By AMIE AMEZCUA
The relationship between science and religion is an idea that has been debated and researched for centuries.
Today, Gerald Schroeder, a scientist from Israel, will lead a panel discussion on the topic at 11 a.m. in the Pardoe Theater of the Harris Fine Arts Center. The discussion is titled “The Science of God.”
The purpose for Schroeder’s visit is to have one of the leading scientists address his view on the relationship between science and religion, said Darwin Thomas. Thomas, a BYU professor and the Richard L. Evans Chair for Religious Understanding, is responsible for bringing Schroeder to BYU.
Donald Q. Canon, former associate Dean of Religious Understanding, will be a member of the panel. Canon said that to prepare for the panel, he read Schroeder’s book “The Science of God.”
Canon plans to ask Schroeder at the panel about the LDS concept of creation and if he (Schroeder) were to adopt that point of view, how would it change his overall view of the creation and science.
Canon agrees with Thomas’ decision to bring Schroeder to BYU.
“Schroeder is a terrific Bible scholar,” Canon said.
Schroeder is the author of two books, “Genesis and the Big Bang” and “The Science of God”. “Genesis and the Big Bang” is now printed in six languages. His research results have been reported in Time, Newsweek and Scientific American.
Schroeder works in Israel at the Weitzmann Institute of Science and the Volcani Research Institute. He earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees at the Massachusettes Institute of Technology. His doctorates are in the fields of earth science and nuclear physics. He worked in the physics department at MIT for seven years before moving to Israel to work.
Duane Jeffery, professor of Zoology, said Schroeder’s view is different from other scientists.
“This is not the usual creationist nonsense; Schroeder is vastly beyond that. His approach is more interesting and novel. He is worth listening to. He has a fresh approach,” Jeffery said.
The panel consists of five science and religion professors and will be moderated by Darwin Thomas. It is sponsored by the Templeton Foundation and the Richard L. Evans Chair for Religious Understanding.
Schroeder gave a lecture Tuesday titled “The Universe: Six Days, Sixteen Billion Years or Both? Harmony Between Modern Science and Ancient Biblical Wisdom”.
