HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The Institute on Religion in an Age of Science (IRAS) is a
non-denominational A non-denominational person or organization is one that does not follow (or is not restricted to) any particular or specific religious denomination. Overview The term has been used in the context of various faiths including Jainism, Baháʼí Fait ...
society that promotes and facilitates the ongoing dialectic between religion and science. The Institute has held annual week-long conferences at Star Island in
New Hampshire New Hampshire is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...
since 1954. The conference attracts about 250 members and non-members each year. The 1964 conference, for example, was attended by 215 conferees, with speeches by figures including
Theodosius Dobzhansky Theodosius Grigorievich Dobzhansky (russian: Феодо́сий Григо́рьевич Добржа́нский; uk, Теодо́сій Григо́рович Добржа́нський; January 25, 1900 – December 18, 1975) was a prominent ...
.


Mission

In its Constitution, the IRAS purpose is stated as follows: "The Institute on Religion in an Age of Science is established * to promote creative efforts leading to the formulation, in the light of contemporary knowledge, of effective doctrines and practice for human welfare; * to formulate dynamic and positive relationships between the concepts developed by science and the goals and hopes of humanity expressed through religion; and * to state human values in such universal and valid terms that they be understood by all peoples, whatever their cultural background or experience, in such a way as to provide a basis for world-wide cooperation. The IRAS Council adopted the following statement in 2003: “We at IRAS take the natural world seriously as a primary source of meaning. Our quest is informed and guided by the deepening and evolving understandings fostered by scientific inquiry. “From here, our quests for meaning take us in divergent directions. For some, the natural world and its emergent manifestations in human experience and creativity are the focus of exploration. Some go on to encounter and celebrate the sacred in such explorations. For others, understandings of the natural world are interwoven with understandings inherent in various religious traditions, generating additional paths of exploration and encounter. As a result, we articulate our emerging orientations with many voices that are harmonious in that we share a common sense of place and gratitude. “We acknowledge as well a shared set of values and concerns pertaining to peace, justice, dignity, cultural and ecological diversity and planetary sustainability. Although we may differ and hence debate as to how these concerns are here addressed, we are committed to participating in their resolution.”


History

IRAS evolved from the ideas of two pioneer groups. The first was a group of scientists from the Committee on Science and Values of the
American Academy of Arts and Sciences The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (abbreviation: AAA&S) is one of the oldest learned societies in the United States. It was founded in 1780 during the American Revolution by John Adams, John Hancock, James Bowdoin, Andrew Oliver, and ...
. The second group was an interfaith, religious coalition which hoped to revitalize religion for today's needs. Members of both groups saw what some perceived as a battlefield of conflicting ideologies to be a place of opportunity for a constructive relationship to emerge. The first president was Edwin Prince Booth, a professor of church history at Boston College (1954–59). Subsequent presidents included
Harlow Shapley Harlow Shapley (November 2, 1885 – October 20, 1972) was an American scientist, head of the Harvard College Observatory (1921–1952), and political activist during the latter New Deal and Fair Deal. Shapley used Cepheid variable stars to estim ...
,
Philip Hefner Philip Hefner is a professor emeritus of systematic theology at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Academic career His research career has focused on the interaction of religion and science, for which he is most well known. Hefner has he ...
,
Ursula Goodenough Ursula W. Goodenough (born March 16, 1943) is a Professor of Biology Emerita at Washington University in St. Louis were she engaged in research on eukaryotic algae. She authored the textbook ''Genetics'' and the best-selling boo''The Sacred Dep ...
, and
Varadaraja V. Raman Varadaraja Venkata Raman (better known as V.V. Raman; born 28 May 1932 in Calcutta, IndiaJanet Marting, ''Commitment, Voice, and Clarity: An Argument Rhetoric and Reader'' (1996), p. 162.) is Emeritus Professor of Physics and Humanities at the ...
. In 1954 the scientists accepted an invitation to present their views to the religious group at a seven-day conference on Religion in an Age of Science on Star Island. On November 9, 1954, members of the two groups established the Institute on Religion in an Age of Science to work toward these goals.


