CASE News
The regular email newsletter from the Centre for Apologetic Scholarship and Education.
If you are having trouble viewing this email, go here to view it online.
- Case 19 - The God of Science - soon to be published
- New audio and video resources
- Latest posts on the CASE Blog
1. Case 19 - The God of Science
We’re putting the final touches to Case 19 - The God of Science, and hope it will be a thought-provoking and useful edition for our CASE associates. The articles in this issue include:
- an exploration of naturalism and the biblical worldview by Kirsten Birkett,
- a discussion of God and evolution by Denis Alexander,
- an examination of the question of whether belief in God is a purely psychological phenomenon by Michael Murray,
- a consideration of the role and limits of science in moral reasoning by Lewis Jones,
- and, in a follow-up to Case 18, a look at architecture and its end by Cameron Blair.
If you are not a CASE associate and would like to become one (to receive Case 19 and three future issues of Case magazine), you will find all the information you need here. CASE associates also receive access to associates-only resources on the website and discounts to CASE events.
2. New audio and video resources
i. Audio from Medical Ethics Conference
On the 21st March 2009, CASE ran a conference focusing on significant issues in the ethically-charged field of medicine. The conference programme ran as follows:
- Dr Andrew Cole: Why Should Christians be Interested in Ethics in Medicine?
- Dr Megan Best: Ethical Issues at the Beginning of Life
- Dr Patrina Caldwell: Medical Research Involving Children
- Dr John Dearin: End of Life Issues - Euthanasia
- Dr Mel Cusi: Victorian Abortion Legislation: Where Does Conscientious Objection Fit In?
- Melinda Tankard Reist: ‘My Soul Died When My Baby Died’: The Grief of Abortion
The MP3 of Andrew Cole’s talk is available to be downloaded. MP3 audio files of most of the rest of the conference are progressively becoming available for CASE Associates only.
A CD containing MP3 audio files of most of the conference will also be available for purchase for $15 or 2 for $25 (including postage and handling in Australia). To pre-order a CD (they should be ready next month):
- Call 02 9381 1999 with your postal address and credit card details.
- Send a fax to: 02 9381 1909 with the subject ‘CASE medical ethics CD order’ and include your name, postal address, credit card details and number of CDs you would like.
- Send a cheque (payable to ‘New College’) to: CASE medical ethics CD order/New College/ UNSW, Sydney 2052/ NSW. Please remember to include a note with your name, postal address and number of CDs you would like.
To listen to Andrew Cole’s talk click here.
To listen to the other talks (if you are a CASE Associate) click here.
ii. Interview with Professor Trevor Hart - God and the artist
In 2008 Dr Greg Clarke interviewed Professor Trevor Hart (Professor of Divinity and Director of the Institute for Theology, Imagination and the Arts in the University of St Andrews) on the topic of God and the artist. You can view the interview (in four segments) here.
3. Latest posts on the CASE Blog
In our CASE blog we seek to engage with issues and ideas that are relevant to contemporary life. We welcome your comments and feedback. Our latest blog posts are:
Professor Trevor Cairney Director, Centre for Apologetic Scholarship and Education (CASE)
New College, University of NSW, 2052. Ph: +61 2 9381 1999 F: +61 2 9381 1909.
Articles are provided for research, citing, printing for private use and for linking to other resources. If you wish to use multiple copies of articles, please request permission.
There are now four of the five medical ethics conference talks available for CASE associates to download. If you are not a CASE associate why don’t you become one now by simply subscribing to the Case magazine. Once you have joined up as a CASE associate member you will gain access to CASE associates only material on the website and discounts to CASE events.
CASE News
The regular email newsletter from the Centre for Apologetic Scholarship and Education.
If you are having trouble viewing this email, go here to view it online.
- Audio from Medical Ethics Conference
- Manufacturing Humans: The Borderlands between Human and Divine Control
- Latest posts on the CASE Blog
1. Audio from Medical Ethics Conference
On the 21st March 2009, CASE ran a conference focusing on significant issues in the ethically-charged field of medicine. The conference programme ran as follows:
- Dr Andrew Cole: Why Should Christians be Interested in Ethics in Medicine?
