By Trevor Allison
Reporter
Internationally known speaker, astronomer and Christian apologist Dr. Hugh Ross will visit Baylor Monday to speak on God and physics in two separate engagements.
Ross’ first lecture, “Taking Copernicus Too Far?”, will begin 3 p.m. in D.110 Baylor Sciences Building. His second lecture, “Do Physics and Faith Converge?,” will begin at 7 p.m. in B.110 BSB.
Both events are free and open to the public.
The Copernicus lecture will explore the idea of the uniqueness of earth, its properties and its location in the universe, Kristi Sandberg, public relations professional for Reasons to Believe, wrote in an email to the Lariat. Ross founded Reasons to Believe, a think tank of Christian scientists that examines the ties between science and faith.
Sandberg said the “Physics and Faith” lecture will examine the latest discoveries in physical science and how they point to the existence of the God of the Bible. In this lecture, Ross will also address how the Bible aligns with the Big Bang Theory.
Dr. Walter Bradley, Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Baylor, is a friend and colleague of Ross’. Bradley has known him for 27 years and has reviewed Ross’ books.
“He [Ross] is one of the more prominent Christian scientists that speaks on the topic,” Bradley said. “Students who come will be happy they invested the time.”
He said Ross helps make connections between science and faith that many may not make on their own.
“People are deceived that science and faith are enemies,” Bradley said.
Ross has written 11 books, authored hundreds of articles, and hosted television and radio shows on the convergence of science and faith.
Ross received a doctorate in astrophysics from the University of Toronto and did post-doctoral research work at the California Institute of Technology. While there, he met Dr. Gerald Cleaver, physics professor at Baylor, who was a graduate student at the time.
“We were both interested in the convergence of theology and science,” Cleaver said.
Cleaver said he has spoken at Reason to Believe events and written articles for the organization’s magazine, New Reasons to Believe.
He said Ross can help his listeners better understand “how God acts within the physical universe” and that students should be thankful they can hear this kind of speaker on campus.
“Being at Baylor, all of us have the opportunity to consider the connections between theology and science,” Cleaver said.
Ross, Bradley and Cleaver are all members of the American Scientific Affiliation, which Cleaver said is the country’s largest organization of Christians in science. Cleaver said Ross is a frequent lecturer for the ASA and its sister organizations in Canada and Great Britain.
Ross’ visit is sponsored by the department of physics, the School of Engineering and Computer Science, Baylor’s student chapter of the American Scientific Affiliation and the Office of the Vice Provost for Research.
