About

Explore the big questions of science and religion with a Jesuit astronomer. While science and religion have often been seen as contradictory forces, in reality they complement each other. Indeed, Catholics have often been at the forefront of scientific discovery; the Augustinian friar Gregor Mendel innovated the study of genetics, and the Jesuit Georges Lemaître first proposed the Big Bang Theory. More recently, Pope Francis issued Laudato Si, an encyclical that addresses global warming. Now, you can join a leading Catholic scientist in examining the most vital questions about the universe. Your guide, Br. Guy Consolmagno, S.J., an astronomer and President of the Vatican Observatory Foundation, deals with big things-stars, galaxies, and unfathomable distances-but that's not the kind of "bigness" that you will explore here. Instead, you will tackle the most profound aspects of existence: the hows and whys of the universe. In this brilliant course, you will ask yourself: Does science need God? Can physics prove the existence of God? How do we understand miracles? What is life, and how will we recognize it on other planets? What is the soul? As you will see, such questions don't have simple answers. Instead, you will discover new ways of thinking about them: not finding concrete answers to these questions, but rather asking them anew with wit and wisdom. In doing so, you will gain a richer and fresher understanding of the world. Begin this awe-inspiring journey today.

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Episodes

1. Does Science Need God?

25m

By way of introduction, this lecture elucidates the fundamental question of the relationship between science and religion. First of all, what motivates us to "do science"–? Dr. Consolmagno examines certain presuppositions of scientific inquiry and the building blocks of the scientific method.

2. Scripture or Science?

25m

This lecture exposes the false dichotomy between science and religion. Dr. Consolmagno argues that a more holistic approach to life dissolves any perceived conflicts between the two disciplines. Moreover, understanding when, how, and why the rift between science and religion developed, historically, helps us avoid making similar mistakes as we move forward and continue learning about God's manifold creation.

3. Is the Big Bang Compatible with a Creator God?

25m

The spheres of science and religion are not mutually exclusive, though they are often at odds. Theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking (1942–2018) and his colleagues claimed that their cosmological theory eliminates the need for a creator God. In this lecture, Dr. Consolmagno examines Hawking's claim by studying the development of cosmologies over time and, specifically, the way in which Christianity has interacted with changing understandings of the natural world.

4. Does Modern Physics Prove God?

25m

Throughout recorded history, people have sought to prove the existence of God. Does modern physics prove God? If our God is beyond the space and time of the universe, what questions should we be asking? In this lecture, Dr. Consolmagno explains the basic physics of the universe, making reference to historical models of the universe and putting down the reductionist "God-of-the-gaps" approach.

5. Does the Anthropic Principle Prove God Exists?

25m

The anthropic principle is an idea extrapolated from a series of observations. Using the anthropic principle, some have argued that the Earth was custom-tailored to support life-as if the very improbability of Earth were evidence of the existence of God. In this lecture, Dr. Consolmagno examines the problematic arguments behind the anthropic principle.

6. Are Miracles Contrary to Science?

25m

Within the scientific community, miracles are some of the most controversial phenomena described by religion. By definition, miracles are violations of the natural order which makes them, by default, inaccessible to scientific inquiry. But Dr. Consolmagno suggests that this discrepancy is due in part to the way the definition of "miracles" changed during the Enlightenment; he takes The Star of Bethlehem as a case study.

7. What Is Life?

25m

How do we define life? How will we know, for instance, if we have discovered alien "life" if it turns out to be quite different from life as we know it on Earth? Historic definitions abound, and modern definitions tend to hide inadequacy behind technical jargon. This lecture arrives at a scientific definition of life after many interesting detours.

8. Would Extraterrestrials Need to Be Baptized?

25m

Would you baptize an extraterrestrial? If science discovers alien life, what would the implications be for the Catholic faith? What would the existence of extraterrestrial life mean for our notion of God? How should we understand God, God's love, and our place in God's creation while our understanding of the universe is expanding so rapidly? Let the debate begin.

9. Why is there Natural Evil?

25m

Nature can be tremendously beautiful and devastating all at once. More and more, we understand the principles guiding the universe, but that does not prevent natural disaster. Innately, we ask the questions typical of theodicy: Why did God allow this to happen? Where is God when we are suffering? Could God not simply deflect the disaster? If God is good, why is there evil? There are questions which no one answer ever satisfies. This lecture offers a basis for understanding the physical causes of natural disasters and invites you to reflect upon humanity's reactions to tragedy.

10. How Do We Understand the End of the Universe?

25m

The end of the world has been a constant source of fascination for humanity. Our understanding of physics, aided by our observations of astronomy, paints a different though equally inexorable end to the universe as we know it. In this lecture, Dr. Consolmagno examines scientific predictions about the death of the cosmos.

Reviews

"Dr. Consolmagno takes patience to explain really complex scientific theories and helpfully tag others with a comment along the line of 'just know about this without struggling to understand too much.' The speaker is humorous and engaging. Above all, the topics are potentially paradigm shifting on how we think about religion."

"Entertaining and educational. This man knows his stuff."

"The content, delivery, and illustrations were all wonderful."

Extended Details

SeriesMeaning: Exploring the Big Questions of the Cosmos with a Vatican Scientist

Closed CaptionsEnglish

Artists

Dr. Guy Consolmagno, S. J., Ph. D.Director

Dr. Guy Consolmagno, S. J., Ph. D.Actor

Meaning: Exploring the Big Questions of the Cosmos with a Vatican Scientist - Season 1