From the moment early microscopes unveiled a hidden world of exquisite complexity in the 16th century\, and the first telescopes revealed the vast splendour of the heavens in the 17th\, scientific discovery has continually expanded our sense of wonder. Each new window into the natural world has brought not only advances in knowledge but also profound theological and philosophical questions.
\nToday\, the sciences continue to push the boundaries of the observable&mdash\;from the subatomic realm to the furthest edges of the cosmos. These explorations invite renewed reflection on creation\, purpose\, and the place of humanity within an ever‑deepening picture of reality. They also open fresh opportunities for constructive dialogue between scientific inquiry and religious thought.
\nThis conference will explore how contemporary understandings of both the minute and the immense prompt theological engagement\, shape religious imagination\, and offer new possibilities for integrating scientific insight with faith traditions. Bringing together scholars from diverse disciplines\, we will examine how science and religion can meaningfully converse in light of discoveries that challenge\, enrich\, and inspire.
\nApproximate running times BST (tbc):
\n15th May: 12noon - 5pm (conference) Gowland Lecture (7:30 tbc)
\n16th May: 9am - 2pm
\n\n* note whilst all papers \;must \;engage with science and religion/worldviews the Forum welcomes submissions related natural and/or social sciences.
\n\nWhile submissions on any relevant theme are welcome\, proposals may wish to engage with one or more of the following areas:
\nThe Very Small: Subatomic Physics\, Quantum Phenomena\, and Theological Reflection
How do contemporary understandings of quantum reality\, particle physics\, or emergent complexity influence theological anthropology\, divine action\, or metaphysical models?
The Very Large: Cosmology\, Astrophysics\, and Questions of Creation
What religious questions arise from current models of cosmic origins\, multiverse theories\, dark matter and energy\, or the expanding universe?
Aesthetics\, Wonder\, and the Scientific Imagination
How might the beauty\, intricacy\, and apparent fine‑tuning of the natural world inspire new forms of theological wonder\, spirituality\, or liturgical expression?
Interdisciplinary Opportunities for Dialogue Between Science and Faith
In what ways can emerging scientific fields&mdash\;such as astrobiology\, AI\, systems biology\, or neuroscience&mdash\;open fresh pathways for constructive engagement with religious traditions?
From the moment early microscopes unveiled a hidden world of exquisite complexity in the 16th century\, and the first telescopes revealed the vast splendour of the heavens in the 17th\, scientific discovery has continually expanded our sense of wonder. Each new window into the natural world has brought not only advances in knowledge but also profound theological and philosophical questions.
\nToday\, the sciences continue to push the boundaries of the observable&mdash\;from the subatomic realm to the furthest edges of the cosmos. These explorations invite renewed reflection on creation\, purpose\, and the place of humanity within an ever‑deepening picture of reality. They also open fresh opportunities for constructive dialogue between scientific inquiry and religious thought.
\nThis conference will explore how contemporary understandings of both the minute and the immense prompt theological engagement\, shape religious imagination\, and offer new possibilities for integrating scientific insight with faith traditions. Bringing together scholars from diverse disciplines\, we will examine how science and religion can meaningfully converse in light of discoveries that challenge\, enrich\, and inspire.
\n\nApproximate running times BST (tbc):
\n15th May: 12noon - 5pm (conference) Gowland Lecture (7:30 tbc)
\n16th May: 9am - 2pm
\n ORGANIZER;CN=Finley Lawson: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260417T175055Z DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20260801T090000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20260801T090000 SUMMARY:Foundations in Science and Religion: Boundaries of Theory & Practice UID:20260420T074941Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-f5d4878dd-g4ggw TZID:Europe/London DESCRIPTION:Conference Dates TBC\; CFP open (deadline may move later in August dependent on conference dates)
\nThe "Foundations" Conference is The Forum's dedicated space for early‑career researchers exploring the rich\, complex intersections between scientific inquiry and religious thought. This event provides an intellectually supportive environment where emerging scholars can develop foundational skills\, exchange ideas\, and engage critically with the theoretical and practical dimensions of the field. This conference explores the dynamic and sometimes contested borders between scientific understanding and religious interpretation\, asking how these two influential domains shape&mdash\; and are shaped by&mdash\; one another in contemporary thought and practice.
\nWe welcome submissions which engage with other issues at the intersection of natural and/or social science science and (any) religion. Whilst continuing to value the Christian origins of the Forum\, we particularly welcome papers that engage with science and religion from Eastern Orthodox\, and non-Christian perspectives which are historically under-represented at our conferences.
\nKey questions guiding this year's conference include:
\nWhere do theoretical boundaries between scientific models and theological frameworks lie&mdash\;and how porous should they be?
\nWhat role does practice play in shaping or challenging theoretical commitments in science and religion?
\nHow do scientific advances influence religious beliefs\, rituals\, and moral decision‑making?
\nWe welcome submissions which engage with other issues at the intersection of natural and/or social science science and (any) religion. Whilst continuing to value the Christian origins of the Forum\, we particularly welcome papers that engage with science and religion from Eastern Orthodox\, and non-Christian perspectives which are historically under-represented at our conferences.
