Belief, science, natural science

In 2006, the first conference of the Foundation Studium Academicum  took place in Centrum-Posticum in Oradea. There was a quite good turnout.

The approximately 65 participants were welcomed by Mr. Elemér Szatmári, vice president of the Foundation. He thanked for the conference room provided by the Posticum proving the good cooperation between the Foundation and Posticum.

Mr. Rom. Chat. Rev. István Bruncsák in his devotion about Johannes 4 (the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman) he attracted the participants’ attention to the conversation which showed that with the help of Jesus it can lead to a clear aim: to the definition of the salvation.    

Further, he explained the relation between the biblical story and the conference’s theme emphasizing that nowadays conversations between belief and science make us very often remember about the conversation of the characters from the read biblical story. Actually it is a debate about the same thing (about the water), but it has one meaning in belief or theological context and another one in natural science. As it was well seen in the biblical story in order to have these two approaches as one it is necessary to stop the mutual distrust and it has to be finished the reciprocal crusade, or the overhead conversations.

The preacher summarized his devotion saying: “Jesus is interested in the scientist and not in the science itself!”

Béla Szilágyi Phd., physicist researcher of the Albert Einstein Institute in Potsdam in his introductory speech noticed that he was quite surprised when he heard the title of his presentation for this conference. He considered that such a title like “Let There Be Lights in the Firmament of the Heaven” was more related to an astronomical topic, rather than to his work.

The lecturer visualized some parts of the universe with projected pictures, showing also the elements of the planetary system.  In the end he made the conclusion with conviction saying that when we explore or contemplate the universe we can be entitled to say that the miracle - which we are partly familiar with - is the creation of a God, who likes the beauty and orderliness.     

At the end of his lecture he emphasized that it is worth to meditate on the relation between the evolution and the big bang theory e.g. if there is a disorder (chaos) in a room there are two ways to change it: either somebody will make order, or a bomb will resettle things. He personally believes in the first option namely in God’s creation: the orderliness and the beauty. 

After the lecture participants could formulate their questions toward the lecturer.

The second lecture was hold by Mr. Tamás Kodácsy - scientific co-worker at the Jesenius Centre in Budapest, theologian and programmer mathematician - with the title “Cogito, Ergo Mundus Talis Est” -“ I meditate, therefore so is the World”.

He made a remark at the beginning of his lecture emphasizing that he tried to formulate the title of his lecture in a way that it would stimulate the audience of this conference and not discourage them.

In his lecture he talked about the relation between beliefs and natural science, as well as about the cosmologic-anthropological theory.  

The lecturer - related to the previous lecture - has indicated, that if those physical constants which determinate the physical principles were a bit other as they are, than this world would not exist, so that living.

The lecturer asked: “How are we here? How is it possible, that we are in a world, which accepts to be researched by us, and therefore we can meditate on it, and say, that “so is the world”? This question makes us believe that there cannot be a universe which would not accept us thinking about it. In this sense the observer plays an important role in the description of the universe’s image.

The lecturer introduced his presentation along a quotation: “...it can be named anthropological theory that phenomenon, where the results of our researches are constrained by the conditions which are necessary for our presence as explorers. (Although our presence is not necessarily central but in some sort it is absolutely honoured.)” Brandon Carter, 1970.

After both presentations, the questions asked by participants and the responses given by lecturers clearly showed, that the theme of the conference was presented in such a successful way that could answer the less known theoretical questions.

Balogh Barnabás has expressed his acknowledgements toward the lecturers, thanking their help to make us better understand and to deepen our knowledge about this exciting theme. He also emphasized that the conference was an event which challenges us not just to invite the lecturers for next conferences, but also encourages us to debate about other questions related to our society, maybe in a next conference of the Foundation Studium Academicum.