Fr. Andrew Pinsent, 'Research Director' of the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science & Religion at the University of Oxford was in charge of the February seminar that the group of research "Science Reason and Faith" (CRYF) of the University of Navarra conducts every month. The speaker is a Catholic priest, former physicist of the CERN and philosopher.

Under degree scroll 'Science, Reason and Faith: Perspectives at Oxford University', Fr. Pinsent highlighted the good relations that exist between philosophers and theologians at Oxford University, and outlined the current challenges and opportunities for research in the field of science-religion relations in today's world.

He noted that, although the so-called "new atheism" - a movement characterized by its belligerent stance against religion - seems to be gaining strength, there is also a positive reaction and sensitivity in society to issues related to science, reason and faith. He also noted that great scientific discoveries have been made by Catholics, such as Georges Lemaître, author of the Big Bang theory, or Gregor Mendel, father of the Genetics.

Professor Pinsent used a metaphor in his exhibition : he showed different pictorial works over the centuries and pointed out to the audience how man's perception of nature has been fragmenting until it has been totally lost in abstract art. "If the virtue of faith is lost, the order of the perception of nature is lost; can we then consider a loss of the meaning of science?" he asked.

He recommended using in the communication of faith something "as simple to learn as it is difficult to put on internship: the sales cycle used by businessmen". In any case, he invited to "take life with good humor". To this end, he gave the example of the 2009 campaign on London buses. Faced with the slogan: 'There's probably no God', Oxford Christians replied with 'There's probably no Dawkins' (one of the promoters of that campaign and author of "The God Delusion").

Watch the video of the seminar