Goshen College holds 9th annual Conference of Religion and Science with Noreen Herzfeld

Conference: Ninth annual Goshen College Conference on Religion and Science, featuring St. John's University Professor of Theology and Computer Science Noreen Herzfeld

Dates: Friday, March 27 to Sunday, March 29

Free public lectures: March 27 at 7:30 p.m. and March 28 at 10:30 a.m.

Location: Church-Chapel, Goshen College

To register and pay for the conference: www.goshen.edu/religionscience

GOSHEN, Ind. – St. John's University Professor of Theology and Computer Science Noreen Herzfeld will be the keynote speaker at the ninth annual Goshen College Conference on Religion and Science, held March 27-29. Herzfeld will speak on "Perfection of the work" on Friday, March 27 at 7:30 p.m. and on "Does Perfection Exist?" on Saturday, March 28 at 10:30 a.m. in the Goshen College Church-Chapel. The lectures are free and open to the public.

Herzfeld holds master's degrees in computer science and mathematics from the Pennsylvania State University, a master's degree in spirituality and monastic studies from St. John's University, and a doctorate in theology from the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, Calif.

Herzfeld is the author of "In Our Image: Artificial Intelligence and the Human Spirit" (Augsburg Fortress Publishers, 2002), "Technology and Religion: Remaining Human in a Co-Created World" (forthcoming, spring 2009) and "Computer Concepts and Applications for Non-Majors," (2000). She has also published numerous articles on such diverse topics as cyberspace as a venue for spiritual experience, embodiment as an indispensable condition for personhood, the religious implications of computer games and social networks and the prospects for reconciliation among Christians and Muslims in Bosnia.

The conference is designed to provide maximum interaction with one of the principal thinkers in the dialog between religion and science. A single invited speaker presents three lectures, two of which are open to the public. Small moderated discussion sessions provide conference participants an opportunity to address topics from the lectures, and others, in conversation with the speaker.

Past conference speakers have included Holmes Rolston III, Ted Peters, Philip Hefner, Robert Russell, John H. Haught, Antje Jackelen, George Ellis and Nancey Murphy. Conference participants include pastors and interested lay persons, as well as academic scientists, mathematicians, theologians and students.

Conference attendance is limited to 50, and participants include pastors, and interested lay persons, as well as academic scientists, mathematicians, theologians and students. For persons interested in participating in the full conference, information about registration can be found at www.goshen.edu/religionscience, and contact Marilyn Bayak by e-mailing marilynlb@goshen.edu or calling (574) 535-7305.

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college's Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron's Best Buys in Education, "Colleges of Distinction," "Making a Difference College Guide" and U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" edition, which named Goshen a "least debt college." Visit www.goshen.edu.