Science, God, and Faith: C. S. Lewis and Richard Dawkins on the Meaning of Life

Prof. Alister McGrath, Andreas Idreos Chair of Science and Religion
University of Oxford

Mathematical Institute, Oxford
Tuesday 24 October, 7:30pm

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This lecture opens up some of the big questions of life. The philosopher Karl Popper spoke about "ultimate questions", which shape our lives and yet lie beyond scientific verification. So how do we find meaning in life? What are the roles of science and religion in helping us make sense of our world and inhabit it meaningfully? Are science in faith in conflict, or are there ways in which they can enrich each other? Professor McGrath will explore these questions, engaging with the ideas of two of Oxford's most iconic figures - Richard Dawkins and C. S. Lewis - in doing so. The lecture will be filmed and there will be opportunities for questions and discussion.

ALISTER MCGRATH is Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion at Oxford University, and Director of the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion. After studying chemistry as an undergraduate at Oxford, McGrath gained a doctorate in molecular biophysics under the supervision of Professor Sir George Radda. After a period specializing in historical and systematic theology, he began to explore the relation of science and faith in detail. As a former atheist, McGrath is especially interested in the role that the natural sciences have played in the apologetics of the “New Atheism”. He is the author of many books, including the international bestseller The Dawkins Delusion? and a recent award-winning biography of the Oxford literary scholar and novelist C. S. Lewis.

This is a public lecture sponsored by the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Oxford.