About the Conference

Conference Theme

The title of this year's Metanexus Institute's June conference is Interpretation Matters: Science and Religion at the Crossroads. The double entendre of the main title is intentional. One sense has the inflection on the first term: Interpretation Matters. There are certain matters of interpretation that we-as scientists, theologians, philosophers, practitioners, and women and men of faith-find we need to address. Many scientists, for instance, have bristled at the Kuhnian interpretation of their practice as a historically contingent, sociological undertaking, not particularly progressing towards the Truth (with-a-capital-T) of things. These scientists argue, instead, that there is objective progress in science, determined by the rigorous evaluation of theories and findings by the scientific community based on the foundation of empirical investigation and the repeatability of the results of experimentation. But even under this description, most scientists will admit that "elegance" or "simplicity," in short, that aesthetic sensibility plays a role in the adoption of scientific models. And to take an example from physics, we recognize that at the quantum level, at least, the perspective of the investigator has an impact on the findings of the investigation. Thus, for instance, in fundamental matters in quantum cosmology, the preference for the Copenhagen Interpretation, the Many Worlds Interpretation, and the Transactional Interpretation may be only a matter of interpretation, without "objective" warrant for deciding between them. Similarly, the so-called "hermeneutic spiral" of the interpretation of religious texts causes no end of controversy among religious practitioners of practically all faith traditions. How, for instance, do we determine the meaning of a particular passage of scripture? Does the text itself (whatever "itself" could mean) drive and determine our understanding of its meaning, or is it a case of "interpretation all the way down"? Is there really a distinction between reading out of (exegesis) and reading into (eisegesis) texts, such that we could determine-objectively-that one understanding is right and another wrong? Or will we never be able to arrest the play of interpretations? The question, then, in both science and religion is whether there is "something" that determines and guides our interpretations, or whether "what is" is amenable to a wide variety-perhaps an infinity-of interpretations, without determining any in particular.

And this leads to the second sense of Interpretation Matters, with an emphasis on the second term: Interpretation is important. It matters what we mean by interpretation, how we come to our interpretations, and how we legitimate them. There is a social and ethical overtone when we say something matters, and no doubt our questioning of interpretation in both science and religion will uncover moral and political matters as well. And we may find that interpretation is the key to enriching the dialogue between these two great pillars of culture: religion and science.

Join us for this most important dialogue, because for all of us, Interpretation Matters.

Haverford College

The conference will be held at Haverford College outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Conferees will be staying in single dorm rooms with shared bathrooms. Gracious meals will be prepared and served by the College cafeteria and will include vegetarian options, along with fresh fruits and vegetables. Special arrangements can be made for religious dietary restrictions. There will be an opening and closing banquet meal. Conferees will have access to the Haverford track, swimming pool, and tennis court for afternoon or early morning recreation.

Haverford is a coeducational undergraduate liberal arts college founded in 1833 by members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). While the College is not formally affiliated with any religious body today, the values of individual dignity, academic strength, and tolerance upon which it was founded remain central to its character. Haverford has 1,100 students.

Originally landscaped by the English gardener William Carvill, the park-like 216-acre campus includes more than 400 species of trees and shrubs, a nature walk, and a duck pond. The varied architectural styles of campus buildings, representing more than 150 years of architectural evolution, give the campus a unique character and charm.

Just ten miles away from Haverford are the cultural and educational resources of Philadelphia. Located in southeastern Pennsylvania, the city and surrounding area combine a unique blend of old and new. The history of the nation is relived at Independence National Park, the Liberty Bell, and Valley Forge National Park. Downtown Philadelphia offers theatre, ballet, symphonic orchestras, and restaurants. The Philadelphia area offers more than 100 museums, including the Franklin Institute and the Art Museum. New York City, Washington, D.C., and the New Jersey seashore are all easy day trips from the Haverford campus. http://www.haverford.edu.

Field Trip

Longwood Gardens

Longwood Gardens, America's premier public display garden, is a 1,050 acre estate containing more than twenty-two breathtaking sites. It began in 1798 as Pierce's Park, featuring a small arboretum planted by Samuel and Joshua Pierce. Pierre du Pont bought the park in 1906, continued its development and left it for public enjoyment. With 11,000 different kinds of plants, spectacular illuminated fountains, and an Outdoor Theatre, Longwood Gardens offers beauty for all the senses. The annual Festival of Fountains is a spectacular summer-long extravaganza with ongoing performances among more than 1,700 fountains. After a tour of the gardens, the day will conclude with dinner and a concert at Longwood. To learn more about Longwood Gardens, go to their website at http://www.longwoodgardens.org.

Stroud Water Research Center

The staff at the Stroud Water Research Center is recognized internationally for its pioneering research on streams and rivers. The scientists work in interdisciplinary research teams, blending their individual talents in chemistry, microbial ecology, invertebrate biology, watershed ecology, and ecosystem modeling to study the physical, chemical and biological processes of streams and rivers, the life histories of individual organisms, and the ecology of watersheds. Dennis Newbold, a scientist at the center, and James McGonigle, Jr., the center's Director of Education, will lead a program on stream ecology. To learn more about Stroud Water Research Center, visit their website at http://www.stroudcenter.org.

Philadelphia in June

Philadelphia is one of the world's great cities, and you may want to take advantage of your visit to the area to do some site seeing. Philadelphia boasts the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, the Franklin Institue of Science, a wonderful Museum of Art, fantastic shopping and restaurants--all just minutes away from the conference location. Check here for more information: www.philly.com.