Fall Lonergan Lecture 2024

The Bernard J. Lonergan Institute at Seton Hall University hosted its 2024 Fall Lonergan Lecture, "Theology and Science: Preserving the Dialogue," on Wednesday, November 7, 2024. Ligita Ryliškytė, SJE, assistant professor of systematic theology at Boston College, presented to a cohort of over 20 students and faculty.

In her lecture, Ryliškytė addressed four ways to view the relationship between theology and science: theology or science, theology from science, theology of science, and theology and science. She discussed how the first three relationships are problematic from various academic lenses, one of which being the work of Bernard J. Lonergan. Ryliškytė proposed that it is possible to preserve the "and" in the theology and science dialogue by grounding it in the unity of consciousness and its metaphysical counterpart, emergent probability.

Jamie Boulding, Ph.D., assistant professor of systematic theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, responded to Ryliškytė's presentation. In his response, Boulding argued that while theology or science and theology from science are indeed unsustainable lenses in which to engage with the disciplines, the theology of science is valuable in the science and faith dialogue.

Students and faculty members responded with a variety of questions, ranging from clarification on systematic terminology to pastoral next steps. Jonathan Heaps, Ph.D., director of the Bernard J. Lonergan Institute at Seton Hall University, remarked, "I was grateful for how Ryliškytė clarified the different approaches to a theology and science dialogue and grounded her proposal in Lonergan's deep reflections on the origin of human knowledge. I was grateful too that, in a spirit of dialogue, Boulding was able to offer a complementary proposal for us to consider."

The Bernard J. Lonergan Institute at Seton Hall University, launched in 2006 by the Center for Catholic Studies, is dedicated to studying and promoting the work of Bernard Lonergan, a Canadian Catholic philosopher of the 20th century whose Generalized Empirical Method (GEM) seeks to understand the methods of empirical sciences, human studies, and theology, and their application to contemporary culture. In addition to ongoing research, the Institute focuses on faculty development and sponsors lectures and conferences, and the publication of The Lonergan Review, a peer-reviewed academic journal.

Categories: Education, Faith and Service