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MIT-educated nuclear physicist discusses relationship between religion and science at Brenau
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Gerald Schroeder speaks to an audience at Brenau University Wednesday night. Schroeder anchored a discussion on the origins of the universe. - photo by Tom Reed
It is one of the first lessons learned in the Judeo-Christian tradition.

“And God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth,’” according to the Bible. “... And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.”

It is at this point in the book of Genesis where internationally renowned MIT-educated nuclear physicist Gerald L. Schroeder stopped telling the story of creation and began telling Gainesville residents of what he perceives to be an inherent relationship between science and the word of God.

The Israeli spoke at Brenau University on Wednesday night to about 200 spellbound Christians, students, teachers and professors.

James Sennett, Brenau philosophy professor, and Randolph May, Brenau biology professor and Baptist layman, joined Schroeder in a debate on the tension between science and spirituality.

Schroeder stopped in Gainesville on a tour promoting his latest book, “God According to God: A Physicist Proves We’ve Been Wrong About God All Along.” It marks his second visit to Gainesville; about five years ago, he spoke at First Presbyterian Church.

The Brenau Spiritual Life Association, The Servant Leadership Scholars Program, The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society sponsored the author’s visit to Brenau.

Schroeder argues that modern science and the Bible are not necessarily conflicting interpretations of human existence. The physicist suggests that all life originated with light, as the Bible states, and that Adam had parents, but they were not humans with souls.

Ultimately, he says scientists and religious adherents alike are fascinated by the creation of the earth.

“The Big Bang was a great use of God,” he said. “... Whether it took billions of years, six days or a microsecond, the wonder is still there. And nobody denies that.”

Schroeder said the first scientists were religious men. He said the Bible paints an image of the world as it is, not as humankind envisions an ideal world.

“The crayon image, the marshmallow God — God is not like that,” he said. “... When we step out onto the street we see the world is not so fuzzy wuzzy. People don’t always get what they deserve.”

But Schroeder said he believes like bacteria, humans must cooperate to thrive in the universe. He said as in the Bible, life is filled with people killing people as well as nature killing people.

“We can make the world earthquake-proof,” he said. “That is our task. We can partner with God to make the world a better place. God has chosen us to make the world a better place.”