UCCI hosting theology lecture
Dr Alistair Donald
(CNS Local Life): The University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI) is hosting a lecture by a visiting UK university professor who will make a case for the existence of God. The free lecture, which is open to the public, is slated for Thursday, 15 June 2017 at 6pm at the Sir Vassel Johnson Hall on the UCCI campus.
“The Case for God – An Examination of the Arguments for the Existence of a Deity”, presented by Dr Alistair Donald of Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, is part of UCCI’s Distinguished Lecture Series. Heriot-Watt specialises in science and technology.
As part of the series, previous lecturers have included Dr The Honourable Ralph Everard Gonsalves, fourth Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Professor Trevor Munroe, one of the Caribbean’s leading scholars.
Topics have covered such subjects as politics, culture, academia and corruption. The upcoming theology-based lecture should generate interest among those who reside in Cayman’s strong Christian society, stated a UCCI press release.
“There are few questions as important, and that have engaged the human mind – Christian and non-Christian alike – as that of the existence of a deity,” said Dr Livingston Smith, Acting Dean of Academic Affairs at UCCI and chair of the planning committee for this Distinguished Lecture.
“With the rise of science and certain modes of philosophical reasoning, there are those who argue that God does not exist,” he said, adding, “Yet there are others, equally engaging, who pose the view that the arguments in favour of God’s existence are strong and immutable.”
Donald is Chaplain of Heriot-Watt University, which is home to Edinburgh Business School. He holds a PhD in environmental science and worked in that field in different parts of the UK before being ordained to the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) ministry. Following some years in parish ministry, he was appointed to his current chaplaincy post in 2009.
Donald has spoken widely on the relationship between science, theology, and philosophy in a variety of university and church contexts, making this both an academic and theological discussion. He has lectured throughout the UK as well as in Europe and Australia.
The lecture should provide much fodder for consideration and for academic discourse, UCCI said in the press release, adding the school has been working with leader of the Cayman Islands Ministers Association, Reverend Torrance Bobb, and Associate Pastor Mike Irby of Cayman Islands Baptist Church, among others, to prepare for the event.
Smith added that such a talk can only contribute to Cayman’s growth and development on several levels. “Such a theological discussion is timely and appropriate and I hope that the Cayman population will come out in their numbers to be part of this intellectual discourse and interrogation of a deity’s existence.”
To register online for the lecture, click on this link. For more information, email Dr Livingston Smith
In Cayman we generally believe in the literal interpretation off the Bible. Theological and philosophical discussion must be made on basis of literal interpretation.
Rubbish. The Bible is self-contradictory all the way through, starting in the book of Genesis. If one was to take it literally then one would have to completely discount it as fiction. An intelligent person can discern where ‘facts are facts’ and where the things related have been inserted to fill a gap in real knowledge.
It does not detract from religion to read the Bible while keeping in mind the context in which the various books were written.
You obviously did not read the statements of certain Government members recently. LoL. Or been around to some of the churches locally.
Unbelievable dumb comment.
You go completely wrong by using the term literal interpretation.
Like eden ask for a christian to the objective head of the human rights commision.