Theistic Science Symposium

2019 Sessions

Welcome and about the SSA

Dr. Rev. Reuben Bell

Theistic Science Group Introduction

Ron Horvath

Where do we go from here?

Dr. Rev. Reuben Bell

Saying “Theistic Science” and doing it are two different things. We need to know what theistic science looks like. Here is an outline of how I think it works, at least in my area of interest, which is the evolution of organic forms. I am proposing the concept of Intelligent Default, that sees organic forms as “default settings” for matter in its various configurations, under various conditions. Human Form flows in (Swedenborg called this formative substance), and matter responds according to set laws and physical constraints, producing natural images of spiritual uses. These natural laws and physical constraints are none other than the Creator Himself, accommodated to the conditions of the natural world.

Session Handout: Reuben Bell – A Theistic Science of Intelligent Default Download

Conservation is Perpetual Creation: A presentation on how to see the spiritual in the natural

Rev. Andy Heilman

That the universe, with each thing and all things of it, was created from the Divine love by means of the Divine wisdom can be confirmed by all things submitted to sight in the world. Select any particular object and examine it with some wisdom, and you will be convinced. Take a tree, or its seed, its fruit, its flower, or its leaf, gather up the wisdom that is in you, examine the object with a good microscope, and you will see wonderful things; while the interiors that you do not see are still more wonderful. Moreover, if you are willing to go far enough in spiritual thought, will you not see also that this power is not from the seed, nor from the sun of the world, which is pure fire, but is in the seed from God the Creator, whose wisdom is infinite; and in it not only at the moment it was created, but continually afterwards? For conservation is perpetual creation, as subsistence is perpetual existence [or coming forth].

Session Handout: Andy Heilman – Conservation is Perpetual Creation Download

Enneads of Spiritual and Physical Sub-degrees

Ian Thompson, Ph.D.

From Triads to Enneads-Use … and connecting with modern physics. Love-Wisdom-Use

A common pattern of influx: from Swedenborg
It can be seen in many places, spiritual & natural:
Spirit, mind and nature.
Celestial, Spiritual and Spiritual-natural heavens – in spiritual.
Loving, thinking, and acting – in mind (mental) • Principles, causes and events – in natural physics.
Each of these has love-wisdom-use within itself
DLW 79: “Divine is the same in things greatest and least”. Each reacts according to its nature.

Session Handout: Ian Thompson – Enneads of Spiritual and Physical Sub-degrees Download

Session Handout: Ian Thompson – An Hypothesis for How Influx into the Natural Shows Itself in Physics Download

Q & A with Dr. Thompson and Rev. Heilman

Protein Synthesis and “Fine Tuning”: Paradigms for the Discrete Degrees of Divine Influx

Dr. Stephen Smith

“Understanding the spiritual cascade of discrete degrees behind the physical degree of life may be a framework that is useful to be]er understand what is still unknown about protein structure, function and synthesis -Ian Thompson, PhD

Session Handout: Dr. Stephen Smith – Protein Synthesis and “Fine Tuning”Download

Q&A Panel and Closing Statements

Dan Synnestvedt, Ph.D.

Watch the Full Stream

Watch the video of the MORNING events.

Watch the video of the AFTERNOON events

The Swedenborg Scientific Association cordially invites you to

BREAKING THE SHELL, October 12, 2019:

Connecting the Spiritual Cascade to the Physical with New Church Science

A Theistic Science Symposium hosted by the Swedenborg Scientific Association and the Theistic Science Group. Saturday, October 12, 2019, 9AM–5PM, Pendleton Hall, Bryn Athyn College, Bryn Athyn, PA.

Free registration requested, see below.

The Swedenborg Scientific Association would like to introduce the Theistic Science Group; a collaboration of New Church scientists and theologians working on a model of scientific principles based on the axiom of spiritual-natural causation. If natural things and processes are derived from spiritual causes, how can these be described in scientific terms? Using doctrines from Swedenborg’s scientific and theological works, the Theistic Science Group asks “How does spirit descend into nature, creating as it comes?” Questions of the origin of matter, divine order, in nature, and the emergence of organic forms are being addressed by the group. Their process will be reported at this first Theistic Science Symposium.

Housing is available for a charge at the BA College.

Talks will be live-streamed and later available on YouTube.

Contact: SwedenborgScientific@gmail.com for questions.