|
The framework of the Life Science and Religion Community
Forum of Central Virginia developed from a Virginia
Commonwealth University course called Faith and the
Life Sciences. We believe that expanding our conversation
beyond the walls of VCU would be of tremendous value
to the citizens of Central Virginia.
In fact, we recently
received a note from a student who took our course
in the spring of 2004. In his letter,
he describes watching the memorial tributes to former
President Ronald Reagan and how the issue of stem-cell
research was raised — he thought “about
some of our former debates” on that topic and
concludes, “I really miss your class.”
We
developed the course with the following goals in
mind:
- to become more knowledgeable regarding debates
within sciences, within religions, and between
science and
religion;
- to explore a range of Religiously based
ethical perspectives;
- to encourage our students
to engage in serious intellectual exploration
and critical reflection
about these issues.
As the forum continues over the next three years, we
will continue to look at topics raised and evaluate
the need to offer other classes; though currently, we
offer LFSC 401 Faith and the
Life Sciences.
|