- Dr Megan Best: Ethical Issues at the Beginning of Life
- Dr Patrina Caldwell: Medical Research Involving Children
- Dr John Dearin: End of Life Issues - Euthanasia
- Dr Mel Cusi: Victorian Abortion Legislation: Where Does Conscientious Objection Fit In?
- Melinda Tankard Reist: ‘My Soul Died When My Baby Died’: The Grief of Abortion
The MP3 of Andrew Cole’s talk is available to be downloaded. MP3 audio files of most of the rest of the conference will also available for CASE Associates only (coming soon).
A CD containing MP3 audio files of most of the conference will also be available for purchase for $15 or 2 for $25 (including postage and handling in Australia). To pre-order a CD (they should be ready next month):
- Call 02 9381 1999 with your postal address and credit card details.
- Send a fax to: 02 9381 1909 with the subject ‘CASE medical ethics CD order’ and include your name, postal address, credit card details and number of CDs you would like.
- Send a cheque (payable to ‘New College’) to: CASE medical ethics CD order/New College/ UNSW, Sydney 2052/ NSW. Please remember to include a note with your name, postal address and number of CDs you would like.
To listen to Andrew Cole’s talk click here.
2. Manufacturing Humans: The Borderlands between Human and Divine Control
On Friday 29th May at 7.30pm, Professor Gareth Jones (Professor of Anatomy & Structural Biology, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Otago University in New Zealand) will be giving a public lecture on the topic: ‘Manufacturing Humans: The Borderlands between Human and Divine Control’. This event is jointly run by ISCAST (Christians in Science and Technology) and CASE and will be held at New College (UNSW, 330 Anzac Pde, Kensington). Everyone is welcome. For more information click here.
3. Latest posts on the CASE Blog
In our CASE blog we seek to engage with issues and ideas that are relevant to contemporary life. We welcome your comments and feedback. Our latest blog posts are:
Professor Trevor Cairney Director, Centre for Apologetic Scholarship and Education (CASE)
New College, University of NSW, 2052. Ph: +61 2 9381 1999 F: +61 2 9381 1909.
Articles are provided for research, citing, printing for private use and for linking to other resources. If you wish to use multiple copies of articles, please request permission.
CASE News
The regular email newsletter from the Centre for Apologetic Scholarship and Education.
If you are having trouble viewing this email, go here to view it online.
- CASE Discussion Group - next Thursday!
- CASE website discussion forum
- Latest posts on the CASE Blog
1. CASE Discussion Group: Next Thursday (30th April)
Please join us for our first discussion group of 2009. At CASE we are hoping to provide an environment for corporate learning by running an informal discussion group after the publication of each issue of Case magazine. We are looking forward to robust and stimulating discussion based on the articles in Case 18: City Life. How is the increasing urbansiation of the world’s population impacting relationships, quality of life, personal aspirations etc.? What do you consider to be the challenges and opportunities for Christian apologetics in cities? If such issues are of interest to you we hope to see you next Thursday.
The details are:
Date: Thursday 30th April
Time: 6pm for 6.30pm - 7.30pm
Location: New College Village (215A Anzac Pde, Kensington)
RSVP: to 9381 1999 by Wednesday 29th (there’s no cost involved but we need to know that you’re coming).
Note: In conjunction with our discussion group, we will be opening an on-line discussion around the topic of ‘city life’ next Monday (see point 3 below).
2. Other Events
- Manufacturing Humans: The Borderlands between Human and Divine Control (ISCAST-CASE lecture): Friday May 29 at 7.30 pm at New College. The speaker will be Professor Gareth Jones of Otago University, where he is Professor of Anatomy and Structural Biology, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor. Other details will soon be put up on the ISCAST website.
