Talk by Professor Andrew Halestrap, Bristol University
Andrew will start the talk with a brief introduction into his own research before talking about the relationship between Science and Faith and how, properly understood, they provide complimentary rather than conflicting accounts of reality. He will explain how science can no more disprove the existence of God than religion can prove it. Both are rational positions and both require an element of faith. For science this is the inherent consistency in the way matter behaves that experimental science requires, while for religion it is the existence of a creator God outside of the universe who provides both the first cause and the ongoing working of the universe. He will then go on to consider what reasons there are for belief in God, and especially the Christian God, and why he believes that they are stronger than the arguments for atheism.
Professor Andrew Halestrap is Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry at Bristol University. He obtained his first degree in Natural Sciences at Cambridge in 1970 before moving to Bristol to study for his PhD and subsequently joined the academic staff. Andrew has served in various leadership roles in the church and academia including being a past Chair of the British Heart Foundation Project Grants Committee, the Bristol Heart Institute and Christians in Science. He is passionate about helping people to see how science is a friend and not an enemy of the Christian Faith.