Boston Hosts the First Conference on Spirituality in Science and Technology

On April 13, the Boston Family Church sponsored and hosted the first Conference on Spirituality in Science and Technology, which was open to the public. A total of 43 guests came from throughout the New England area, as well as New York and New Jersey.

In the morning plenary session, three keynote speakers—David Burton, Andrew Combs, and Alison Wakelin—explained the spiritual aspects primarily in physics, chemistry, and astronomy.

David Burton, a Chemistry Professor and Director of the Chemistry Laboratory at the University of Bridgeport, gave a talk titled “Spirit and Science,” presenting a particle-based model showing that every fundamental particle has both physical and spiritual aspects.

Andrew Combs, Professor in Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics at Diablo Valley College and President of the World Research Institute of Science and Technology founded by True Father in 1984, gave a speech titled “The Nature of Causality and Interactions among the Domains of the Spiritual, the Physical, and of God,” which quoted the Divine Principle to outline how the spiritual domain is vital in interpreting physical phenomena.

Alison Wakelin, Senior Lecturer in Astrophysics at Widener University, gave a highly philosophical presentation on how astronomy evolved in interpreting new discoveries of the universe. In particular, she explained how supposedly unstable spiral galaxies could keep their structure over a very long period, referring to dark matter and dark energy.

In the afternoon breakout sessions, four speakers gave presentations on the topics of evolution, intelligent design, artificial intelligence and the human brain, and particle physics and dark energy.

In the first session, Takahiro Hiroi, a senior research associate in planetary science at Brown University, gave a presentation titled “Intelligent Design in Planetary Science.” He explained how Earth was made as a highly stable, habitable planet, allowing life to evolve up to humankind and then enabling them to pursue science. He explained the special position and orientation of the solar system in the Milky Way, the position of Earth in the solar system, the size and orbit of the Moon, and the significance of Antarctica. All of these are fine-tuned in timing so humankind could utilize them to develop science and achieve the purpose of creation.

In the second session, Robert Maynard, an expert in philosophy and religious beliefs, gave his presentation titled “Information Theory, Science and Spirituality: A Dialogue,” introducing some scholarly research leading to the idea that artificial intelligence would never be able to reproduce human brain function.

In the third session, Richard Lewis, who is a consultant to the International Conference on the Unity of the Sciences, gave an extensive presentation titled “Fundamental Particles and Dark Energy.” He showcased his topological interpretation of all the fundamental particles, further speculating what dark energy could be.

In the fourth session, Max Potential presented “Questions Regarding the Nature of Personal and Collective Reality,” based on his personal spiritual experiences, and led a discussion with attendants.

This conference will be held every year, aiming to form core academic research on the spirit world for realizing a peaceful world, and inviting world experts in science and technology to gather in New England centering on Boston.