William R. Stoeger
SJ (October 5, 1943 – March 24, 2014) was an American
astronomer and
theologian.
Biography
William Stoeger was born on October 5, 1943, at Torrance Memorial Hospital in Torrance, California.
His father was named Richard Q. Stoeger. Stoeger and his brother, John D. were ordained together. William went to high school at Bishop Montgomery High School in Torrance, California and received a bachelor's degree in philosophy at Spring Hill College in Mobile Alabama and a master's in physics at UCLA.
Before studying at Cambridge, he studied theology at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley. He was a staff scientist for the Vatican Observatory Research Group
Vatican Observatory in
Tucson, specializing in
theoretical cosmology
Physical cosmology is a branch of cosmology concerned with the study of cosmological models. A cosmological model, or simply cosmology, provides a description of the largest-scale structures and dynamics of the universe and allows study of f ...
, high-energy astrophysics, and interdisciplinary studies relating to
science,
philosophy
Philosophy (from , ) is the systematized study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved. Some ...
and
theology. Fr. Stoeger was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1972, and earned his Ph.D. in astrophysics in 1976 at Cambridge University, where he was a student of the Astronomer Royal, Baron
Martin Rees, and a classmate of
Stephen Hawking. He worked on staff at the
Vatican Observatory in Tucson from 1979 until his death on March 24, 2014.
[Peter Hess, "An Astronomer for God: William R. Stoeger (1943-2014)", National Center for Science Education, May 6, 2014, http://ncse.com/blog/2014/05/god-astronomy-appreciation-william-r-stoeger-0015569]
Selected works
*
Physics and Cosmology: Scientific Perspectives on the Problem of Natural Evil' co-edited with
Nancey Murphy and
Robert John Russell
Robert John Russell is founder and Director of the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences (CTNS). He is also the Ian G. Barbour Professor of Theology and Science in Residence at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU). He has written and edit ...
,
Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2008, , 400 pages
*
Evolution and Emergence: Systems, Organisms, Persons', co-edited with
Nancey Murphy,
Oxford University Press, 2007, , 360 pages
*
John Paul II on Science and Religion: Reflections on the New View from Rome' co-edited with
Robert J. Russell
Robert John Russell is founder and Director of the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences (CTNS). He is also the Ian G. Barbour Professor of Theology and Science in Residence at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU). He has written and edited ...
,
George V. Coyne, and
Pope John Paul II,
Vatican Observatory Publications, 1990, , 122 pages
*
Physics, Philosophy, and Theology: A Common Quest for Understanding' co-edited with
Robert J. Russell
Robert John Russell is founder and Director of the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences (CTNS). He is also the Ian G. Barbour Professor of Theology and Science in Residence at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU). He has written and edited ...
and
G. V. Coyne,
Vatican Observatory, 1988, , 419 pages
*
The Laws of Nature, the Range of Human Knowledge and Divine Action', William R. Stoeger, Biblos, 1996, , 116 pages
*
An Investigation of Crossed-calcite Plate Measures in Cygnus II' co-authored with
Patrick J. Treanor,
Specola vaticana
The Vatican Observatory () is an astronomical research and educational institution supported by the Holy See. Originally based in the Roman College of Rome, the Observatory is now headquartered in Castel Gandolfo, Italy and operates a telescope a ...
, 1976, 7 pages
See also
*
List of Jesuit scientists
*
List of Roman Catholic scientist-clerics
References
External links
Review by Stoegerof the
David Toolan's ''At Home in the Cosmos'' (
Orbis Books
Orbis Books, is an American imprint of the Maryknoll order. It has been a small but influential publisher of liberation theology works. It was founded by Nicaraguan Maryknoll priest Miguel D'Escoto with Philip J. Scharper in 1970. Its editor-in- ...
, 2003)
1943 births
2014 deaths
American astronomers
Catholic clergy scientists
Jesuit scientists
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