Integrating Science and Theology with the Web

Through this grant a Digital Humanities component will be developed for the course, Catholic Theology of Science, a core Engaging the World (ETW) listing and discipline-specific “signature” course that links the principles of the Catholic intellectual tradition to the degree curricula. The course explores the integration of science and religion. It has scientific, philosophical, theological, ethical, and historical components. Students read from a variety of sources to learn about the role of Christianity in the development of modern science and how future science can be guided in the light of faith. Students analyze texts from ancient religions, various theologians, and recent popes, and they compose weekly essays to summarize their insights about what they have learned. The course is, therefore, poised to include a digital humanities component. The students are asked to become educated about different perspectives and to form their own opinion carefully. It would make sense to add a Digital Humanities assignment in which the students, under guidance from the professor, create digital narratives to be published on a dedicated website to showcase the products of the course. By writing for more readers than a single professor, the students will add their voice to the ongoing science and theology dialogue. They will gain leadership experience. Over time, the website itself will serve as a resource for other students. In this way, the course takes on its own organic growth as ideas progress.