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The science and faith debate will be staged in a serious and respectful format in two courses being jointly offered by the University of Windsor and Assumption University this fall.
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Showing how religion and science can unite in earnest and respectful conversation, a Catholic professor from Windsor, Ont.'s Assumption University and a secular educator from the University of Windsor will together teach a course during the upcoming Fall 2026 academic term.
Dr. John Cappucci, Assumption University’s president and vice-chancellor, and Claudio Verani, the University of Windsor’s dean of science, are jointly guiding the half-classroom and half-online Perspectives in Science: Reason, Faith and Algorithm (SCIE-2700) program. The former conceived this idea during the buildup to Pope Leo XIV’s unveiling of Magnifica humanitas on May 25.
Cappucci then reached out to his friend and colleague Verani (Assumption is a federated partner of UWindsor) to gauge his interest in this initiative.
“I remember we were at a board meeting, and he really liked the idea,” said Cappucci. “He was writing notes, and he was texting me and saying, ‘this is what we should do.’ I was really impressed with how enthusiastic he was.”
Verani professed at the beginning of his and Cappucci’s joint interview with The Catholic Register that he is “not a religious person.” However, he does not close himself off from hearing and considering faith-driven perspectives.
“Yes, I do live for and by science, but I understand that faith is important to many people,” said Verani. “And in this day and age to say, ‘we don't need to talk,’ it's a little bit arrogant from the science perspective. Let's have a conversation. And if in this process we can discuss what is credible, not credible, what is explained in one way or another, I think we are doing a good job educating or at least provoking thought in people.”
Spirited discussion will be at the forefront of the classroom sessions. Following Verani offering the science/reason perspective of a topic, Cappucci presenting the faith outlook and presenting the wider discourse by prompting an AI agent, the floor opens to student questions and observations.
“It's about presenting different viewpoints and being able to have a conversation about that in a scholarly, reasonable and polite way,” said Cappucci. “I like the idea of (Verani and I) being facilitators of a conversation rather than sages on a stage.”
Both men accentuated that they are not engaging in an “I’m right, and he’s wrong” style of delivery.
A few of the topics that will be discussed during the 12-week course include:
· “Cosmic Origins: The Big Bang and Divine Creation”
· “Breaking the Laws: Miracles and the Inviolability of Physics”
· “Silicon Souls: AI, Consciousness and Moral Status”
· “Altered Minds: Neurotheology, Psychedelics and Mysticism”
· “The Ultimate Exit: Euthanasia, Autonomy and the Sanctity of Life”
Sixty per cent of each pupil’s grade is adjudged on the quality of the handwritten reflection papers they submit about that day’s discussion. The sum of the 10 best reflections will factor into the grading. The remaining 40 per cent of the total grade is based on the calibre of the discussion questions students submit two days before each lecture. Queries deemed merely “okay” receive 50 per cent, while “pertinent, well elaborated questions” merit 100 per cent. The student’s top 10 questions are accounted for in the final evaluation.
Anishinaabe Elder (Bear Clan) Mona Stonefish, a doctor of traditional medicine and human rights activist, and Dr. Pierre Boulos, interdisciplinary scholar in technology and philosophy with UWindsor, will appear as guest lecturers.
One $800 Dr. Daniel Andrae scholarship, named in honour of the longtime philanthropic contributor to Assumption University, will be awarded to a student enrolled in Perspectives in Science: Reason, Faith and Algorithm. The other goes to a pupil registered in the online, asynchronous Cyber-Ethics (COMP-3057) course that is also being offered as part of this Assumption-UWindsor partnership.
Learn more at uwindsor.ca.
(Amundson is an associate editor and writer for The Catholic Register.)
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