Science, religion and the environment in the Scottish Enlightenment
November 18 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Dr Adrian Shaw will examine why so many Church of Scotland ministers were interested in and knowledgeable about the natural environment in the late eighteenth century. It will give examples of ministers who contributed to the scientific exploration of environmental subjects and will attempt to explain the context to this interest. This will include: The education of ministers in science at Scottish universities, the campaign ministers waged in favour of smallpox inoculation and the surprising silence of ministers in response to James Hutton’s Theory of the Earth which opposed a literal reading of the biblical creation stories.
Dr Adrian Shaw is a recent PhD graduate from the University of Glasgow where he prepared a thesis on science, religion and the environment in the Scottish enlightenment. He is a member of the Board of Eco Congregation Scotland, Climate Justice Associate for Interfaith Scotland and member of Steering Group of European Churches Environment Network. He was formerly Climate Change Officer for the Church of Scotland (2007-2020) where he promoted awareness, action and advocacy on climate change in the Church and its congregations in partnership with Eco Congregation Scotland and others.