Presidents

Presidents of IRAS have been: * Edwin Prince Booth, (1954–59), Professor of Church History, Boston College *
Harlow Shapley Harlow Shapley (November 2, 1885 – October 20, 1972) was an American scientist, head of the Harvard College Observatory (1921–1952), and political activist during the latter New Deal and Fair Deal. Shapley used Cepheid variable stars to estim ...
, (1960–62), Professor of Astronomy, Harvard University * Sanborn C. Brown, (1962–67), Professor of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology *
Malcolm R. Sutherland Jr. Malcolm, Malcom, Máel Coluim, or Maol Choluim may refer to: People * Malcolm (given name), includes a list of people and fictional characters * Clan Malcolm * Maol Choluim de Innerpeffray, 14th-century bishop-elect of Dunkeld Nobility * Máel C ...
, (1967–68), President of Meadville/Lombard Theological School * Carl Bihldorff, (1968–69), Minister, First Parish, Brookline, Massachusetts *
Hudson Hoagland Hudson Hoagland (December 5, 1899 – March 4, 1982) was an American neuroscientist, president of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, from 1961 to 1964. Originally from Rockaway, New Jersey, he graduated from Columbia University, Massac ...
, (1969–71), Director, Worcester Foundation of Experimental Biology * Jerome Malino, (1971–73), Rabbi, United Jewish Center, Danbury, Connecticut * George A. Riggan, (1973–75), Professor of Systematic Theology, Hartford Seminary Foundation *
Malcolm R. Sutherland Jr. Malcolm, Malcom, Máel Coluim, or Maol Choluim may refer to: People * Malcolm (given name), includes a list of people and fictional characters * Clan Malcolm * Maol Choluim de Innerpeffray, 14th-century bishop-elect of Dunkeld Nobility * Máel C ...
, (1976–77), President of Meadville/Lombard Theological School * Solomon H. Katz, (1977–79), Professor of Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania *
Philip Hefner Philip Hefner is a professor emeritus of systematic theology at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Academic career His research career has focused on the interaction of religion and science, for which he is most well known. Hefner has he ...
, (1979–81), Professor of Theology, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago * Solomon H. Katz, (1981–83), Professor of Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania *
Philip Hefner Philip Hefner is a professor emeritus of systematic theology at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Academic career His research career has focused on the interaction of religion and science, for which he is most well known. Hefner has he ...
, (1984–86), Professor of Theology, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago *
Ward Goodenough Ward Hunt Goodenough II (May 30, 1919 – June 9, 2013) was an American anthropologist, who has made contributions to kinship studies, linguistic anthropology, cross-cultural studies, and cognitive anthropology. Biography and major works Go ...
, (1987–89), Professor of Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania * Marjorie Hall Davis, (1989–92), Minister, United Church of Christ, Granby, Connecticut *
Ursula Goodenough Ursula W. Goodenough (born March 16, 1943) is a Professor of Biology Emerita at Washington University in St. Louis were she engaged in research on eukaryotic algae. She authored the textbook ''Genetics'' and the best-selling boo''The Sacred Dep ...
, (1992–96), Professor of Biology, Washington University *
Karl E. Peters Karl E. Peters is a Professor Emeritus of Religion at Rollins College, Winter Park, FL, and former adjunct professor of philosophy, University of Hartford, Hartford, CT and adjunct professor of religion and science, Meadville Lombard Theologica ...
, (1996–99), Professor of Philosophy and Religion, Rollins College * Christopher Corbally, (1999–2002), Astronomer, Vatican Observatory * Michael Cavanaugh, (2002–04), Attorney (retired), Baton Rouge, Louisiana * Barbara Whittaker-Johns, (2004–05), Minister, Arlington, Massachusetts * John Teske, (2005–08), Professor, Psychology, Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania *
Ted Laurenson TED may refer to: Economics and finance * TED spread between U.S. Treasuries and Eurodollar Education * ''Türk Eğitim Derneği'', the Turkish Education Association ** TED Ankara College Foundation Schools, Turkey ** Transvaal Education Depart ...
, (2008–11), Attorney, New York, New York * Varadaraja Raman, (2011–13), Professor of Physics and Humanities, Rochester Institute of Technology * Barbara Whittaker-Johns, (2013–), Minister, Arlington, Massachusetts


See also

*
Zygon (journal) ''Zygon: Journal of Religion & Science'' is a quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal covering religion and science published by Wiley-Blackwell. It was established in 1966 and the editor-in-chief is Arthur C. Petersen (University College Londo ...
* European Society for the Study of Science and Theology
James Gilbert, ''Redeeming Culture: American Religion in an Age of Science'', University of Chicago Press, 1997, pp. 273-280.


References


External links


Institute on Religion in an Age of Science official website Center for Advanced Studies in Religion and Science (CASIRAS)
Religion and science Religious studies Organizations based in New Hampshire {{reli-studies-stub