2008 Woodie Awards
Block Classes
Ariane Rasmussen
Issue date: 4/27/06 Section: News
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This spring semester marked the beginning of a new science course with a different perspective to it offered to the Sacred Heart community - Science and the Bible.
Taught by Dr. Joel Block, a Physics Department professor, the course takes a number of Biblical events and shows how they are explained today to have been really based on scientific, geological, biological, and astronomical information.
"Those who thought the Bible was a bunch of fairytales learn that there are scientific references today that support the things that are said to have happened then," Block said.
As a guide for the class, Block uses the book "The Old Testament and the Earth Sciences," just one of over 20 publications written by him.
The course looks at the most widely known and recognized events in the Bible such as Adam and Eve and the creation story, the star of Bethlehem, Noah's Flood and several others.
"The best part of teaching this class is to see those who didn't think the Bible is true and thought it was just fairytales that teach lessons actually believe the events encountered in it," said Block.
He added, "For those who require proof that the Bible's 'miracles' are events that happened and can happen again, it's an important course. Some people, regardless of their denomination, need that. They believe in Christ and go to church but are unsure the Bible's stories were actual events and they are."
Block also explained that most students took the course expecting to see a brawl between science and religion. One of his greatest challenges has been to take a student who thought that way and make sure that by the time he/she walks out of his class, they understand that one supports and reinforces the other.
"There's no argument between science and religion. The Bible talks about the 'who' and science talks about the 'how.' God created it - no question, we are just trying to figure out how he did it," Block said.
Kim Ferris, a sophomore from Darien finishing the class this, said, "It was actually not at all what I expected. I was not looking forward to the class at all but then it ended up being one of my favorite classes to go to."
Taught by Dr. Joel Block, a Physics Department professor, the course takes a number of Biblical events and shows how they are explained today to have been really based on scientific, geological, biological, and astronomical information.
"Those who thought the Bible was a bunch of fairytales learn that there are scientific references today that support the things that are said to have happened then," Block said.
As a guide for the class, Block uses the book "The Old Testament and the Earth Sciences," just one of over 20 publications written by him.
The course looks at the most widely known and recognized events in the Bible such as Adam and Eve and the creation story, the star of Bethlehem, Noah's Flood and several others.
"The best part of teaching this class is to see those who didn't think the Bible is true and thought it was just fairytales that teach lessons actually believe the events encountered in it," said Block.
He added, "For those who require proof that the Bible's 'miracles' are events that happened and can happen again, it's an important course. Some people, regardless of their denomination, need that. They believe in Christ and go to church but are unsure the Bible's stories were actual events and they are."
Block also explained that most students took the course expecting to see a brawl between science and religion. One of his greatest challenges has been to take a student who thought that way and make sure that by the time he/she walks out of his class, they understand that one supports and reinforces the other.
"There's no argument between science and religion. The Bible talks about the 'who' and science talks about the 'how.' God created it - no question, we are just trying to figure out how he did it," Block said.
Kim Ferris, a sophomore from Darien finishing the class this, said, "It was actually not at all what I expected. I was not looking forward to the class at all but then it ended up being one of my favorite classes to go to."