Academic Activities

The Questions of Origins: Contemporary Science, Philosophical and Religious Perspectives

Conference

The Questions of Origins: Contemporary Science, Philosophical and Religious Perspectives
16 JUN 2023 17 JUN 2023

Date

16 - 17 Jun 2023

Location

SCT 503, Ho Sin Hang Campus, Hong Kong Baptist University

Language

English

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The Questions of Origins: Contemporary Science, Philosophical and Religious Perspectives

Date and Time: 16/6/2023, 09:00–17:30 and 17/6/2023, 09:00–13:00
Venue: SCT 503 (LT 3), Cha Chi-ming Science Tower, Ho Sin Hang Campus, Hong Kong Baptist University
Plenary speaker: Prof. Luke Barnes (PhD Astronomy, Cambridge University)

Keynote 1: Finding Design in Physics (16 June, 09:15-10:45)
Keynote 2: How God can use Randomness (17 June, 09:00-10:30)
Language: English
Registration fee: $20 (free for invited speakers and students)

Conference Schedule

16 June 2023 (Fri)

09:00-09:15

Chairperson: Dr. Chan Man Ho (Associate Professor, Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong)

Opening Ceremony
  • Prof. Li Wai Keung (Dean of Faculty of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences; Research Chair Professor of Data Science, The Education University of Hong Kong)
  • Prof. Stuart Christie (Executive Associate Dean, Faculty of Arts, Hong Kong Baptist University)
  • Prof. Kwan Kai Man (Professor, Department of Religion and Philosophy, Director of Centre for Sino-Christian Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University)
09:15-10:45

Chairperson: Prof. Stephen Tsui (Professor, School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong)

1st Keynote Speech: Finding Design in Physics
  • Prof. Luke Barnes (Theoretical Astrophysicist, Cosmologist, and Postdoctoral Researcher, Western Sydney University)
10:45-11:15Tea Break
 

1st Session:

Chairperson: Dr. Benedict Chan (Associate Professor, Department of Religion and Philosophy, Hong Kong Baptist University)　　

11:15-11:45

1. Cosmology and Fine-tuning

  • Dr. Chan Man Ho (Associate Professor, Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong)
11:45-12:15

2. Is Nothing Really "Simpler and Easier" Than Something?

  • Dr. Andrew Brenner (Assistant Professor, Department of Religion and Philosophy, Hong Kong Baptist University)
12:15-12:45Q & A
12:45-14:00Lunch
 

2nd Session:

Chairperson: Dr. Domenic Marbaniang (Part-time Lecturer, Department of Religion and Philosophy, Hong Kong Baptist University)

14:00-14:30

3. The Consecration of the Ordos Desert: Teilhard's Mass on the World and the Prospect of a Cosmic Liturgy

  • Dr. Levi Checketts (Assistant Professor, Department of Religion & Philosophy, Hong Kong Baptist University)
14:30-14:45Q & A
14:45-15:15

4. A Further Reply to Robert Nola: Comparative Assessment of Theistic & Naturalistic Explanations

  • Prof. Kwan Kai Man (Professor, Department of Religion and Philosophy, Hong Kong Baptist University)
15:15-15:30Q & A
15:30-16:00Tea Break
 

3rd Session:

Chairperson: Dr. Lee Chi Sing (Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University)

16:00-16:30

5. On God and the Beginning of the Universe: An Evaluation of Recent Discussions

  • Dr. Andrew Loke (Associate Professor, Department of Religion and Philosophy, Hong Kong Baptist University) 
17 June 2023 (Sat)

09:00-10:30

Chairperson: Dr. Andrew Brenner (Assistant Professor, Department of Religion and Philosophy, Hong Kong Baptist University)

2nd Keynote Speech: How God can use Randomness

  • Prof. Luke Barnes (Theoretical Astrophysicist, Cosmologist, and Postdoctoral Researcher, Western Sydney University)
10:30-10:50Tea Break
 

4th Session:

Chairperson: Dr. Qu Li (Part-time Lecturer, Department of Religion and Philosophy, Hong Kong Baptist University)

10:50-11:10

7. Origins of Morality: Theory of Evolution, Confucianism, and Chinese Christian Theology

  • Prof. Lai Pan Chiu (Professor, Department of Cultural and Religious Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
11:10-11:30

8. 大內卷語境下的生命價值與信仰生活 [in Putonghua]

  • Prof. Liu Xiaoting (Professor, Department of Philosophy, Beijing Normal University)
11:30-11:50

9. On the Relationship between Reason and Faith from Kant's Idea of the Kingdom of Ends [in Putonghua]

  • Prof. Guo Jing (Professor, Department of Philosophy, Dalian University of Technology)
11:50-12:30Q & A

Public Talks:
1. The Fine-Tuning of the Universe for Life
Speaker: Prof. Luke Barnes (PhD Astronomy, Cambridge University)
Date: 16/6/2023 (Fri)
Time: 19:00–21:00
Venue: ICA, Shop 209-220, 2/F, 33 Marble Road, North Point
Language: English

2. Is the Universe an Accident?
Speaker: Prof. Luke Barnes (PhD Astronomy, Cambridge University)
Date: 17/6/2023 (Sat)
Time: 20:00–22:00
Venue: St. Andrew’s Church,138 Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Language: English

About the speaker:

Luke A. Barnes is a theoretical astrophysicist, cosmologist, and postdoctoral researcher at Western Sydney University. He received his PhD in Astronomy from the University of Cambridge in 2009.   He is a John Templeton Fellow.  He has published papers in the fields of galaxy formation and the fine-tuning of the Universe for life. He is the author, with Geraint Lewis, of "A Fortunate Universe: Life in a Finely Tuned Cosmos”, published by Cambridge University Press. He has also published papers on the philosophy of science, and regularly engages in public outreach through public speaking, articles in the popular press, and social media.

 

Enquiry: cscs@hkbu.edu.hk