Last October 21 took place the seminar "The origin of man: scientific and theological perspectives" organized by the group of research Science, Reason and Faith (CRYF) of the University of Navarra.

Rafael Jordana, Full Professor of Animal Physiology and Applied Zoology, and Juan Luis Lorda, Full Professor of Dogmatic Theology at the University of Navarra, presented the scientific and theological points of view, respectively, on the origin of man.

Recent findings in paleoanthropology and human Genetics have raised a very lively discussion among the same scientists working in these areas, which offers many relevant aspects for philosophical and theological reflection.

Professor Jordana showed how all the present fossils of the genus homo can be explained and are consistent with one species evolving since about 2.5 million years ago. In his exhibition he showed the two controversies between the supporters of a single species and those of multiple species coexisting in time.

For his part, Professor Lorda used a quotation of Chesterton's "The Eternal Man" to support his thesis that: "an event is not more or less comprehensible because of the time it takes to occur (...) What ultimately matters is to know the cause of the process". He encouraged those present to think about the causes of processes and invited them to reflect on the use of concepts that are difficult to define, such as intelligence.

In the subsequent discussion focused on to what extent and under what conditions one can speak of an ontological change with the emergence of the human species, within a process of gradual development of human capabilities.

With this subject of seminars the CRYF wants to put in communication experts of diverse subjects so that the topics related to Science and Religion are treated from an interdisciplinary perspective and to obtain a discussion also among the participants.