A New Field of Research

The Open Theology and Science three-week seminar and follow-up conference will build a new field in the science and religion discussion.  This new field explores the issues of science – cosmology, biology, and human sciences – as they relate to open theology.  The seminar and conference bring together the best open theologians to converse with prominent scientists so that open theologians can pursue integrated research on science and open theology. 

Open theology will benefit greatly from sustained engagement with the sciences, and the general science-and-religion discussion will be enriched by the research the Open Theology and Science project produces.  The seminar and follow-up conference will likely be regarded as the spark that generated a vibrant and influential field of research.

This initiative also arrives at a time in the development of the field of science-and-religion when scholars need to turn from considerations of broad generic topics like the anthropic principle, or divine action, and focus on more particular theological notions.  To date the breadth of the field of science-and-religion has prevented it from engaging the work of most theologians, who are generally working within a specific religious tradition and generally exploring particular themes within those traditions.

The best way to launch a new research field of this caliber is to gather top scholars for a sustained period of exploration.  The most efficient way for top open theologians to reflect on open theology and science is to provide a venue at which they can interact and reflect upon relevant research from the leading scientists.  We anticipate that many of them will discover, to their surprise, that science has much to contribute to their work.

Introducing current scientific research to open theologians on a one-on-one basis is a less effective use of resources than bringing those same theologians together at once.  When the leading voices in open theology meet together to consider the importance of science for open theology, an intellectual momentum will be created that could not emerge were these same scholars to pursue research separately.  The Open Theology and Science summer seminar and conference is needed to engender the intellectual momentum of a new field of research as prominent scholars gather to learn and collaborate.

A three-week seminar requiring concentrated study, research, and dialogue is ideal for laying the foundation of such an emergent field.  Three weeks allows sufficient time for participants to engage scientific issues seriously, and even to begin outlining new projects.  Asking top scholars to give up more of their valuable research time is unrealistic.  A shorter seminar would likely not sustain an environment for careful scholarship.  And such an abbreviated schedule would not build the momentum necessary to jumpstart a field that presently does not really exist. 

The seminar will provide a three-week residential program for 18 scholars, three directors, and eleven guest lecturers.  Co-directors will select seminar participants – some selected by open application, most by invitation – in order to gather the highest caliber of scholars.  All involved will produce scholarly articles to appear in journals, books, and high-visibility publications. 

Two volumes of collected essays on open theology and science will be produced by conference participants.  A follow-up conference the following year will provide additional incentive for scholars to complete significant projects.  The work will be published by reputable presses.

Reporters, journalists, editors, and free-lance writers from respected magazines and newspapers will be provided stipends to “drop in” at various times during the seminar.  These invited media personnel will be offered opportunities to interview seminar participants.  Media will also be present at the follow-up conference to generate ample coverage of the research the project generates.  A significant percentage of the grant’s budget is devoted to generating widespread and highly-regarded media coverage.