Dr. Rachel S.A. Pear: Religious and Scientific Instruction on Evolution and Origins in Israeli Schools

13. Dezember 2022, 18:00 bis 19.30 Uhr

Moderation: Tamara Nili-Freudenschuß, BA MA

Ort: online auf Zoom

Flyer

Abstract

I will begin this talk with a historical discussion of religious responses to evolution over the course of the 20th century, pointing to similarities between trends documented within Jewish, Christian and Muslim perspectives. I will then move to the contemporary period and present preliminary findings from an on-going project based at the University of Haifa, "Dialogue in Science and Religious Education". These findings include student responses to the MATE (Measure of the Acceptance of the Theory of Evolution) questionnaire, as well as in-depth interviews and Delphi surveys with educational experts. Based on the data presented, I look forward to discussions following the presentation grappling with some of the difficult issues of our time: are religious and cultural identities reinforcing perspectives that are overly critical of science? Are there educational interventions that could nurture students' abilities to engage with these subjects in a deeper fashion that does not perpetuate stigmatization? Can we encourage more respect for both science and religion?

Kurzbiographie

Dr. Rachel S. A. Pear is a fellow at the University of Haifa's Center for Jewish and Democratic Education where she is the research coordinator of the Templeton World Charity Foundation funded project "Dialogue in Science and Religious Education".

Rachel received an AB from Columbia College, an MA in Prehistoric Archaeology from Hebrew University, and a PhD from Bar-Ilan University within the Graduate Program on Science Technology and Society. Her dissertation examined changes in Jewish American engagement with evolution over the course of the 20th century.

Rachel co-teaches the first continuing education course for teachers on Judaism and evolution in Israel through Herzog College of Education, and also co-facilitates a fellowship for teachers integrating material on religious perspectives on evolution in their classrooms.
Rachel co-founded Shir Hadash, a synagogue and educational center, with her husband Ian, and lives with Ian and their five children in Jerusalem.