Lutheran Student Movement-USA
1978
78-11 FAITH, SCIENCE AND THE FUTURE
Study and Action Project
Background
Science and technology, enlightened by a faithful response to the call of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives, can be a powerful means of bringing justice to the world; supplying the basic needs of all people for food and protection from hostile environments. Discoveries of science and the development of technology holds the promise that humankind can further its knowledge of the earth –the great gift of God to us—and wisely use its resources for the betterment of the lives of all people. But just as science and technology can lead to greater appreciation of the earth’s resources, and harmony between the earth and all living creatures, abuse of God’s gift of dominion through unjust application and technology can bring great suffering to many people, and poison the very world upon which we depend for life.
Through technology, man’s first steps on the moon were televised directly into our lives. Scientific progress in medicine wiped out many once fatal diseases. Our lives have been made easier in countless ways through advances in technology and the sciences. Conveniences unheard of by our ancestors we now take for granted.
We now hear claims that a human being has been cloned, and wonder if God really intends for us to tamper with nature in such a manner.
Recently the first child fertilized outside of the mother’s body was born, opening new debates on the ethics of “test tube” babies. Chemicals put in our food to keep us healthy are now found to cause cancer. Computers are utilized to invade our privacy. Billions of dollars are being spent to develop nuclear weapons. The industries that we depend on for energy and other necessities are polluting the environment.
We must learn to recognize half-truths and secrecy, demand the whole truth be made public, and make a prophetic witness by saying NO to technology which id dehumanizing, enslaving, or requires too many environmental, moral, and spiritual compromises, if we are to be stewards of the earth that our God created us to be.
We at MIT, Boston are concerned about these issues, and about the Christian response to them. The World Council of Churches (WCC) is also concerned. They are sponsoring a conference of scientists and theologians from all over the world to come together and discuss the relationship of faith, science and the future. This conference is to be held at MIT from July 12-24, 1979. In conjunction with this conference, a student conference is scheduled to be held at MIT on July 5-11, 1979 dealing with the following subjects:
1. Education of the scientist (and the pubic regarding science),
2. The relationship between faith and science (and ethics),
3. The production and use of scientific knowledge (research and development, military applications, etc.),
4. The role of science and technology in the quality of life.
Proposal:
That LSM-USA adopt the theme of Faith, Science, and the Future as a two year study-action project.
Objective:
To foster a better understanding among LSM and other student groups about:
1. Issues of science, faith, ethics, and technology.
2. How the issues affect us as Christians in a technological world.
3. How we can formulate a Christian response to the issues(not remaining helpless or passive in the face of “inevitable technological progress.”)
4. Empower students to incorporate their new awareness and knowledge into life decisions.
Proposed Timetable:
Summer 1978: MIT-LSM reading project—reading books and articles on the topic and writing reviews of this material.
Fall-Winter 1978-79: MIT-LSM discussion groups based on summer reading. Collection and editing of the book and article review. Formulation of a study packet for LSM-USA, including:
- reports of discussion groups and reviews of book and articles
- suggested reading list for the themes of the WCC conference
- study and leader’s guides for suggested reading lists
- materials produced by MIT-LSM members on conference topics
-suggestions and guidelines for forming study groups
- suggestions and guidelines for beginning application of general
information to specific issues on local campuses and within communities.
First article in the national newsletter of LSM-USA.
Winter 1979: Dissemination of study action packet to LSM groups.
Throughout the year 1978-79: MIT-LSM will submit an article to the LSM-USA Newsletter on the details of the WCC student conference. Since MIT-LSM has easy access to the conference developments (two members are on the planning committee), we can directly inform LSM-USA about them. We can disseminate information on how student groups can have input and how individual students might become delegates.
Winter –Spring 1979: Local LSM groups work with study-action packets. Local leaders are encouraged to report the results of discussions, community actions, or alternated forums in which this packet was used as resource material. Local groups prepare papers to submit to the WCC student conference.
Summer 1979: WCC conference and student conference on the MIT campus. Report on progress of study-action project to LSM-USA National Conference. Preliminary report on the UWW conference. Develop a litany on Science, Faith, and the Future for use at the national conference and by local groups.
Summer-Fall 1979: Final reports on the WCC conference and implementation of mailing to local groups. Follow-up and response.
Fall-Winter-Spring 1979-80: Representatives from the MIT-LSM travel to regional ( and sub-regional) LSM conferences to make presentations and lead workshops on the WCC conference, and on the MIT-LSM program of the study of Faith, Science, and the Future.
Summer 1980: Final report to the LSM-USA National Conference.
Although MIT is the location for the conference, MIT-LSM is in no way synonymous with the official WCC student conference. Most of us will not be delegates at the conference. But we feel that grappling with these issues is important, and we are happy to keep LSM-USA informed on how we are dealing with them.
Resources needed:
Funds for reading materials $100.00
Clerical Costs $600.00
Correspondence
Reports reproduction
Study packets
General duplicating
Traveling expends for representatives to $2000.00
attend regional conferences (10 trips)
Possible sources of funding:
MIT-LSM members $100.00
LSM-USA 1978-79 $600.00
1979-801 $1000.00
Local, sub-regional or regional LSM $1000.00
(1979-80)[1]
Final Statement:
In this age of energy crisis, national enslavement to technology and progress for progress’ sake, and deification of science, it is essential that the Christian community be informed and capable of speaking to these issues—to be a prophetic voice enlightened by biblical scholarship and technical astuteness.
The WCC student conference attempts to reach as broad and audience of student as possible. Through LSM a large number of students can be reached. Since MIT-LSM is involved in the conference planning, an is intensely interested in studying these issues we are a logical channel for the WCC to reach other Lutheran students. We are also anxious to share our own work wit you, in hopes that it might be a starting point for your own work in these areas.
The main thrust of our proposal is on the study aspect of “Study-Action Project;” it aims to inform students of the effect of science and technology upon every aspect of our lives. The importance of the project lies in its potential to arm students with an awareness of their dependence, upon occasion, enslavement to high technology, and to equip them with the ability to recognize and speak to this dependence.
Responsibility for conducting this project lies with MIT-LSM. This is important and necessary to start decentralizing the movement and freeing national staff persons of needless office word associate with a study-action project.
The project’s most important action commences in the second year, when MIT-LSM members will become available as resource persons to regional, sub-regional, and national LSM conferences. We believe that personal involvement of MIT-LSM members, experienced in discussion and knowledgeable about the issues, is essential to affect the objectives of this proposal, and to equip other students to further expand the ranks of well-informed persons capable of speaking to the issue of Faith, Science, and the Future, and acting within their lives.
Sponsoring Group:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) –LSM, Boston
Authors:
Lisa Klein
Carl Sharon