A world class line-up of theologians will gather in Aberdeen next week (January 7-9) for an international conference hosted by the University of Aberdeen.
The Divinity department is hosting a symposium on the theme of divine providence – the idea that everything that occurs in both nature and history takes place under God's guidance and control.
Organiser, Dr Philip Ziegler said: "This conference will break fresh ground in the analysis of divine providence by exploring a wide range of arguments concerning its form, significance and viability within contemporary thought."
Several leading scholars — including Sarah Coakley (Cambridge) and Alister McGrath (Oxford) — will look at the question of evolutionary science and divine governance, taking issue with the recent writings of Richard Dawkins, author of The God Delusion.
The three-day gathering of Protestant and Catholic theologians will also explore the recent history of the doctrine, as well as its importance for politics, ethics and the church.
"Since the Enlightenment, the classical doctrine of providence has been aggressively criticised within both theology and philosophy," said co-organiser Dr. Francesca Murphy. "By inviting these scholars to Aberdeen, we hope to advance investigation of the idea of providence and provide an academic response to popular debates about the problem of evil, the meaning of history and the dialogue between science and religion."
Papers from the conference are to be published as The Providence of God by T&T Clark/Continuum in 2009.
The conference is being supported by the British Academy, the Panacea Society, the University of Aberdeen, both the College of Arts and Social Sciences and the School of Divinity, History and Philosophy within the University, as well as the Bishops' Conference of Scotland.