Children, Youth And Family Contemporary Issue Course: Evolution, Theology, And Ministry To Young People

June 11, 2018 - June 14, 2018
Offered by Luther Seminary
St. Paul, MN
USA

June 11-14, 2018

CYF

This Luther Seminary Intensive course is open to pastors, lay leaders and parents as continuing education. This class is part of a John Templeton-funded project, Science for Youth Ministry. It focuses on evolution and the spirituality of children.

We live in age where evolution has been used as ideological religious football.  Many in the younger generations assume that to be a Christian is to be at odds with evolution.  Yet, almost every young person in confirmation class will be studying sciences in school that presume evolution.  Many will even be in life sciences or biology classes.  How do we teach scripture and Christian history’s claim of human uniqueness, sinfulness and creation by the Word of God? The student will receive both an in-depth understanding of evolution and explore ways of integrating the concept into ministry.

This course will challenge the contention that evolution and faith are opposed to one another.  We will look specifically at research being done in the cognitive sciences (which presume evolution) on children, giving us new ideas and perspectives for ministry.  These studies reveal how, rather than diminishing or reducing of spirituality, some views of evolution open us up to spirituality.

This then will be an ideal course for anyone wrestling with the conversation between evolution and faith or desiring to be exposed to new, cutting edge research on children.

This reduced fee is made possible by the John Templeton Foundation Grant for Science and Youth Ministry Project

Tuition: $35

Contact Hours: 23

Class Times:

Monday, 6-9 p.m.

Tuesday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Wednesday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Thursday, 8-11 a.m.

Seminar Leaders:

Andy Root, Associate Professor and Carrie Olson Baalson Chair of Youth and Family Ministry

Professor Rebekah Richert, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology Affiliated Faculty, Department of Media & Cultural Studies at the University of California, Riverside

Professor Philip Rolnick, Professor of Theology at the University of St. Thomas, and serves as Chair of the Science and Theology Network (STN), a group that promotes public events and faculty research in science and theology in the Twin Cities

Registration Information

Categories: Courses  |  Theology  |  Youth Ministry