“An urgent question that confronts theological faculties and seminaries is the need for a basic level of scientific literacy among persons, priests and those in preparation for the priesthood included, so that the Christian faith with its rich theological interpretations might be presented in a way acceptable for people of scientific mentality. The status quo shows that Christian beliefs are often perceived as a ‘foreign body’ in the world view that is shaped to a large extent by the sciences. To remedy the situation, a more ‘organic’ kind of work is needed. Since a tension between science and theology seems unavoidable, we should strive to change the painful tension into the creative one.”
Michael Heller
The Copernicus Center for Interdisciplinary Studies
Kraków, Poland
Biography
The title of one of Michael Heller’s books, Creative Tension,could also be the theme of his work and his life. He established early as his number one priority to bridge the traditionally separate fields of science and religion so that enduring connections may be made. The evidence suggests that he has made significant strides in that direction. The book itself unveiled provocative essays on the interplay of science and religion. Some essays have their roots in his work in physics and cosmology, while others present his theories on the language of God, creation, and transcendence, inspired by his work in the applications of so-called noncommutative geometry.
When Professor Heller was awarded the Templeton Prize in 2008, his story gained the attention of the international media. Here was a Roman Catholic priest, displaced as a child from Communist Poland to Siberia, who returned to Poland for degrees in philosophy and cosmology from the University of Lublin and a professorship at the Pontifical Academy of Theology in Cracow with adjunct status at the Vatican Observatory. The interdisciplinary nature of his work, his determined commitment, and his close cooperation with prominent academics soon established him as one of the leading European cosmologists and philosophers with invitations from major universities across the world seeking his presence. The global media concluded that Michael Heller had the rigorous mind of a world-class scientist, the heart of a disciplined philosopher, and the soul of a contemplative.
The Templeton Award of $1.6million made possible the establishment of the Copernicus Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Kraków, Poland with Professor Heller at its helm. In the five years of its existence, the Center has become a beehive of activity at the highest levels of scientific and theological discourse. In addition, the Center offers a scholarship program for postdoctoral researchers and has founded the Copernicus Center Press with a list of over a hundred contributors and an impressive catalogue of books published in English. The books include The Sense if Life and The Sense of the Universe and Philosophy of Chance, both by Michael Heller. The book on chance returns Professor Heller to his fascination with the calculus and mathematical notation of Gottfried Leibniz which intrigued him many years ago.
For full c.v.: http://www.obi.opoka.org/heller/mhpubl/