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Christian Scholars’ Conference focuses on ‘The Path of Discovery’


We covered last year’s Christian Scholars’ Conference at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn.
With the theme “The Path of Discovery: Science, Theology, and The Academy,” this year’s conference starts Wednesday at Pepperdine University.
As much as we’d love to be in Malibu, Calif., we couldn’t make it to the 2011 conference. But here are some details from the Pepperdine website:

The aims of the conference—of nurturing an intellectual and Christian community and of stimulating a network of scholarly dialogue and collaboration—will be realized in a series of presentations by plenary speakers physician-genetist Francis S. Collins, John Polkinghorne, journalist Simran Sethi, and genetic theologian Ted Peters.
“Many in the academy are coming to see that science devoid of values is dangerous, while many Christians are discovering that faith without intellectual foundations is suspect,” says Pepperdine Provost Darryl Tippens. “This particular conference will show specifically how great scientific thinking and deep faith can harmonize in creative ways. It gives us an opportunity to demonstrate one of our core values here at Pepperdine—that religion and scholarship are essentially compatible.”

Find out more details.

  • Feedback
    INTERMITTENTLY, have tried to contact individuals who are members of Atheist organizations to ask their latest “thinking” of “HOW things began”??? A few days ago saw an article concerning a “Collider” which was to”smash” atomic particles… with the HOPE that the “God particle” could be identified!!! When, or IF, such a particle is identified… the NATURAL question is; “HOW did it come about six billion years ago”??? (Or whatever the LATEST questimate is for the “Big Bang” or” Whatever” is felt to be the most LOGICAL explanation for “the beginning”!!)
    Should you find somebody, such as Richard Dawkins; would be interested!! Were “electrons, or protons, or some ‘sub-atomic particle’, the FIRST!!!???
    Any input would be appreciated.
    Thanks,
    Buford Rowe
    Buford Rowe
    June, 16 2011

    Last year’s Scholars’ Conference at Lipscomb was absolutely incredible. If this year’s conference at Pepperdine is anything nearly as uplifting and informative, it will be another of those mountaintop experiences. Last summer I brought a friend from Europe with me. She was mightily impressed with the sheer scholarship of the speakers, not to mention the spiritual aspects, which were wonderful in themselves. These conferences are something truly to be proud of for their scholarship and professionalism. My husband and I wouldn’t think of missing them now, and we cannot recommend them highly enough.
    Anita Hassey
    Anita (Romeo) Hassey
    June, 16 2011

    I was just there on Thursday, but things seemed to be jumpin. There were 530 registered (although I saw several nametags still sitting at the registration booth on the afternoon of the second day). The auditorium was packed for the keynote addresses. Francis Collins and John Polkinghorne both gave excellent presentations.
    The conference is drawing a lot of attention from outside Churches of Christ. There were at least two professors from SMU there. I’m proud to say that Baylor had the highest number of delegates of any non-Church-of-Christ school with eight! There was also a lot of diversity in terms of scholarly interest–theologians, philosophers, scientists, secondary ed teachers, artists, etc.
    Congratulations to David Fleer and the folks at Pepperdine on a successful conference.
    Chris Shrock
    June, 20 2011

    I sense some ambivalence at times in identifying Church of Christ universities in our fellowship, so am glad to see the Chronicle’s frequent helpful and favorable articles about Pepperdine. Anyone who has attended their annual Bible Lectureships, as I have for 25 years, can only rejoice at the consistent quality, quantity and thoroughness of the spiritual richness experienced there. Each year seems to set a new high, with their May 1-4 schedule this year including some 300 Christian lecturers from 35 Nations and 45 States teaching and speaking there. Attendance comes from at least that diverse a background and more. The excitement is overwhelming. I often tell people who don�t know about it, or think lectureships are dry or routine, “Try it, you’ll like it”. It is truly a unique total immersion experience for members of Churches of Christ world wide. Thank you, Chronicle.
    Clarence Richmond
    January, 30 2012

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