[Pacg] Spirituality in the 21st Century, May 16 & 17

[Carolina 1961]

*From the PACG Reclaiming Moral Values Forum*
*forwarded by the Clinton Fransiscans & Friends*

Lois Seger is driving to this event from Clinton on Friday afternoon and
returning Saturday afternoon.  She has room for 2 or 3 passengers if anyone
wishes to ride with her.  Her address is:   seger.loisbob at peoplepc.com


*Spirituality in the 21st Century*
*featuring Dr. John F. Haught*

John Haught, Senior Fellow of Science and Religion at the Woodstock
Theological Center at Georgetown University, will be the guest speaker for
Prairiewoods' annual Spirituality in the 21st Century event.

Dr. Haught, who has been a prominent voice in the science and religion
dialogue, will discuss the impact of modern science on traditional theology
in public lecture at Mercy Hallagan Education Center in Mercy Medical Center
on Friday, May 16 and Saturday, May 17.

Follow link below for details and registration.
http://www.prairiewoods.org/
Information also printed below.

For more information on Dr. Haught, please visit http://web.mac.com/haughtj1or
http://meaningoflife.tv/transcript.php?speaker=haught


*What's Really Going on in the Universe*
*Friday, May 16, 7 - 9 p.m.*
Location: Hallagan Education Center at Mercy Medical Center,
701 10th St. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
Registration begins at 6 p.m.
Reserved tickets fee: $15. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.
Tickets at the door fee: $20

Developments in geology, evolutionary biology and cosmology have left no
doubt that the whole of nature, and not just our planet and human history,
have an essentially narrative character. Formerly the heavens seemed steady
enough to frame all the stories unfolding on earth. But during the last
century the heavens too got swallowed up by a story. What is theology going
to make of this larger story, one that infinitely outstrips in time and
space the brief span of human flourishing and the even more fleeting moments
of Hebrew and Christian religious history?

Is it still possible in an age of science to believe that the universe is
the repository of an overarching meaning or purpose? Is anything of
permanent significance going on in the universe? If so, what does that say
about human identity, vocation and happiness in the world as scientifically
understood? This lecture will ask why so many scientifically educated people
today view the cosmos as "pointless," and then it will look at several 20th
Century theological attempts to respond to modern and contemporary cosmic
pessimism.

*Evolution and Faith: What is at Stake?*
*Saturday, May 17, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
*Location: Hallagan Education Center at Mercy Medical Center,
701 10th St. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
Registration begins at 8 a.m.
Reserved tickets fee: $40, including lunch. Pre-registration is strongly
encouraged.
Tickets at the door fee: $50, including lunch

Darwin's "dangerous idea" challenges religious trust in a providential God
who purposefully creates, influences and eternally cares for the world. It
also raises questions about the basis for our ethical values. Our religious
ancestors knew nothing about biological evolution, although they were
certainly aware of the suffering of humans and other living beings. Is it
possible that their sense of life's meaning and of right and wrong is out of
tune with what we now know to be a quite different story of life from those
they held?

Darwinian science vastly extends the story of life and life's suffering (and
creativity as well) beyond those of traditional theological awareness. In
what sense, then, after Darwin, might we still trust in divine providence or
uphold a firm sense of values, if at all? Is it perhaps possible that
evolutionary portraits of life may open up fresh ways of thinking about God,
values and cosmic purpose? After Darwin can we have a plausible
understanding of God that is consistent with traditional beliefs and core
ethical aspirations and at the same time can our understanding of God be
consistent with the reality of evolution?
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