Intelligent Design: Toward and Intelligent Discussion

The 11th Annual Religion and the Humanities Conference

Intelligent Design

The Religious Studies Program at Utah Valley State College
presents the Eleventh Annual Religion and the Humanities Conference
Intelligent Design:
Toward and Intelligent Discussion
Friday, December 1, 2006

UtahValleyStateCollege
Student Center, Room 206 a&b
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9:00-10:00 am
"Does Intelligent Design Explain Anything at All?"

Paul Nelson, Ph.D. (Universityof Chicago), Dr. Nelson specializes in
developmental biology. He is a fellow of the International Society for
Complexity, Information and Design. His research critiques aspects of
macroevolutionary theory in light of recent developments in embryology
and developmental biology. His forthcoming volume entitledOn Common
Descent, will be published as volume sixteen in the University of
Chicago Department of Ecology and Evolution's "Evolutionary
Monographs" series (and the first in this prestigious series to
critique neo-Darwinism). He has written several articles on the
philosophical aspects of evolutionary biology including one recently
published in Biology and Philosophy. He edits the journal Origins &
Design.
10:00-11:00
"The Evolution-Creation Struggle: An American Story"

Michael Ruse, Ph.D. (Universityof Bristol), Lucyle T. Werkmeister
Professor of Philosophy at FloridaStateUniversity. Dr. Ruse is the
author of numerous books and scores of articles dealing with issues
related to intelligent design and evolutionary theory. His books
include: Darwinand Design: Does Evolution Have a Purpose (Cambridge
University Press, 2003), The Evolution Wars: A Guide to the Debates
2nd Edition (Rutgers University Press, 2001), Can a Darwinian be a
Christian: The Relationship Between Science and Religion (Cambridge
University Press, 2001), and Evolutionary Naturalism (Routledge,
1995). Dr. Ruse is also a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and
the Ameican Association for the Advancement of Science.

11:00-12:00
Panel Discussion:
"Social Implications for the Intelligent Design Debate"

Paul Nelson, Michael Ruse and others to be determined.

1:00-2:00
"Evolution and Faith: What's at Stake"

John Haught, Ph.D. (CatholicUniversityof America), Distinguished
Research Professor of Theology, GeorgetownUniversity. Dr. Haught is
the author of several books in the area of science and religion
including Deeper Than Darwin: The Prospect for Religion in the Age Of
Evolution (Westview Press, 2003), God After Darwin: A Theology Of
Evolution (Westview Press, 2000), and The Promise of Nature: Ecology
and Cosmic Purpose (Paulist Press, 1993). He was formerly the
department chair for the Deapartment of Theology at Georgetown from
1990-1995 and has appeared in multiple national news forums and
debates on science and religion including the New York Times and
National Public Radio.

2:00-3:00
"The Evidential and Scientific Status of Intelligent Design:
Lessons from Physics and Cosmology."

Robin Collins, Ph.D. (Universityof NotreDame), Professor of
Philosophy, MessiahCollegeand Physics Researcher and Programmer at
Austin Research Associates. Dr. Collins is a leading scholar and
researcher in design arguments and scientific theory. He has authored
numerous articles in these areas including "The Fine-tuning Design
Argument: A Scientific Argument for the Existence of God.�? InReason
for the Hope Within. Michael Murray, ed. (Eerdmans, 1999), "An
Evaluation of William Dembski's The Design Inference: A Review
Essay.�? Christian Scholars Review, April 2001, "God, Design, and
Fine-Tuning.�? In God Matters: Readingsin the Philosophy of
Religion,Raymond Martin and Christopher Bernard, eds. (Longman Press,
2002), "The Evidence for Fine-Tuning.�? In God and Design: The
Teleological Argument and Modern Science, ed. Neil Manson (Routledge,
2003). He is also currently working on a book entitled The
Well-Tempered Universe: God, Fine-Tuning, and the Laws of Nature.

3:00-4:00
Panel Discussion:
"The Religious Merits of Intelligent Design"

Robin Collins, John Haught, and others to be determined.

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WestminsterCollege
Bill and Vieve Gore School of Business Auditorium

7:00-9:00 p.m.
Evolution and Intelligent Design: Theoretical and Social Implications

All conference participants

Sponsored by

The Religious Studies Program, UVSC

WestminsterCollege

The Schoolof Science and Health, UVSC

Department of Philosophy and Humanities, UVSC

For more information, contact

Brian Birch at birchbr@uvsc.eduor 863-8759 or Michael Minch at minchmi@usvc.edu
http://www.uvsc.edu/phil/religiousstudies/relandhumconf2006.html
birchbr@uvsc.edu | Phone: (801) 863-8759 | Room: LA-121G