Asbury Professors Take on Insightful Topics Across Disciplines
November 5, 2021
On October 26, SEARCH held an event titled “Voyage to the Galápagos: A Perspective on Faith and Evolution” hosted by Professor of Biology Dr. Ben Brammell and Professor of English Dr. Daniel Strait as part of SEARCH’s Christianity and Science program.
Strait brought his perspective to the topic of faith and evolution from a literature and culture standpoint. He referenced Terry Eagleton, Richard Dawkins, and others that have works inspired by questions of how faith and evolution coincide. Brammell then answered questions, posed by Asbury biology student Brianna Wilson, about his recent trip to the Galápagos. Brammell shared his perspective on faith and the theory of evolution from a biology viewpoint.
Strait commented on the objective of the SEARCH Christianity and Science program.
“The goal is to stimulate a very vigorous and seriously intellectual conversation between faith, humanities, and sciences.” Strait said. “I’m trying to challenge myself to have a more informed view of science and a more deeply serious view of the conflicts between science and faith.”
Brammell explained that he hopes to open dialogue around the controversy surrounding faith and evolution.
“For me personally, that was a big question as I became a biologist,” Brammell said. “It is my hope that this discussion will help all students who are interested in thinking about this topic, especially our science students, as they grapple with this subject and develop their own views on it.”
The Lilly Faculty Fellows Program paired Brammell and Strait together to collaborate on a project that integrates faith, the humanities and science. As a result, in the past few years, the professors attended and spoke at multiple conferences, including a recent presentation at Boston College. Additionally, they gave two faculty presentations and one presentation for students at Asbury University during the 2020-21 academic year. The professors are eager to address more Christianity and science questions.
SEARCH will host another Christianity and Science faculty event with Strait and Brammell in February 2022.
The Christianity & Science program asks big questions about the relationship between our Christian faith, our academic disciplines, and scientific discovery.