ATSS: Bryan Ness, “Adventism’s Love-Hate Relationship with Science”
19 March 2025 |
The dance between religion and science has been going on since the dawn of the scientific revolution. When the Catholic Church became more and more concerned with the drift of Easter later and later in the year, they enlisted the astronomer Copernicus to fix the problem. He did so—but in the process uncovered an uncomfortable fact: for his fix to work it had to be assumed that rather than the sun orbiting the earth, the earth orbits the sun.
To deal with this problem, Copernicus simply said the earth orbiting the sun was a hypothetical concept that made his astronomical calculations work. Later, when Galileo insisted it was not just hypothetical, it was a physical fact, the church entered crisis mode.
The Adventist church has also frequently turned to science in support of its health message, a marriage that has reaped amazing benefits and helped the church build a successful, modern medical system with a church-run medical school and research university. But what happens when science contradicts long-held beliefs about health and wellness? What happens when scientific facts from other branches such as earth science and genetics clash, not only with peripheral health issues, but challenge core beliefs such as the age of the earth and the meaning of gender and sexuality?
One response has been to enlist scientists who are believers to challenge these perceived facts. But what if that doesn’t work, either?
This Sabbath Seminar will look at the history of this rocky relationship between science and the church to see if it has any lessons for us. How can believers respond when science and faith seem to contradict one another—something that Ellen White claimed would never happen when science and faith are properly understood?
Teacher:
Bryan Ness is Professor of Biology at Pacific Union College.
Moderator:
Cherri-Ann Farquharson is an alternative energy professional working in the Caribbean.
How to join:
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86256164535
Passcode: SCIENCE {ALL CAPS}
ATSS starting time depends on where you are. If you’re on the west coast of the United States, it’ll be 10:30 AM. On the east coast, 1:30 PM. Times in Europe, Africa, and elsewhere will vary with local time changes. Please double-check the correct time where you live.
The class is intended to last about 2 hours, though the conversation often continues to 4 PM (Eastern time).
About our class:
- The AT Sabbath Seminar is intended to be a courteous forum.
- Stick to the topic in both comments and chat discussion.
- Make your comments and questions short—don’t dominate.
- Keep your microphones muted unless you are called upon to make your comment or ask your question.
- Indicate your interest in speaking by raising your electronic hand.
- Please use your name when you sign in, so we know who we’re addressing.
We look forward to getting acquainted with you!
YouTube channel:
You can see all of our previous ATSS recordings here.
Coming up:
- Roland Blaich
- Maury Jackson
- Steve Case
- Laura Wibberding
- Olive Hemmings
