Resources On Science and Faith
If you are a pastor or church leader who loves Millennials and members of Generation Z and want to address science from a Christian viewpoint, here are five resources that can get you started:
Scientists in Congregations has a simple objective: “to catalyze the dialogue of theology and science in local congregations.” They are supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation and coordinated by Greg Cootsona, Dave Navarra, and David Wood.
Check out the website to find examples of congregations that have started conversations on faith and science. There is a video library, curriculum, resource kits, and audio recordings that can help you launch an initiative. After viewing their approach you may have new ideas of your own. That would be great!
The STEAM Project notes that 70% of emerging adults believe science and religion are in conflict while over 80% of scientists see little or no conflict between the two. Why the gap? How can churches change that perception?
Check out the resource catalog, follow the blog, and learn how churches and other organizations are facilitating conversations on science and Christian faith.
God and Nature Magazine
Find essays, stories, poetry, and artwork that explores the relationship between God and the natural world. Spark your thinking, collect illustrations, and discover ways to integrate observations from science into your teaching ministry.
Also known as the Plpit Initiative, this resource is hosted by Fuller Seminary and is intended as a preaching help for pastors. You can find resources and illustrations, sample sermons, or join a sermon challenge to help spur the church’s thinking on science and faith. They have a topical index and cross-reference examples with the lectionary in their resource tab, and there is an online community you can join that networks ministry leaders who are seeking ways to better serve the Christian community in this area.
BioLogos “invites the church and the world to see the harmony between science and biblical faith as we present an evolutionary understanding of God’s creation.” That might not be for you. But it is a perspective that is worthy of consideration. There are multiple approaches to biblical hermeneutics and understanding the story of creation, and the BioLogos organization seeks to examine and understand the Scriptures in light of the findings of the sciences and vice versa. Read more about their mission, check out their resources, and see if there are helps available that can serve emerging adults in your congregation.
The summaries above are my own. But to give credit where it is due, I encountered these resources in Greg Cootsona’s book Mere Science and Christian Faith: Bridging the Divide with Emerging Adults. Cootsona draws from his experiences as a professor and pastor to help Christians connect with emerging generations on a subject that is too often neglected by the churches: science. The book is a straightforward, practical, and helpful.