Activities & Events

FUS Doubters
IVGCF Science Group
Form an Isthmus Society Affiliated Group
Past Events

Affiliated Discussion Groups:

Doubters’ Group of the
First Unitarian Society (FUS)

The FUS Doubters meet monthly to discuss science and religion issues from the perspectives of atheism, agnosticism, skepticism, and free-thought. Recent topics of interest have included the ongoing debates over evolution and intelligent design as well as the relationship between reason and spirituality. The Doubters occasionally host special events such as guest speakers and films. All (including curious and good-humored believers) are welcome!

Meetings: Every second Monday, 7-9 PM

Location: First Unitarian Society, Library; 900 University Bay Drive, Madison

Contacts:
Roger Backes [[email protected]]
Mark Shults [[email protected]]

Science Group of InterVarsity Graduate Christian Fellowship (IVGCF)

The IVGCF Science Group meets weekly every Tuesday during the academic year for discussion and readings. This spring, the group has been working through Neil Postman’s stimulating cultural critique, Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology (Random House / Vintage Books, 1993). The group invites participation from students, faculty, staff, and alumni of the University of Wisconsin (including curious and good-humored non-believers).

Meetings: Weekly Tuesday’s during the academic year, noon to 1:00 PM

Location: UW Union South, 227 N. Randall Ave., Madison (Check “TITU” for room listings.)

Contact:
Jon Dahl [[email protected]]

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Form a Group!

The Isthmus Society invites affiliation with new or already existing local groups devoted to discussion and exploration of science-religion issues. Affiliation offers free advertising on this web site and at our public events as well as representation on the Isthmus Society’s steering committee. Affiliation also affords opportunities for groups to interact with the distinguished scholars on our staff. For more information, contact Scott Prinster at [email protected].

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Past Events:

(October 2011) Public Lecture: Darwin and the ‘Sin’ of Slavery by James Moore, Professor of Religion and Science at the Open University

Moore Event Flyer (PDF – 1.25 MB)

(April 2011) Symposium: This is Your Brain on Religion – Neuroscience and the Abrahamic Religions

(May 2010) Lecture/Workshop: Human Evolution: History, Biology, and Religion by Ronald L Numbers, Hilldale Professor of the History of Science and Medicine at UW-Madison and Karen Steudel, Professor of Zoology at UW-Madison

(May 2010) Public Lecture: Science and Religion: A Comparison Across the Atlantic by Denis Alexander, director of the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, St. Edmund’s College, Cambridge University

(March 2010) Public Lecture: Why People Believe Weird Things by Michael Shermer, Editor in Chief of Skeptic magazine

(November 2009) Public Lecture: Don Quixote among the Stars: Galileo Transformed by the Telescope by John L. Heilbron, Professor of History at the University of California – Berkeley

(October 2009) Public Lecture: God and Science in the Eastern Christian Church by Daniel P. Buxhoeveden, Professor of Anthropology at the University of South Carolina

lecture podcast
(24MB, 52 mins. run time)

(March 2009) Public Lecture: Designing a Universe Congenial for Life by Owen Gingerich, Professor Emeritus of Astronomy and the History of Science at Harvard University

Gingerich Event Flyer (JPG – 170 KB)

lecture podcast
(27MB, 65 mins. run time)

(October 2008) Public Lecture: Science Religion and Presidential Politics, 1800 and 2008 by Edward J. Larson, Darling Chair of Law at Pepperdine University and Professor of History at the University of Georgia

Larson Event Flyer (JPG – 220 KB)

lecture podcast
(27MB, 59 mins. run time)

(October 2008) Public Lecture: “I Wonder What a Chimpanzee Would Say to This?”: Commemorating Charles Darwin and The Origin of Species by Janet Browne, Professor of the History of Science at Harvard University

(October 2008) Dinner Talk: New Perspectives on Charles Darwin by Janet Browne

(April 2008) Public Lecture: Politics and Astrology in the Galileo Affair by Michael Shank, Professor of the History of Science and Integrated Liberal Studies at UW-Madison

Shank Event Flyer (PDF – 428 KB)

(December 2007) Symposium: Neuroscience of the Spirit featuring Nancey Murphy, Professor of Christian Philosophy at Fuller Theological Seminary and Richard Davidson, Vilas Professor of Psychology at UW-Madison

Event Flyer (PDF – 159 KB)

(December 2006) Public Lecture: Stem Cells, Embryos and Ethics: Is There a Way Forward? by William Hurlbut, Consulting Professor at the Neuroscience Institute of Stanford University

Hurlbut Event Flyer (PDF – 164 KB)

(April 2006) Public Lecture: Discerning Design and the Merits of ID Theory by Ernan McMullin, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame

lecture podcast
(22MB, 49 mins. run time)
discussion podcast
(37MB, 40 mins. run time)

(April 2006) Public Lecture: Islam and Science: from pluralism to essentialism by S. Irfan Habib, Professor Emeritus of History at Aligarh Muslim University

Habib Event Flyer (PDF – 34 KB)

(September 2005) Public Lecture: From Scopes to Intelligent Design: A Brief History of the Evolution/Creation Teaching Controversy by Edward J. Larson, Darling Chair of Law at Pepperdine University and Professor of History at the University of Georgia

Larson Event Poster (PDF – 812 KB)

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