- CASE is keen to encourage people to attend The Annual Australasian Christian Conference for the Academy and the Church later this year. The Annual Australasian Christian Conference (AACC) exists to stimulate research and publication by evangelical Christian academics. It will be held in Brisbane from 30th June-3rd July 2009. More information is available on the aa-cc website.
3. CASE on-line forums
Continuing the theme of corporate learning (and discussion) we hope that the CASE forum will be a useful platform for vibrant communication around topics in the field of Christian apologetics. We will be opening a forum on the topic of ‘city life’ next Monday.
Everyone is welcome to participate in CASE forums by becoming a member of the CASE website (no charge involved). To sign up as a member of the CASE website click here. The relevant information about membership is on the second half of that page. (Note: there is a difference between being a CASE Associate (which involves a cost and gives a four-issue subscription to Case magazine, access to Associates-only resources on the website and discounts at CASE events) and a member of the CASE website.) Please also be aware of the forum rules and conditions.
4. Latest posts on the CASE Blog
In our CASE blog we seek to engage with issues and ideas that are relevant to contemporary life. We welcome your comments and feedback. Our latest blog posts are:
Hope to see you at our discussion group next Thursday!
Professor Trevor Cairney Director, Centre for Apologetic Scholarship and Education (CASE)
New College, University of NSW, 2052. Ph: +61 2 9381 1999 F: +61 2 9381 1909.
Articles are provided for research, citing, printing for private use and for linking to other resources. If you wish to use multiple copies of articles, please request permission.
New College Village is owned and operated by New College, an Anglican residential college at UNSW which also runs CASE. See this Position Vacant advertisement at the New College website here.
CASE News
The regular email newsletter from the Centre for Apologetic Scholarship and Education.
If you are having trouble viewing this email, go here to view it online.
- Training in medical ethics presentations
- Latest posts on the CASE Blog
1. Upcoming Events
At CASE:
- Manufacturing Humans: The Borderlands between Human and Divine Control. ISCAST-CASE lecture: Friday May 29 at 7.30 pm at New College. The speaker will be Professor Gareth Jones of Otago University, where he is Professor of Anatomy and Structural Biology, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor. Other details will soon be put up on the new ISCAST website.
Other events:
- The Annual Australasian Christian Conference for the Academy and the Church. The Annual Australasian Christian Conference (AACC) exists to stimulate research and publication by evangelical Christian academics. It will be held in Brisbane from 30th June-3rd July 2009. More information is available on the aa-cc website.
2. CASE website forums
We hope that the CASE forum will become a platform for vibrant discussion of topics related to Christian apologetics. Everyone is welcome to participate in CASE forums by becoming a member of the CASE website (no charge involved). To sign up as a member of the CASE website click here. The relevant information about membership is on the second half of that page. (Note: there is a difference between being a CASE Associate (which involves a cost and gives a four-issue subscription to Case magazine, access to Associates-only resources on the website and discounts at CASE events) and a member of the CASE website.) Please also be aware of the forum rules and conditions.
3. Training in medical ethics presentations
Do you have a passion for educating the Christian public on issues in medical ethics? Would you like to see community discussions about bioethics more robust and informed? Do you wish you knew what to say when something like euthanasia comes up in conversation with your friends?
As a follow-up to our medical ethics conference, Dr Megan Best will be conducting training sessions later this year for those who would like to be able to give talks on Christian ethics at the beginning and/or end of life. Two evenings of training will be held at New College, U and are open to all. Registration for each session will include an interactive education session, information regarding ongoing education resources, and a slide presentation on the topic for the registrant’s own use. Email us at: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if you would like to be contacted later in the year with more information.
4. Latest posts on the CASE Blog
In our CASE blog we seek to engage with issues and ideas that are relevant to contemporary life. We welcome your comments and feedback. Our latest blog posts are:
We at CASE hope you will be drawn closer to Jesus this Easter. It is his death and resurrection, which is especially remembered at Easter, that gives CASE as an organisation and, we believe, all people our raison d’etre.
