Are we becoming more intelligent, bigger, stronger, more savage, or what – in short, are we still evolving? If so – should we regard ourselves as simply some accidental by-product of nature? At the final Bible and Science Worcester Talk in our current series, Simon Conway Morris, a Christian and Professor of Palaeobiology at Cambridge University argues not.
Prof Simon Conway Morris Talk 18 March 2014
Dr Denis Alexander, Emeritus Director of the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, Cambridge, will be presenting on ‘Genes, Determinism and God’, at the next Bible and Science Worcester talk on 19th November 2013. Dr Alexander will seek to cover the following issues. Please download and display the poster for this event, Denis Alexander – 19 Nov 13, or read on for more information. Continue reading
Addiction – The Divided Self: 15 October 2013
Addiction is a very broad phenomenon, from noted examples of physical dependence on drugs, alcohol and nicotine, to the possibly more psychological addictions to gambling, hoarding junk, compulsive shopping, etc. No previous generation has been exposed to the commercial advertising pressures we face today, or the pressure to conform sometimes exerted through social networking.
Professor Chris Cook of Durham University is both a psychiatrist and a university chaplain, being attached to the theology Department.
He will describe current psychiatric models of addiction and look at the possible spiritual roots and the insights he gains from his Christian faith. He may help us to understand people who have experienced pressures we have fortunately been spared, but which drove others to addictive behaviour. Why not invite someone along who wants to ditch their own habit? It won’t be a cure, but it could be a start.
The evening will be split into three short sessions, with time for questions. You do not need to be either a scientist or a Christian to participate – we aim to make the evenings accessible to all.
Professor Cook trained first in medicine, at St George’s Hospital Medical School in London, qualifying in 1981, and then specialised as a postgraduate in psychiatry at the United Medical and Dental Schools of Guys and St Thomas’s, also in London. He has been a Lecturer at University College, London (1987 to 1990) and Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Psychiatry, London (1994 to 1997) as well as being Professor of the Psychiatry of Alcohol Misuse at the University of Kent from 1997 to 2003. He is also an ordained Anglican priest with an MA in Applied Theology, and is currently Director of the Project for Spirituality, Theology & Health at Durham University.
His studies have looked at the genetic effects upon the predisposition to alcohol misuse and dependence, as well at treatment approaches, such as those based in the mutual help movement, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and those with religious roots, as well as those that are more medically based.
See http://www.dur.ac.uk/theology.religion/staff/?username=dth0ccc for more information.
You can down-load the poster giving details of the meeting using this Chris Cook – 15 Oct 13 v2. Please print off and display in your church or place of work.