Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 10880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           985/549-2341/fax 985-549-2061
    Date: 4/12/02
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple 22

Editors: Photo accompanies release
DARWINISM EXPERT PLANS LECTURE SERIES AT SOUTHEASTERN
     HAMMOND -- Florida State University professor Michael Ruse, a renowned
philosopher on science and expert on Darwinism, will examine the relationship between
evolution and Christianity in a series of talks April 22-23 at Southeastern Louisiana University.
     Ruse, the Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy at FSU, will speak on
"Evolution and Ethics: Is There a Genuine Connection?" at 7 p.m., Monday, April 22, at St.
Albert's Catholic Student Center, 409 W. Dakota Street.
     On Tuesday, April 23, he plans two lectures: "Is Darwinism a Social Construction?" at
9:30 a.m. in Pottle Music Building Auditorium, and "Darwinism and Atheism: A Marriage Made
in Heaven?" at 3:30 p.m. in the War Memorial Student Union Theatre.
     The lectures are free to the public.
     A graduate of Bristol University in England, Ruse has written several books, including
"Monad to Man: The Concept of Progress in Evolutionary Biology," "Taking Darwin Seriously"
and, most recently, "Can a Darwinian be a Christian?" He is a fellow of the Royal Society of
Canada.
     Ruse said the theme of his lecture on Darwinism and atheism "is that Darwinism is a
child of Christianity and that, as is usual in parent-children relationships, there is both love and
tension. I argue that Darwin's own work stemmed from his religious background rather than
despite it."
     Ruse said he will look at the relationship between evolution and Christianity, from the
earliest times, through the work of Charles Darwin, and down to the present, ending with some
comments on prominent Darwinian atheists as well as the supporters of so-called "Intelligent
Design."
     Ruse's campus visit is sponsored by Southeastern's College of Arts and Sciences and
departments of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, History and Political Science, Psychology, and
Sociology and Criminal Justice and by the Templeton Foundation.
     For additional information, contact Matt Rossano, Department of Psychology, 985-
549-5537.
                             -SLU-
Press release available online at www.selu.edu/news/spring02.html