Professor Trevor Cairney Director, Centre for Apologetic Scholarship and Education (CASE)
New College, University of NSW, 2052. Ph: +61 2 9381 1999 F: +61 2 9381 1909.
Articles are provided for research, citing, printing for private use and for linking to other resources. If you wish to use multiple copies of articles, please request permission.
We thought that one way that we could add to the value of Case magazine and learn from one another is to organise a discussion group after each edition of the magazine is published. Case 18, based on the theme of City Life is out. Anyone is welcome to join us on the 30th April to discuss the issues raised in the articles (on New York, Justice in the City, Busyness and Anonymity) and other ways in which we can think about city life from a Christian perspective. If you are planning to come please rsvp at by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or on 02 9381 1999.
CASE News
The regular email newsletter from the Centre for Apologetic Scholarship and Education.
If you are having trouble viewing this email, go here to view it online.
- CASE Medical Ethics Conference: A thought-provoking day
- Training in medical ethics presentations
- Case 18 - City Life: out now
- Latest posts on the CASE Blog
1. CASE Medical Ethics Conference: A thought-provoking day
100 people gathered together on Saturday 21st March to spend the day thinking through topical issues in the area of medical ethics. The conference delegates were warned that it would not be an easy day with issues such as embryonic stem cell research, abortion and euthanasia on the agenda. This certainly turned out to be the case with six thought-provoking and valuable sessions. The day began with Andrew Cole presenting an overview of John’s gospel in answer to the question of why Christians should be interested in medical ethics. Following this, Megan Best looked at ethical issues at the beginning of life with a focus on when human life begins and the implications for embryonic stem cell research and abortion. Patrina Caldwell considered differences between medical research involving adults and children and some ethical implications, particularly for Christians, of medical research in children. John Dearin took us to the end of life and the hot topic of euthanasia. He emphasised the prominence of the concept of autonomy in the euthanasia debate. Mel Cusi presented on the importance, formation and role of the conscience, using the 2008 Victorian abortion legislation as a case study. The day concluded with Melinda Tankard Reist reminding us that approximately 80% of women who have had abortions wish that there could have been an alternative, sharing some heart-rending stories of women who have had abortions and encouraging delegates to be practically involved in helping women who would like to keep their babies.
We know there are many people who are interested in medical ethics who, for various reasons, were unable to join us for the day. We are hoping to make the talks available in some sort of audio-visual format and will let you know more about this asap.
2. Training in medical ethics presentations
Do you have a passion for educating the Christian public on issues in medical ethics? Would you like to see community discussions about bioethics more robust and informed? Do you wish you knew what to say when something like euthanasia comes up in conversation with your friends?
As a follow-up to our medical ethics conference, Dr Megan Best will be conducting training sessions later this year for those who would like to be able to give talks on Christian ethics at the beginning and/or end of life. Two evenings of training will be held at New College, UNSW and are open to all. Registration for each session will include an interactive education session, information regarding ongoing education resources, and a slide presentation on the topic for the registrant’s own use. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)if you would like to hear more.
3. Case 18 - City Life: Available now
The world’s population is becoming increasingly urbanised. Cities are both the temporal home of over half the world’s population and the heavenly city of Jerusalem will be the eternal home of Christians. The latest edition of Case considers some of the issues interwoven into city life in the here and now in light of both present-day and eternal realities. Topics are: ‘God in the city’, ‘Babel, Babylon and the Big Apple’ (New York), ‘Justice in the City’, ‘The Busy Christian’s Introduction to Busyness’ and ‘Name Unknown: Anonymity in the City’. There are also reviews of Clive Hamilton’s The Freedom Paradox and an important book on sustainability: Christianity, Climate Change and Sustainable Living by Nick Spencer and Robert White. We hope this is edition of Case will encourage readers to live and think more reflectively and biblically about city life.
