Full course description
Partner dioceses receive discounted courses. This link provides a list of partner dioceses and discount codes to use when registering.
Faith and Science: Origins and Belief explores one of the greatest myths in history: the supposed warfare between science and religion. Indeed many people have the impression that there is a conflict between science and religion. Catholic scientists are sometimes asked whether it’s difficult to “reconcile” science with faith, but there’s no need to “reconcile” things that are in harmony to begin with. Both the Catholic Faith and science make sense of the world. Science tells us about the things that we can observe and measure. The Catholic Faith has a much broader scope and answers deeper questions: questions about the ultimate cause of the world’s existence and order, the purpose of human life and our ultimate destiny. The Catholic faith and empirical science are two perspectives on reality, which allow us to see things in different, but not conflicting, ways.
Course Content
Unit 1: Faith and Science: Clash or Harmony?
Unit 2: Beginning and Creation of the Universe
Unit 3: Cosmic Order and Design
Unit 4: Science and the Soul
Unit 5: Evolution and Catholic Faith
Course Format
- Six weeks in duration; first week for orientation.
- Up to 20 students in each course.
- Video summaries with text based lectures.
- Supplemental readings are provided to encourage further exploration, internet links provided for all readings.
- Written assignments (200-250) required.
- Facilitator-moderated weekly Zoom sessions with participants.
Participation Requirements
- Read the lecture for each unit.
- Read assigned texts; keep notes, questions, and comments for class discussions.
- Answer weekly discussion question.
- Respond to weekly unit assignment.
- Attend weekly Zoom for each unit. If you cannot attend, you can still meet the participation requirements.
- Complete the course evaluation.
Time Expectations
3 to 5 hours per week, depending on your learning style and schedule.
Course Certificate
An electronic certificate of completion awarding 30 contact hours will be available in course when completing all course requirements.