Selected Titles in Science, Religion, and Technology

Albanese, Catherine L. (2007). A Republic of Mind and Spirit: A Cultural History of American
Metaphysical Religion. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Alper, Matthew ([1996] 2006). The God Part of the Brain. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks.
Ashbrook, James B. (1984). The Human Mind and the Mind of God: Theological Promise in Brain
Research. Lanham, MD: University Press of America.
Atran, Scott (2002). In Gods We Trust: The Evolutionary Landscape of Religion. New York: Oxford
University Press.
Barrett, Justin L. and Frank C. Keil ([1996] 2006). Conceptualizing a No- natural Entity:
Anthropomorphism in God Concepts. In D. Jason Slone (ed.), Religion and Cognition: A
Reader. London: Equinox.
Boyer, Pascal (2001). Religion Explained: The Evolutionary Origins of Religious Thought. New York:
Basic Books
Brooke, John Hedley (1991). Science and Religion: Some Historical Perspectives. Cambridge, UK:
Cambridge University Press.
Burkert, Walter (1996). Creation of the Sacred: Tracks of Biology in Early Religions. Cambridge, MA:
Harvard University Press.
Clayton, Phillip (2012) Religion and Science The Basics. London and New York: Routledge.
Dawkins, Richard (2006). The God Delusion. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Dennett, Daniel (2006). Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon. New York: Viking.
Eliade, Mircea ([1957] 1959). The Sacred and the Profane. Trans. Willard R. Trask. New York:
Harcourt.
Hamer, Dean (2004). The God Gene: How Faith Is Hardwired into Our Brains. New York:
Doubleday.
Heidegger, Martin (1977). Science and Reflection. In The Question Concerning Technology and
Other Essays, trans. William Lovitt, 155-182.. New York: Harper & Row.
Holifield, E. Brooks (2003). Theology in America: Christian Thought from the Age of the Puritans to
the Civil War. New Haven: Yale University Press.
James, William ([1902] 1929). The Varieties of Religious Experience. New York: Modern Library,
1929.
King, Barbara J. (2007). Evolving God: A Provocative View on the Origins of Religion. NewYork:
Doubleday.
Kuhn, Thomas S. (1962). The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Chicago: University of Chicago
Press.
Lawson, E. Thomas and Robert N McCauley ([1990] 2006). Interpretation and Explanation:
Problems and Promise in the Study of Religion. In D. Jason Slone (ed.), Religion and
Cognition: A Reader, 12-35. London: Equinox.
Midgley, Mary (1985). Evolution as a Religion: Strange Hopes and Stranger Fears. London:
Methuen.
Newberg, Andrew, Eugene dAquili, and Vince Rause (2001). Why God Wont Go Away: Brain
Science and the Biology of Belief. New York: Ballantine Books.
Newberg, Andrew and Mark Robert Waldman (2006). Why We Believe What We Believe:
Uncovering Our Biological Need for Meaning, Spirituality, and Truth. New York: Free Press.
Numbers, Ronald L. (2006). The Creationists: From Scientific Creationism to Intelligent Design.
Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Shugart, H.H. (2014) Foundations of the Earth: Global Ecological Change and the Book of Job.
New York: Columbia University Press.
Slone, D. Jason. (ed.) (2006). Religion and Cognition: A Reader. London: Equinox.
Swimme, Brian Thomas and Mary Evelyn Tucker. (2014) Journey of the Universe: An Epic Story of
Cosmic, Earth, and Human Transformation. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Wilson, David Sloan (2002). Darwins Cathedral: Evolution, Religion, and the Nature of Society.
Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Wilson, Edward O. (1975). Sociobiology: The New Synthesis. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University
Press.

Cerritos College
Department of Philosophy
A Dialogue on Religious Studies,
Science, and Technology:
A Student Success Initiative
Spring 2015

German woodcut, In two worlds at once, (circa 1590)

Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing
admiration and awe, the more often and steadily we reflect upon them: the starry heavens above me and the
moral law within me.
Immanuel Kant. Critique of Practical Reason (1788)

Justification of the Project:

March 24-

As perhaps never before in history, science and

technology have challenged the meaning of human
existence and our moral relationship with the nonhuman natural world. In short, humanity is now
experiencing an unprecedented philosophical, indeed,
a spiritual crisis. A significant aspect of this crisis lies
in how traditional religious beliefs and practices can
be renewed, if possible, and re-conceptualized, if
necessary. In this series of public events, the Cerritos
College Philosophy Department invites students to
explore pressing problems like environmental
destruction and
climate change and
their impact on the
world's diverse
religious
traditions.
Students will have
the opportunity to
read cutting-edge
moral philosophy
and philosophy of
religion, to present
their own
perspectives, and
to explore together
possible solutions to contemporary eco-religious
problems by envisioning concrete steps toward a more
just and sustainable world.

Socrates Caf: Group Discussion:

A Problem of Evil: IslamophobiaWhat it is, and why
it's Wrong.
Dr. Ted Stolze, Department of Philosophy

March 26(Thursday)

Student Conference: The Basic Question: Science

versus Religion or Science and Religion?
Dr. Philip Clayton, Claremont Theological Seminary
11:00 - 12:15 PM; Room: LC155 (Teleconference Ctr.)

