UGS 302 - Signature Course: Science and the Bible

Fall 2017, MAI 220B, Tu and Th 9:30 – 11:00

Unique No. 62225

Faculty instructor: Professor Kenneth R. Diller

Office: BME 4.202A
Phone: 512 471 7167
Office Hours: Tu 11-12; We 10:30-11:30
e-mail: kdiller@mail.utexas.edu
Undergraduate Assistant: Reese Walling; reese.walling@utexas.edu

Signature Courses Mission: The Signature Courses at the University of Texas at Austin will connect students with
distinguished faculty members in unique learning environments. By way of this rigorous intellectual experience,
students will develop college-level skills in research, writing, speaking, and discussion through an approach that
is both interdisciplinary and contemporary.

Overall Academic Goals: The desired outcome of this course is that students learn to engage in critical thinking
to formulate their opinions concerning a challenging interdisciplinary issue and to present and defend them in
both oral and written formats. This course is designed to engage students in the evaluation of a highly
controversial topic (the comparison between science and the Bible) that embodies many apparent points of
contradiction and often leads to passionate debates about which a necessarily “right” answer does not exist.
Students will be charged with developing their own personal assessment of the level of compatibility of science
and the Bible in view of a very broad range of perspectives that are presented in the literature. The objective is to
lead students through the experience of assimilating and evaluating diverse information that is often presented in a
contentious or biased context and developing their own viewpoint in which they will have a sense of confidence
and personal comfort.

Course Overview: This course will define issues of assumed contention that are often encountered in debates
concerning science and the Bible. The merits of perspectives offered by diverse learned and respected opinion
leaders in science will be presented and discussed in depth. A required text will be a conservative translation of
the Bible with extensive commentary in footnotes, including frequent references to the original Hebrew and
Greek texts. The course will be taught in the inquiry-learning framework, with classes consisting largely of open,
thoughtful, and diverse discussions that embody extensive formative feedback from both peers and the instructor.
Weekly required brief position papers will be focused on synthesis and formation of conclusions concerning the
most recent class topics. Weekly reading will be assigned on inquiry topics to prepare for class discussions.
Occasional guest speakers may be invited. There will be a visit to the UT Harry Ransom Center to view the
Guttenberg Bible and other relevant historical documents (for example, Sir Isaac Newton’s detailed personal
notes on his extensive studies of the Bible). There will be no written exams. It should be emphasized that this
course does not impose a specific dogma or ideology, and grading is independent of the alignment of the position
on the topic of controversy adopted at the end of the course. It is expected that each student will maintain her/his
personal intellectual and spiritual integrity throughout the course.

Textbooks: Five texts are required as follows, and will be augmented by an extensive annotated reading list that
provides a wide diversity of viewpoints.

1. Gould, Stephen Jay, Rocks of Ages: Science and Religion in the Fullness of Life, Ballantine Publishing Group,
New York, 1999, ISBN 0-345-43009-3.
2. Collins, Francis S, The Language of God, Free Press, New York, 2006, ISBN-10:1416542744.
3. Holy Bible Old and New Testaments, Recovery Version with Outlines, Charts, Footnotes, and References,
Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, 2003, ISBN 0-7363-3242-1.
4. Beveridge, W.I.B., The Art of Scientific Investigation, Blackburn Press, Caldwell, NJ, 1957, ISBN 1-932846-
05-0.
5. Stone, J. Paul, Reconciling All Things to Himself: A Biblical Case for Evolution, Opening the Door to End the
Creation-Evolution Debate, Second Edition, LuLu.com, 2017.
Attendance: is required for all class periods. The course is designed for much of the learning experience to occur
during the class period in the inquiry format, and grading will include an assessment of contributions made in
class. The UA will track the quality and quantity of class participation in real time.

Course topics – one week per topic (14 total)

1. Issues often represented as being contentious or incongruent between science and the Bible
2. Perspectives in viewing nature: processes in science and purpose in the Bible
3. Principles of the scientific method and analysis
4. Creation/origins – physical domain; cosmology; age of the universe
5. Creation/origins – animate domain
6. Creation/origins – tuning of physical constants of the universe to support life on earth
7. Midterm Oral Presentations
8. Evolution – common descent
9. Evolution – random and nonrandom mutation
10. Evolution – human life
11. Origin of human culture and language – major gaps in the scientific record but filled in the Biblical record
12. New creation
13. Thermodynamics principles; transducers for state properties
14. Final Oral Presentations

Grading Format: The course grade will be based on performance on two oral presentations, two written papers,
weekly short essays, and classroom interactions. Assessment will be oriented to the demonstration of an ability to
develop and defend an integrated, balanced, and compelling understanding of the complex course subject. The
weekly written assignments will consist of a one page paper on the current issues of reading and discussion. This
course carries a writing flag designation for which it is necessary for the faculty to provide students written
feedback on at least one assignment for which a revised paper may be resubmitted for a final grade. This process
applies to the midterm written paper.

The grading rubric will be as follows:

§ Midterm Oral Presentation – 10%
§ Final Oral Presentation – 20%
§ Midterm Written Paper – 15%
§ Final Written paper – 30%
§ Weekly written homework – 15%
§ Informal class participation – 10%
There will not be any in-class exams or a final exam on subject content. The midterm paper will be returned for
revision and regrading in accordance with the UT course writing flag requirements.

Homework Policy: Weekly one page written assignments will be assigned concerning analysis and synthesis of
the topic of the week, plus, students are expected to complete reading assignments prior to class to be prepared for
substantial engagement in classroom discussions. Written assignments should be completed as a MS Word
document submitted to Professor Diller as an email attachment by the start of class on the day it is due. There will
be a 5% grading bonus for assignments turned in by midnight prior to the due date. (This is an incentive to help
you hone your skills in prioritizing your activities schedule.)

Writing Flag Designation for This Course: This course carries the Writing Flag. Writing Flag courses are
designed to give students experience with writing in an academic discipline. In this class, you can expect to write
regularly during the semester, complete substantial writing projects, and receive feedback from your instructor to
help you improve your writing. You will also have the opportunity to revise one or more assignments, and you
may be asked to read and discuss your peers’ work. You should therefore expect a substantial portion of your
grade to come from your written work. Writing Flag classes meet the Core Communications objectives of Critical
Thinking, Communication, Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility, established by the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board.
University-Wide Policies

Religious Holy Days: A student who misses classes or other required activities, including examinations, for the
observance of a religious holy day should inform the instructor as far in advance of the absence as possible so that
arrangements can be made to complete an assignment within a reasonable time after the absence.

Student Accommodation: The University of Texas provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations
for qualified students with disabilities. For more information contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-
6259, 471-4641 TTY.

Policy on Scholastic Dishonesty: Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to
disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and/or dismissal from the University. Since
such dishonesty harms the individual, all students and the integrity of the University, policies on scholastic
dishonesty will be strictly enforced. For further information, please visit the Office of Student Conduct and
Academic Integrity website at http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/conduct/.