Talk to Take an Historic Look at God, Science

Edward B. Davis, professor of the history of science at Messiah College in Grantham, Penn., explores American debates about the religious meaning of science through history in a free, public lecture, “Religion and Science in Modern America,” Thursday, Nov. 17, at 3:30 p.m. in Westmont’s Page Multipurpose Room.

Davis will look back to the Scopes Monkey Trial and investigate the current situation, pointing out what has changed and what hasn’t since the 1920s. The talk includes the concerns of William Jennings Bryan and the Protestant fundamentalists of the Scopes era, using cartoons about evolution to show why they strongly opposed teaching it in public schools.

“Dr. Davis has published and lectured on a variety of aspects of the history of science and religion in the U.S.,” says Steve Contakes, assistant professor of chemistry at Westmont. “He is a provocative, erudite scholar who will inspire and engage us.”

Davis, a graduate of Drexel College in Philadelphia, earned a master’s degree and a doctorate from Indiana University. He has worked at Messiah College since 1985, teaching on the interaction of Christianity and science. His published research focuses on religious dimensions of the scientific revolution, with special emphasis on English chemist Robert Boyle and other figures from the scientific revolution.

Davis directs the Central Pennsylvania Forum for Religion and Science at Messiah, which sponsors events to enhance public understanding of religion and science.