FAITH AND SCIENCE CENTER

Since at least the middle of the 19th century, we have seen tremendous progress in various fields of natural science. Scientific progress has undoubtedly provided mankind with many helpful inventions and made it possible to understand how the world works. Unfortunately, we also see that there is sometimes a belief that all of humanity’s problems can be solved through scientific research, that science can save man and give him immortality. Modern atheists even claim that with the development of scientific knowledge, belief in religious dogma has become impossible. In this context, we want to recall the role of philosophy and theology. It is philosophy at the level of natural reason that provides us with knowledge about how to lead a good life, what happiness is. Theology, in turn, provides us with answers to ultimate questions: Who is God? Where did the world and man come from? How to achieve salvation and eternal life? Natural science cannot provide answers to these most important questions, from which no human being can escape. Therefore, within the framework of the “Faith and Science” program, we want to convince our students that faith is not unintelligent and is not outdated. We want to show the limits of scientific cognition and the need for other, including non-empirical forms of cognition. We recognize that true science never contradicts faith and faith that is not fideism does not contradict science. We want to share our conviction that even today it is worthwhile to explore the wisdom of ancient philosophers and Christian classics in order to understand ourselves, the other and the world. True science needs faith and a believer cannot be deaf to the discoveries of science.  We recognize, following St. Pope John Paul II, that faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit soars toward the contemplation of truth. It is towards the contemplation of truth, both religious and natural, that the “Faith and Science” program is intended to lead.

SCIENCE PROJECTS

• Classical Metaphysics. An educational program taught in English aimed at Central European students that seeks to build a community of values and a network of experts using the common language of classical philosophy. This is because we believe that the basis for understanding reality in terms of wisdom is to enter into the issues of classical metaphysics, or Aristotelian-Thomistic metaphysics. Studying metaphysics frees the mind from excessive pragmatism and opens it to understanding and not just knowledge of reality.
• Does the Bible contradict science? A research program that engages theologians and representatives of science and technical studies from Europe and the US in a scientific dialogue. The program promotes dialogue between faith and science, and will result in an international textbook and an international course combining the perspectives of faith and science in the spirit of Fides et Ratio.
• The Theory of Evolution and the Theory of Intelligent Design. A series of debates between world-renowned specialists, proponents of the theory of evolution, theistic evolutionism, and the theory of intelligent design. The debates are intended to be an exercise in scientific freedom, a confirmation of the stated belief in the superiority of scientific debate over the affirmation of established patterns of thinking.