EPIC OF CREATION LECTURE SERIES:

Discussions about Intelligent Design and Creation Science continue to trouble media and the public even after the U.S. District Court declared Intelligent Design to be unconstitutional in Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District. These discussions create furor with school boards and leave believers of many faith traditions confused.

The Zygon Center for Religion and Science in Chicago offers a unique resource in this situation: The Epic of Creation lecture series provides a thorough presentation of scientific, religious, and theological knowledge about the evolution of the universe, life and culture.

The Epic of Creation presents the scientific story of emergence and evolution from the beginning of the universe to the emergence of humans; interpretation of the biblical stories of creation; and theological reflection on creation and our origins. Prominent scientists tell the scientific story, which begins with the origins of the universe presented from a cosmological perspective. It continues through the origin of life on earth, the evolution of life to its present forms, and the development of humans, including brain evolution and the development of social structures. Religious scholars present a variety of reflections on the biblical creation stories. Theologians discuss how scientific and religious creation stories affect our sense of meaning today.

The Epic of Creation series was started by the Zygon Center for Religion and Science in 1989 and has been running annually since that time. Our speakers include top scientists and scholars from the University of Chicago, the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, Northwestern University, Loyola University, Notre Dame University, McCormick Theological Seminary, DePauw University, and other distinguished institutions.

Prof. Gayle Woloschak, professor of molecular biology and radiology at Northwestern University and director of the Epic of Creation lecture series, reports, "This year we are very excited to have a special speaker, Dr. Andrew Newberg, a noted author and scholar from the Departments of Psychiatry and Radiology at the University of Pennsylvania."

Dr. Newberg is co-author of the highly acclaimed book Why God Won't Go Away. On Oct. 23 at 7:00 p.m., he will speak on the topic "Why We Believe What We Believe". He has recently published a book with the same title that will provide some of the basis for his lecture.

Dr. Newberg's lecture is a special presentation of the Epic of Creation lecture series. All Epic of Creation lectures are free and open to the public, and the series may be taken for course credit through the Association of Chicago Theological Schools (ACTS)..

All lectures take place at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, 1100 East 55th Street, Chicago, IL 60615 on Mondays from 7-10 pm starting September 11.

For directions see http://www.lstc.edu/about/driving.html

If you would like further information, please contact the Zygon Center for Religion and Science by phone 773-256-0670 or e-mail ZCRS@LSTC.edu or Epic@LSTC.edu

Institutional affiliations are: CHN, Center for Humans and Nature; DU, DePauw University; LSTC, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago; LUC, Loyola University of Chicago; MTS, McCormick Theological Seminary; NU, Northwestern University; RC, Rollins College; UC, University of Chicago; UND, University of Notre Dame; UP, University of Pennsylvania; ZCRS, Zygon Center for Religion and Science.