Can a scientist believe in the resurrection?

Is it really possible to pursue both scientific truth and religious faith?

The Bishop of Durham will pose the provocative question ‘can a scientist believe in the resurrection?’ to an audience at the University of St Andrews tomorrow (Thursday 20 December 2007).

The lecture is the first of an ambitious four-year series organised by scholars of science and religion at the University.  Described as a `vision for a better world’, the twelve James Gregory lectures will bring some of the world’s top experts to St Andrews to explore the natural tensions between the two subjects.

Bishop Tom Wright is one of the world’s most respected New Testament theologians and is well-known for his regular television and radio appearances on the subject.  As author, editor or co-author of over of fifty books, N.T. Wright has been at the centre of debate about the role that reason and ‘scientific historiography’ should play in understanding Jesus.

He said, “Despite all the shouting and arm-waving, there are many signs that wise science and mature religion can and should enrich one another – and that they are actually beginning to do so. That mutual enriching always involves the fundamental question, how we know what we know. I hope that by looking closely at the controversial matter of Jesus’ resurrection I will be able to raise this question in a helpful way and perhaps even point to some ways forward.”

Attending the lecture will be leading figures from scientific and theological disciplines throughout Scotland alongside public figures, students and members of the public. Amongst the attendees for the inaugural lecture will include BBC presenter Sally Magnusson.

Co-organised by Professors Eric Priest and Alan Torrance, it is hoped that the lecture series will provide a major new forum for scientists and theologians from different faiths to address some of the important issues that Scottish society faces.  The unusual partnership between a Professor of Theoretical Solar Physics (Professor Priest) and a Professor of Systematic Theology (Professor Torrance) is the first such collaboration between the Schools of Divinity and Mathematics & Statistics and represents a major new initiative at the University.

NT (Tom) Wright, Bishop of Durham will deliver the first James Gregory public lecture `Can a scientist believe in the resurrection?’ on Thursday 20th December, at 5:15pm in Physics Lecture Theatre A (North Haugh, St Andrews). It will be followed by a drinks reception. Directions and further details are available at www.jamesgregory.org     

NOTE TO EDITORS:

THE ORGANISERS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW:

Professor Eric Priest, 01334 463 709, [email protected]  

Professor Alan Torrance, 01334 462 843, [email protected]

NOTE TO PICTURE EDITORS:

IMAGES OF BOTH THE ORGANISERS AND N.T. WRIGHT ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE PRESS OFFICE – CONTACTS BELOW.

Issued by the Press Office, University of St Andrews
Contact Gayle Cook, Press Officer on 01334 467227 / 462529, mobile 07900 050 103, or email [email protected]
Ref:  Wright lecture 191207
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