\nDates TBC\; CFP open
\nThe "Foundations" Conference is The Forum's dedicated space for early‑career researchers exploring the rich\, complex intersections between scientific inquiry and religious thought. This event provides an intellectually supportive environment where emerging scholars can develop foundational skills\, exchange ideas\, and engage critically with the theoretical and practical dimensions of the field. This conference explores the dynamic and sometimes contested borders between scientific understanding and religious interpretation\, asking how these two influential domains shape&mdash\; and are shaped by&mdash\; one another in contemporary thought and practice.
\nAs scientific knowledge expands and religious traditions continue to evolve\, questions emerge about where boundaries should be drawn\, how they shift\, and what happens when they overlap. This conference examines these issues through interdisciplinary lenses\, bringing together voices from theology\, philosophy\, history\, the natural and social sciences\, and professional practice. By focusing on the boundaries of theory and practice\, this event aims not only to map the current landscape of science and religion studies but also to empower the next generation of scholars to shape its future.
\nApproximate running times BST (tbc):
\nDay 1: 10am-4pm
\nDay 2: 10am-4pm
ORGANIZER;CN=Finley Lawson: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260417T175055Z DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261120T090000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261121T170000 SUMMARY:Data\, Laws & Evidence: Philosophy of Science in Dialogue with religious Thought UID:20260420T074943Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-f5d4878dd-g4ggw TZID:Europe/London DESCRIPTION:Scientific inquiry is shaped by evolving understandings of data\, evidence\, and the laws that appear to govern the natural world. Whether through the rise of big data\, new empirical methods\, or debates about the nature of scientific explanation\, contemporary philosophy of science continues to refine how we interpret what science tells us about reality. These developments raise important questions not only for scientists and philosophers but also for theologians and scholars of religion who seek to engage constructively with scientific knowledge.
\nThis conference explores how concepts such as evidence\, natural laws\, causation\, and explanation function within scientific practice\, and how these concepts intersect with religious and theological perspectives. As scientific disciplines generate increasingly complex forms of data and expand into new domains&mdash\;from climate modelling to neuroscience and artificial intelligence&mdash\;long‑standing questions about meaning\, agency\, and truth gain fresh urgency.
\nBringing together philosophers of science\, theologians\, historians\, and scientists\, this conference will examine how religious thought can respond to\, challenge\, or be enriched by contemporary accounts of scientific reasoning. We will consider how different traditions interpret evidence\, whether religious and scientific explanations can coexist or complement one another\, and how metaphysical commitments shape our understanding of natural laws.
\nThrough interdisciplinary dialogue\, we aim to explore how scientific and religious communities might engage more fruitfully&mdash\;offering deeper insight not only into the workings of the natural world but also into the broader human search for understanding.
\n\nApproximate running times BST (tbc):
\n20th November: 12noon - 5pm (conference)
\n21st November: 9am - 2pm
ORGANIZER;CN=Finley Lawson: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20260417T175055Z DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20261120T090000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20261120T090000 SUMMARY:Data\, Laws & Evidence: Philosophy of Science in Dialogue with religious Thought UID:20260420T074944Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-f5d4878dd-g4ggw TZID:Europe/London DESCRIPTION:This conference will explore how current philosophical understandings of data\, natural laws\, evidence\, and explanation shape&mdash\;and are shaped by&mdash\;conversations with theology and religious studies. As scientific practice evolves in response to new methods\, technologies\, and conceptual frameworks\, fresh opportunities arise for constructive engagement across disciplines. \;
\n\nWhile abstracts on any relevant topic are invited\, submissions may wish to engage one or more of the following key themes:
\n1. \;The Nature of Evidence: Scientific\, Theological\, and Interdisciplinary Perspectives
\nHow do different disciplines understand what counts as &ldquo\;evidence&rdquo\;? Can theological or experiential forms of evidence be placed in dialogue with scientific standards? What challenges arise when evidence is mediated through models\, simulations\, or interpretive frameworks?
\n2. \;Laws of Nature\, Causation\, and Divine Action
\nHow are natural laws conceived within contemporary philosophy of science\, and what implications do these conceptions have for discussions of providence\, miracle\, agency\, and divine action? Are scientific and theological accounts of causation compatible or fundamentally distinct?
\n3. \;Data‑Driven Science and Its Philosophical and Theological Implications
\nWith the rise of big data\, machine learning\, and data‑intensive methods\, how is scientific reasoning changing? How might theology respond to questions of inference\, uncertainty\, pattern recognition\, and the role of human interpretation in data‑rich contexts?
\n4. \;Explanation\, Understanding\, and Meaning Across Disciplines
\nWhat makes an explanation satisfactory in science or religion? How do metaphysical commitments influence interpretive choices? Can scientific and theological explanations coexist\, complement\, or challenge one another in offering understanding of the world?
\n\nAbstracts are due midnight 30th September. Successful speakers will be notified by 19th October.
ORGANIZER;CN=Finley Lawson: METHOD:PUBLISH END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR