as these dilemmas touch us at the most intimate, painful and vulnerable parts of our lives.  John Wyatt brings us a view from the coal face.   This will be followed by questions and discussion, facilitated by Dr. Robbyn Procter, who works in our local NHS trust. John Wyatt is Professor of Ethics and Perinatology at University College London, has wide experience in research and teaching on ethical issues raised by modern medical practice, and is the author of “Matters of Life and Death – human dilemmas in the light of the Christian faith”, and “Dying Well”. Doors open at 7.30pm, when refreshments will be served – coffee and cake – and the event begins at 8pm, as usual.

***************

Dates for the remainder of the next season are:

Tuesday 22nd October
Tuesday 19th November
Tuesday 21st January
Tuesday 18th February
Tuesday 17th March

 

Topics covered will include physics, the environment, virtual reality, mental health and data analytics.  More details to follow soon!

TRUTH IN SCIENCE AND CHRISTIAN LIFE

Tuesday 19th March

8pm

Lindisfarne House, 4 Barbourne Terrace, Worcester WR1 3JS

Drs. Kim Stansfield and Stephen May

Today the concept of truth is increasingly under attack. But what do we mean by truth? Dr. Stansfield and Dr. May will present a view as a scientist who follows Christ, and as a theologian who loves science.

Dr. Stansfield will critique the reductionist analytical approach to scientific method proposed by Rene Descartes and widely used as a scientific and physical engineering approach to truth. He will indicate that many limitations have emerged in using this approach in analysing complex situations.  A Christian view focuses on understanding the complexity of life its underlying truths in terms of our relationship to a loving, creator God.

Dr. May will argue that, contrary to many discussions which oppose science to faith, science and theology share a common methodology and a commitment to objective truth that requires taking into account the knowing subject. He will examine the Biblical understanding of truth as being not only about knowing but being and doing, its creative and dynamic nature, and source in God himself.

All welcome. Refreshments and the opportunity for further discussion will follow the talk.