All of us have wondered about the big questions of existence. Curiosity about our origin, the nature of ourselves, and our place in the natural world transcends our individual cultures and traditions. Over the past five hundred years, people in Western societies have principally turned to the Bible and science for answers to these fundamental questions, creating a rich and varied history of interaction between these two cultural authorities. Yet, despite this long history, most discussions today merely depicts them in polemical opposition. This joint initiative by Museum of the Bible and the John Templeton Foundation seeks to promote further dialogue by exploring the complicated and dramatic interaction between science and the Bible in the quest to understand our world.
The focus of this project will be a year-long exhibition held at Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC. This exhibition will offer a multimedia and thematic exploration of the variety of scientific and theological responses to key moments of discovery and is estimated to draw over 1.2 million visitors. Academic conferences and a series of academic and popular speakers at the museum in Washington and in other cities around the country will expand upon themes in the exhibition. Additionally, the project will produce educational resources to help students dive deeper into topics raised by the exhibition. The exhibition and related programs will help foster a greater understanding of the relationship between science and the Bible and, above all, a greater appreciation for our shared curiosity in the big questions that ultimately motivates both scientific inquiry and biblical interpretation.
