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WEBINAR: Becoming Human: Evolution, Science, and the Soul

Jun 11, 2020
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Presented by the Lumen Christi Institute’s Newman Forum, in cooperation with the University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, and the Archdiocese of Chicago Vocations Office. Open to current high school students.

High school teachers and youth ministers are welcome to attend, and are encouraged to bring groups. Group leaders are now able to register themselves and their students together! This is especially encouraged for groups coming from outside of Chicagoland, to ensure groups remain together during the breakout sessions (see below). 

What can the science of evolution know? How is it related to religion, especially Catholic doctrine? Are they complementary or mutually exclusive? 

Questions like these have guided much of the scientific and religious investigation of the 20th and 21st centuries. In recent decades, discoveries of humanoid fossils have revealed new links between human ancestors and animals. Archaeologists and evolutionary biologists have called these discoveries "humans," but what does that mean for what it means to be human? How are you different or distinct from your pre-human ancestors?
 
The scientific evolutionary model is inherently limited in its understanding of the human person. It leaves us with as many questions as it answers: Where does the human soul come in? How are humans different from animals? What makes us human?
 
Answers to these questions can only be gained by recognizing the value --and the limits-- of the evolutionary model. Philosophy and theology can provide us a guide when the science falls short. 
 
Join us Thursday, June 11th at 2:30pm CDT for an online lecture with Chris Baglow, Director of the Science and Religion Initiative at Notre Dame's McGrath Institute for Church Life. Dr. Baglow is also the author of the premier science and religion textbook used by numerous Catholic schools in its science and theology curricula, Faith, Science, and Reason: Theology on the Cutting Edge.
 
During our time together, we'll listen to a short lecture, hold a brief Q&A, and then break into discussion groups to further dialogue about the questions that arise at the intersection of Christianity and evolution. The event should run until approx. 4pm.
 
 
 
There is no charge for the seminar, but a good-will donation of $10 is encouraged.
 
We are expecting a high volume of attendees for this event!  We encourage you to register by Tuesday, June 9th to ensure your spot, and to assist in our creation of discussion groups. 
 
This event is made possible by a generous gift from the John Templeton Foundation, as well as by a grant from The Our Sunday Visitor Institute, as a part of their "Re-Captivating Millennials" initiative, and by our many institutional and high school cosponsors:
 
INSTITUTIONAL COSPONSORS:
University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, The Archdiocese of Chicago Vocations Office, The McGrath Institute for Church LifeThe Society of Catholic Scientists
 
HIGH SCHOOL COSPONSORS:
 
 
If you have questions regarding the Newman Forum, registration, or any of our programs, feel free to reach out to the Newman Forum team:
 
Austin Walker
Director of the Newman Forum
awalker@lumenchristi.org
 
Madison Chastain
Program Coordinator of the Newman Forum
mchastain@lumenchristi.org