May 11, 2007

7:00 pm

@ Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ

What do Jesus and Darwin Have in Common?

Dr. Joan Roughgarden, noted Stanford University evolutionary biologist, will present a public lecture titled “Evolution and Faith” in the Sanctuary of the Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ, Plymouth, NH. A period for discussion will follow.

From the Scopes trial to the present, school boards, book publishers, and the general public have struggled with the relationship between evolution and religion. Some believe that Intelligent Design and Darwinism should be presented as opposing theories. Dr. Roughgarden, herself both a Christian and a respected scientist, presents a fresh approach to this dialog in her recently published a book, Evolution and Christian Faith: Reflections of an Evolutionary Biologist. In this local lecture she again explores the common ground between these two seemingly opposing views. Copies of Dr. Roughgarden’s book will be available for purchase before and after the program.

Dr. Roughgarden, holds a PhD in biology from Harvard University, is the founder and director of the Earth Systems Program at Stanford University. She is the author of five books and over 120 articles and presently serves on editorial boards of several scientific journals. Dr. Roughgarden’s visit to Plymouth is sponsored by the Charlotte Wakefield Fund of the Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ, the United Campus Ministry Program of Plymouth State University, and the President’s Commission on Diversity, PSU, in collaboration with the Department of Biological Sciences at PSU. In addition to the lecture, Dr. Roughgarden will speak from the PCUCC pulpit during the Sunday Worship Service at 9:30 a.m. on May 13, 2007. At 11:00 she will conclude with a short presentation which will include a question and answer period. The public is invited to all these free events. For additional information contact Larry Spencer, or call the PCUCC office at 536-2626.

This event is sponsored by The President’s Commission on Diversity. For more information about this event please contact Deb John.