items of interest

with contributions from William Hageman, Robert J. Barro, George R. Plagenz

"'SUBJECTS like the origin of the universe, the origin of life, the nature of time,and the nature of consciousness are now firmly on the scientific agenda,' says Paul Davies, a proffesor of natural philosophy in the Australian Center for Astrobiology at Mac-quarie University in Sydney.'This means scientists are revisiting the age-old big questions of existence—but in doing so,they are deploying new concepts.This has obliged theologians to engage in old debates on new terms.'Science and religion 'are discovering on new terms.'Science and religion'are discovering that when people who thoughtful and open sit down at the same table together,it turns outthey're not at war,'says Karl Giberson,editor ofResearch News & Opportunities in Science and Theology,a monthly publication dedicated

"Max Tegmark, a professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Pennsylvania,... [says] that astronomical observations support the idea of parallel universes. 'In infinite space, even the most unlikely events must take place somewhere,' he wrote in last May's issue of Scientific American. Thus one can imagine an infinite number of inhabited planets, which 'have people with the same appearance, name, and memories as you, who play out every permutation of your life choices.'...

"The like the universes, are endless. So where does all this leave God? First of all, science and theology are not altogether incompatible. God could still be running the show, even if the universe reflected God's infinity, then the universe itself should be infinite,' says Robin Collins, professor of philosophy at Messiah College in Grantham, Pa. 'You would expect it to reflect the attributes of God.'"

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