The Epic of Creation 2011

Scientific, Biblical, and Theological

Perspectives on Our Origins

Chaired by Gayle Woloschak

Monday Evenings 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM, September 12 through December 5, 2011

Room 201, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago (LSTC), 1100 East 55th Street, Chicago, IL 60615

Each fall, the Epic of Creation invites scientists and scholars of religion to present their professional perspectives on the scientific, biblical, and theological stories of the origins of the universe, life, and human beings. We invite you to join us as we explore the meanings of these stories for our existence in the universe today. Offered by the Zygon Center for Religion and Science (ZCRS), the Epic of Creation is a graduate-level seminary course and public lecture series. All lectures are free and open to the public. You may register for course credit through LSTC or through any member of the Association of Chicago Theological Schools (ACTS); the course number is LSTC T-456. For more information, please visit www.zygoncenter.org, email [email protected], or call 773-256-0670.

9/12 (6:30PM) The Ongoing Creation of Stars, Planets, and, Possibly, Life: Grace Wolf-Chase, astrophysics, University of Chicago and Adler Planetarium

9/12 (8:00PM) The Quantum and the Cosmos: Edward “Rocky” Kolb, astrophysics, University of Chicago

9/19 (6:30PM) The Origin of It All: Dan Hooper, astrophysics, University of Chicago

9/19 (8:00PM) The Story of Creation from Hydrogen to the Earth: Donald York, astrophysics, University of Chicago

9/26 (6:30PM) Molecular Evolution/Evolution of the Body Plan: Gayle Woloschak, molecular biology, Northwestern University

9/26 (8:00PM) The Origin of Life: Tatjana Paunesku, molecular biology, Northwestern University

10/3 (6:30PM) “What is a transitional form?” Or, why ‘mammal-like reptiles’ aren’t reptiles: Kenneth Angielczyk, Field Museum of Natural History

10/3 (8:00PM) Primate Precursors to Human Behavior: Paul Heltne, primatology, Chicago Academy of Sciences

10/10 (6:30PM) The Radiation of Genus Homo and the Origin of Modern Humans: Fred Smith, anthropology, Illinois State University

10/10 (8:00PM) The Evolution of Culture and the Capacity for Culture in the Human Descent Line: William Irons, anthropology, Northwestern University

10/17 (6:30PM) The Point of It All? Reading Purpose and Direction in the Universe Story: J. Matthew Ashley, theology, University of Notre Dame

10/17 (8:00PM) Social and Cultural Responses to Evolution: Barbara Strassberg, sociology, Aurora University

10/24 (6:30PM) The Greco-Roman Context for New Testament Ideas of Cosmogony and Cosmography: Edgar Krentz, New Testament, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

10/24 (8:00PM) The Ancient Near Eastern Background for Hebrew Conceptions of Creation: Bernard Batto, religious studies, DePauw University

10/31 (6:30PM) The New Testament on Creation: Edgar Krentz, New Testament, LSTC

10/31 (8:00PM) Human Salvation in the Epic of Creation: Karl Peters, religion and philosophy, Rollins College

11/7 (6:30PM) The Epic of Creation and Interfaith Dialogue: James F. Moore, theology, Valparaiso University

11/7 (8:00PM) From the Enlightenment to Technoscience: Religion as a Problem: Mladen Turk, religious studies, Elmhurst College

11/14 (6:30PM) The Qur’an and Evolution: Contemporary Muslim Responses: Ghulam-Haider Aasi, American Islamic College and LSTC

11/14 (8:00PM) Social Dimension of the Epic: Richard Busse, theology, Zygon Center for Religion and Science

11/21 No Lectures (Thanksgiving Break at LSTC)

11/28 (6:30PM) Reconstructing Human Nature: Knowing our Place: Anna Case-Winters, theology, McCormick Theological Seminary

11/28 (8:00PM) Creation and Wisdom (Proverbs and Psalms): Esther Menn, Old Testament, LSTC

12/5 (6:30PM) The Epic of Creation—What Does It Mean?: Philip Hefner, theology, LSTC and ZCRS

12/5 (8:00PM) Panel Discussion