In honor of Charles Darwin’s birthday, the Secular Student Alliance (SSA) held a panel discussion featuring faculty. The attending faculty spoke of Darwin’s continuing impact on today’s world.
The panel was held February 12 in the Blue/Grey Room. Erin Piasecki, president of SSA at Shepherd, introduced the group’s mission to unite, organize, educate and serve before handing the reins over to vice president Anthony Farris. Farris started the event with the video “Symphony of Science – the Unbroken Thread” before introducing the panel members.
The panel included members from multiple disciplines at Shepherd: Dr. Mark Madison of the environmental science department, Dr. Aart Holtslag of the political science department, Dr. Erik Jones of the music department, and Dr. Chad Loewen-Schmidt of the English department.
The panel was posed with individual questions from a series that were then discussed. Questions regarded such ideals as why there is a conflict between modern material science and religion in American culture. Other questions focused on what can evolution teach us about being human and is there a place for evolution in our school systems.
The questions were primarily directed at the growing trend for science and rational thought in our society, including the relationship between modern education and modern science.
Each member of the panel was given an opportunity to respond to the questions. The diversity among the members brought multiple perspectives on the matters discussed. Each members built upon each other’s statements but also shared their own unique viewpoints.
The discourse brought about such responses as that from Holtslag, who brought a political view point to the panel. Holtslag stated there was no collective evolution and that political groups adapt to new structures rather than die out.
Jones gave credit to Christianity to forming the most beautiful music he had ever heard, although he stated he does not follow the structures or ideas of the religion.
Madison gave acknowledged Darwin’s appreciation of nature for acting as the catalyst for modern ecology. Loewen-Schmidt stated that the implications Darwin made regarding the blinding nature of religion was the drive behind the relentless search for truth.
A common theme throughout many opinions presented was the need for an empirical approach to humanity’s search for understanding. Each panelist was respectful to the other side of the evolution argument.
Piasecki stated that the panel received encouragement from the panelist and that the group is hoping to make it an annual event at Shepherd along with other stimulating programs.
Video of the event can be seen on the Shepherd University’s Secular Student Alliance Facebook page.