Re: ASA proposals

Randy Isaac suggested among other things:

> 3) Working conferences. In the spirit of the renowned "gordon
> conferences", ASA could sponsor intensive, invitation-only
> conferences of key thinkers in diverse camps, each designed to
> address specific aspects of the critical issues. The goal would be
> to strive for better understanding of each other's views and to
> publish the resulting position statements.
>
> 4) Educational retreats. It would be great for ASA to provide a
> setting of several days, either a long weekend or a week, whereby
> interested people can come and learn about issues of science and
> faith at a deeper level than the occasional lecture. While
> somewhat similar to proposal 2, this would be geared for non-
> seminarians--teachers perhaps?-- and aimed at education for those
> sufficiently interested to spend time learning--and to pay
> something for it! Could be tuned for the audience which would be
> screened to ensure a somewhat consistent starting level.

A number of years ago the ASA sponsored a special meeting called
"Imago Dei" that focussed on issues of the image of God as it related
specifically to medical ethics, end of life issues, and reproductive
technologies. There were both theologians, scientists, and
practicing doctors involved as presenters, and there was extensive
time for questioning and discussion. It was in my mind one of the
best meetings that ASA has had.

The meeting was entitled "Relating Man in the Image of God to the
Health Sciences -- Theological, Scientific and Clinical
Implications" and was in collaboration with the Christian Medical
Society. The meeting was June 2-5, 1988 and held at Gordon College.

I would like to see the ASA have focussed meetings like this again.

Keith

Keith B. Miller
Research Assistant Professor
Dept of Geology, Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS 66506-3201
785-532-2250
http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~kbmill/
Received on Fri Apr 7 10:08:00 2006