Keith Miller, research assistant professor of geology at Kansas State University, will speak at Southwestern College on Monday, April 19, at 7 p.m. in the Beech Science Center room 104.  Miller’s talk is titled “Human Evolution and Human Nature: What are the Theological Implications?” There is no admission charge.

In addition to his research as a geologist and paleontologist, Miller is an evangelical Christian who has been an outspoken advocate for the teaching of evolution in public school classrooms.  Although many people believe that evolution and religious faith are in conflict, Miller teaches that science is a limited endeavor confined to investigating natural processes and is not in conflict with faith. He said evolutionary theory is a central unifying theory overwhelmingly accepted by the scientific community, and its accurate teaching is important to quality science education.
               
“I am very involved at both the state and national levels in the advocacy for quality public science education and public science literacy,” Miller says.  “Much of my efforts have focused on the historical sciences and particularly evolutionary science.  The public ‘creation/evolution’ debate has been destructive to both the public understanding of science and to the discussion of important theological issues within the Christian community.  The widespread perception of a ‘warfare of science and faith’ is an historically false caricature.  Christian theologians and scientists, including evangelicals, since the time of Darwin have seen no necessary conflict between orthodox theology and an evolutionary understanding of the history of life.  Modern science is not a threat to Christian faith, and people need not feel forced into a choice between evolution and Creation.”
               
Miller earned a bachelor of arts degree in geology from Franklin & Marshall College, his master of arts in geology from S.U.N.Y. at Binghamton, and his Ph. D. in geology from the University of Rochester.  Miller has recently edited a book entitled “Perspectives on an Evolving Creation” that collects essays from both scientists and theologians on how modern evolutionary theory can be reconciled with an orthodox Christian perspective.
               
Miller is the fourth and final lecturer to come to Southwestern to speak on the topic of creation and evolution this semester.  Jay Labov spoke on March 10, Niall Shanks spoke on March 22, and Henry Schaefer spoke on April 8.