Faith and Life Sciences public forums to explore topics ranging from humanity’s connection to natural disasters to death and dying

By Michael Ford
University News Services

The impact of human behavior and divine involvement in natural disasters will be the topic of the first in a series of four community discussions by the Virginia Commonwealth University Life Sciences and Religion Community Forum of Central Virginia.

The discussions offer the community the opportunity to hear an exchange of ideas about science and faith and are scheduled for Nov. 3, Nov. 29, March 9, 2006, and April 6 through April 7. Panelists will present scientific and religious perspectives on the environment; obesity in the face of world hunger; physical enhancement through plastic surgery and implants; and death and dying.

Three of the four forums will be held in the Richmond Salons of the VCU Student Commons on VCU’s Monroe Park Campus from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The final forum is a two-day event that will be held on VCU’s MCV Campus and the campus of Union Theological Seminary Presbyterian School of Christian Education.

“Understanding Natural Disasters,” set for Thursday, Nov. 3, will explore whether God acts through nature, using hurricanes, tornadoes and floods in response to human behavior. Are the actions of humans, which lead to global warming, coastal construction and reliance on dams and levees partly responsible for the scope of disasters?

Four scholars of science and religion will be on the panel: Clifford W. Edwards, Ph.D., VCU professor of religious studies; J. Clifford Fox, Ph.D., assistant director of the VCU Center for Environmental Studies; Patrick J. Michaels, Ph.D., University of Virginia research professor of environmental sciences and state climatologist; and Kristin M. Swenson, Ph.D., VCU assistant professor of religious studies and author of the new book, “Living through Pain: Psalms and the Search for Wholeness.”

On Nov. 29, “Sustenance: While Some Starve, Others are Obese,” will explore the religious and scientific perspectives on the growing disparity between the food-rich and the food-poor. Why are some people obese while others face starvation? Panelists will explore how we should live in relation to food and each other.

“Biotechnology and human enhancement” is the topic of the March 9 forum, which will explore the limits of human augmentation. Should different values be placed on plastic surgery, implants and genetic modifications if they are medically indicated versus personal electives? Panelists will explore how we live within our bodies.

“Death and Dying” is the topic for the fourth forum, which covers two days, April 6 and April 7. Panelists will explore the moral opportunities patients, families, doctors, and clergy have at the end of life. How does allowing natural death at the end of a long and progressive illness versus choosing end-of-life medical treatments reflect what we feel is important in life? Is death the enemy?

The forums are free and open to the public and will offer opportunities for audience members to ask questions.

For more information on Life Sciences and Religion, visit http://www.vcu.edu/faithscienceforum/.