Shepherd University
Shepherdstown, West Virginia

An interdisciplinary group comes together from a broad base of interest in relation to religion, spirituality, and philosophy among Shepherd faculty, bringing discussions to bear on seminal thinkers in religion, science, and philosophy and reaching out to local libraries, churches and religious institutions, and colleagues from universities in the greater Washington D.C. – Baltimore region. Areas of concentration include roles of scientific and religious thought in contemporary culture; historical interaction of religion and science; roles of religious thinking in scientific concept formation/scientific thinking in religious concept formation and the role of science and religion in each other’s evolution; science and religion on the geopolitical stage; western medicine and alternative modes of healing; cosmology, science, and religion; and religious and scientific concepts of humanity. Focused efforts promote integration of perspectives, interdisciplinary approaches, and informed scholarship among society members. Society activities include a series of monthly book meetings; quarterly public lectures and discussions, “book walks” – taking advantage of the many beautiful trails for classic walking discussion; and film events with discussion. Events are publicized through four area libraries, local churches, and to colleagues in surrounding institutions of higher learning. Matching funds are provided by Shepherd University.