Current CASE Associates should expect to receive Case 18 in the mail in the next few days. If you are not yet a CASE Associate please consider signing up - we hope it will be of benefit to both you and the continued growth of our work in Christian apologetics. CASE Associates receive four issues of Case magazine, discounts at CASE events and access to associates-only resources on our website (www.case.edu.au). The costs of CASE Associate membership are:
- Overseas Electronic Associate: $25 (available only to non-Australian residents)
You can become a CASE Associate here.
4. Latest posts on the CASE Blog
In our CASE blog we seek to engage with issues and ideas that are relevant to contemporary life. We welcome your comments and feedback. Our latest blog posts are:
Professor Trevor Cairney Director, Centre for Apologetic Scholarship and Education (CASE)
New College, University of NSW, 2052. Ph: +61 2 9381 1999 F: +61 2 9381 1909.
Articles are provided for research, citing, printing for private use and for linking to other resources. If you wish to use multiple copies of articles, please request permission.
On Saturday 21st March CASE ran a conference entitled ‘Medical Ethics: Christian Perspectives on Life and Death’ at New College (Sydney) . People interested in exploring a biblical perspective on medical ethics, including the issue of euthanasia, turned up at New College for the one day conference. With 105 delegates the conference was so heavilly subscribed that we had to turn would be delegates away on the day and had a waiting list prior to the conference.
Following on from the CASE Medical Ethics Conference we have put together a list of Recommended Texts in Bioethics. The texts below are all suitable for the general reader without a medical or philosophical background.
Megan Best 2009
Files: Recommended_Texts.pdf
CASE News
The regular email newsletter from the Centre for Apologetic Scholarship and Education
If you are having trouble viewing this email, go
here to view it online.
- 11 days to register for CASE Medical ethics conference: Saturday 21st March
- Back copies of Case for CASE Associates
- Latest posts on the CASE Blog
1. Christian perspectives on life and death - CASE conference on medical ethics
There are 11 more days in which you can register for our upcoming medical ethics conference. We’d love anyone interested in exploring a biblical perspective on a multitude of issues encompassed under the banner of medical ethics to join us.
The topics and speakers are:
- Why should Christians be interested in ethics in Medicine? (Andrew Cole)
- Ethical issues at the beginning of life (Megan Best)
- Medical research involving children (Patrina Caldwell)
- The ‘euthanasia debate’: clarifying the issues, the notion of autonomy and a Christian response (John Dearin)
- Victorian abortion legislation—where does conscientious objection fit in? (Mel Cusi)
- ‘My Soul Died When My Baby Died’: The Grief of Abortion (Melinda Tankard Reist)
There will also be a panel consisting of the day’s speakers when participants can ask any questions to do with bioethics.
The costs (including morning tea and lunch) are:
- $40 for full-time students and pensioners
The conference will run from 8.30am-4pm and will be held at New College in Sydney (UNSW). You can download the conference brochure and registration form from our website here. Registrations close on Monday 9th March.
2. Back copies of Case 1-3 available for CASE Associates
We have put the first three issues of Case up on our new website www.case.edu.au and will continue to put up other issues over time. If you are a CASE Associate and would like to access these early issues you need to become a member of the CASE website by following the instructions here. If you are already both a CASE Associate and CASE website member you can find Case 1-3 here. If you would like to find out more about becoming a CASE Associate click here.
We hope you enjoy our early issues of Case. The topics covered in Case 1-3 include:
- Christian thinking on war and aggression
- Exploring God’s relationship to time
- Reconnecting faith and scholarship
- Globalisation and religion
- Building a Christian worldview
- The biology and theology of gender
- History, fiction and the Bible: do they mix?
3. Latest posts on the CASE Blog
In our CASE blog we seek to engage with issues and ideas that are relevant to contemporary life and welcome your comments and feedback.
Professor Trevor Cairney Director, Centre for Apologetic Scholarship and Education (CASE)
New College, University of NSW, 2052. Ph: +61 2 9381 1999 F: +61 2 9381 1909.
Articles are provided for research, citing, printing for private use and for linking to other resources. If you wish to use multiple copies of articles, please request permission.
