BONUS|Science & Faith with Dr. Trasancos [Interview]
Summary
Dr. Stacy Trasancos joins the podcast to discuss alleged conflicts between faith and science. We discuss the proper relationship between faith and science, why many scientists are atheists, the topic of evolution, and the teachings of Fr. Stanley Jaki.
Guest Bio
Dr. Stacy Trasancos is a convert to Catholicism and a nationally-recognized author, speaker, and educator on the topic of theology and science. She has a
Episode Outline
In the first part of the episode, Dr. Stacy Trasancos leads with her science and faith maxim, “Science is the study of the handiwork of God.” She explains the difficult work of scientists and how their job is to question things in the world and drill down deep into reality. However, this study of reality is not opposed to a creator of reality but rather presupposes one. Without creation, in all of its intelligibility, there would be nothing to study or question. Yet, we live in a created world that is ripe for investigation. As Dr. Trasancos sums it up, “Science is the study of the handiwork of God.”
In the next section, I question Dr. Trasancos as to why many scientists are atheists. I confront her with a quotation from the New Atheist Dr. Jerry Coyne, a biologist who asserts that science and religion are fundamentally opposed. We also discuss the topic of evolution and I ask Dr. Trasancos, “Why shouldn’t Catholics be afraid of evolution?”
In the final segment, I give Dr. Trasancos some space to discuss the work of Fr. Stanley Jaki, who she describes as a man ahead of his time. He wrote a large body of work on topics of faith and science, and Dr. Trasancos received much inspiration from studying this work.
Resources Mentioned
Particles of Faith by Dr. Stacy Trasancos
Science was Born of Christianity by Dr. Stacy Trasancos
Real View Books Publishing with content by Fr. Stanley Jaki