March 31-

The Turing Test: Philosophy, Science, and Technology

at work
Prof. Greg Spooner, Department of Philosophy

April 7-

The religious experience and American politics

Prof. Dennis Falcon, Political Science Department

April 14-

Socrates Caf: Film and Discussion: PBS Sacred

Journey JerusalemPilgrimages at a Glance: Judaism
(1st millennium BCE), Christianity (1st Century CE),
and Islam (6th Century CE)

April 21-

Food and the Religious Experience

Presenter: Dr. Ralph Casas,
Chair, Pharmacy Technology Department

April 28-

Religious Studies, Science, and Technology:

Prof. Joseph Van de Mortel, Department of Philosophy

May 5-

Socrates Caf: Film and Discussion: PBS Sacred

Journey, Kimbh Mela: Hinduism at a glancethe largest
gathering of humanity in the planet for religious
purposes. Such mass bathing in the Ganges has been
recorded for more than 2,500 years.

May 12-

Socrates Caf: Trans humanism: Can humans transcend

biology?
Presenter: Anthony Ruiz-AvalosPhilosophy Student

T h e D e p a r tm e n t o f P h il o s o p h y a p p r e c ia te s t h e ge n e r ou s gr a n t
p r o v i d e d b y th e Ce r r i t o s Co l le g e F o u n d a t io n f o r m a k i n g p o s s ib le
t h e s e S tu d e n t S u c c e s s a c t iv i t ie s .

Cerritos College
Philosophy Department
Philosophy Club
Tentative Spring 2015 Calendar of Events
Every Tuesday @ 11 am in SS 137
Why Study Philosophy? 'To Challenge Your Own Point of View.
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought
without accepting it.
Aristotle
Philosophy Club Socrates CafPracticing how to think not what to
think by exchanging thoughtful ideas and experiences while embracing the
Socratic Method
January 20-

Business Meeting
Philosophy Club Leadership TeamJoin us!

January 27-

Phenomenology and Religion

Prof. Robert Sliff, Department of Philosophy

February 3-

Socrates Caf: Science and the Worlds Religions:

Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Group
Discussion on Phillip Claytons Religion and
Sciencethe Basics Dr. Ted Stolze

February 10-

What does Nietzsche Want?

Mr. Timothy Chatman, MA Philosophy,
University of Nice, France

February 17-

Socrates Caf: Film & Discussion: Sacred Journeys

PBSShikoku
In the footsteps of the Buddhist monk Kobo-Daishi, you
walk the 750 mile pilgrimage around the island of
Shikoku, Japan, with some American pilgrims.

February 24-

Religion and Science: Are they actually in conflict?

Mr. Andrew Rehfeld, MA Philosophy, Katholieke
Universiteit, Leuven, Belgium

March 3-

Socrates Caf: Film & Discussion: Journey of the

UniverseAn Epic Story of Cosmic, Earth, and
Human Transformation

March 10-

Ethics of the Sopranos: Food, Sex, and Denial

Prof. Lindsey Lefebvre, English Department

Description of the Project:

The project will encompass a series of activities
designed to continue a conversation among students
and faculty members in three areas of scholarship
commonly examined in philosophy classes: the study
of world religions, philosophy of science, and
technology. Analogous to the increase of knowledge
in the domains of science and technology, the study of
religions continues to evolve and to address questions
traditionally considered subjects of science such as the
explanation of the universe and questions about
climate change. The study of religions examines these
facts in the light of moral, political, and cultural
implications for the 21st Century global community.
Given the intellectual complexity of these topics, the
Department of Philosophy will design a series of
forums to engage students and faculty in a
conversation on themes related to the disciplines
mentioned above. The plan is divided into three major
components.

The double-helix model of DNA structure was first published in the

journal Nature by James D. Watson and Francis Crick in 1953.

I- Faculty professional development:

III- Student conference:

Philosophy instructors will examine some of the most

recent scholarship in these domains of knowledge to
design classroom activities. Faculty professional
development meetings are scheduled for the months of
February, March, and April 2015.
Texts selected to engage faculty members in these
endeavors:
Swimme, Brian Thomas and Mary Evelyn Tucker.
(2014) Journey of the Universe: An Epic Story of
Cosmic, Earth, and Human Transformation. New
Heaven: Yale University Press
Shugart, H.H. (2014) Foundations of the Earth: Global
Ecological Change and the Book of Job. New York:
Columbia University Press
Clayton, Philip. (2012) Religion and Science- The
Basics. New York: Routledge

Thursday, March 26th , 11:00 AM, LC 155.

Figure of the Buddha Amida seated on a

lotus pedestal, made of lacquered and
gilded wood. From Dairenji Temple, Osaka, Japan, mid 18th century.

II- Philosophy Club:

Scheduled events are on themes
related to Religious Studies,
Science, and Technology: These
activities are student forums to
discuss readings and
philosophical questions
emerging from the above topics.
Please refer to the calendar of
events included in this
brochure.

Guest: Dr. Philip Clayton

Author of Religion and Science: The Basics.
Ren Magritte, The False Mirror (1928)

This event is the

culmination of the
project, A Dialogue on
Religious Studies,
Science, and
Technology: A Student
Success Initiative.
The campus
community is invited to
participate.

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

1. Students become familiar with diverse approaches to
the study of religion and science, including those that
assume conflict, integration, and separation between the
two fields;
2. Students learn about and discuss the relations
between religion and specific scientific themes,
including evolution, cognitive neuroscience, cosmology,
and scientific method;
3. Students improve their ability to discuss and analyze
theoretical claims and supporting arguments;
4. Student learn the history, underlying theory, and
methodologies used to analyze the relations between
religion and science, as an interdisciplinary field of
study drawing on natural and physical sciences,
religious studies, and philosophy.