The Iona Institute ~ for Religion and Society

One of the great myths of our time is the supposed conflict between faith and science. Few myths are more damaging to the standing of religion in Western countries.

Currently, the notion of a conflict between science and faith is strongly advanced by ‘New Atheists’ such as Professor Richard Dawkins.

However, as priest and particle physicist Dr Andrew Pinsent argues in his talk, the myth is exactly that.

Fr Pinsent is Research Director of the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion at Oxford University, a member of the Theology and Religion Faculty, a Research Fellow of Harris Manchester College and a priest of the diocese of Arundel and Brighton.

His research experience includes a period at CERN, the world famous research centre in Switzerland working on the DELPHI experiment on the LEP collider, and he has a doctorate in particle physics from Oxford, besides a degree in theology and a second doctorate in philosophy.

Fr Pinsent’s research interests include the philosophy of cosmology, complex systems and persons. The present focus of his interdisciplinary research is on second-person relatedness (the ‘I-Thou’ relationship) in contemporary science, philosophy and theology.

His most recent book is The Second-Person Perspective in Aquinas’s Ethics: Virtues and Gifts (Routledge, 2012) and has published a popular catechetical course, Evangelium. He also aims to promote improved understanding of science and religion issues through public talks and contributions to the media, including for the BBC, Channel 4 and EWTN.