Shenandoah Anabaptist Science Society
Who are we?
The Shenandoah Anabaptist Science Society is located on the campus of Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) in Harrisonburg Virginia . SASS is composed of individuals, academic departments, trans-disciplinary organizations of the university, and community persons. The primary goals of the group include:
- Identify and discuss issues at the intersection of science and religion.
- Bring Anabaptist theological perspectives into science and faith discussions.
- Facilitate broad interdisciplinary dialogue, education, and action among academic departments of the university, other educational institutions, and community persons working in science and religion.
- Develop a networking membership representing academic faculty & staff, graduate & undergraduate college students, upper level high school students, and community persons.
SASS is organized and directed by a Steering Committee that includes representation from eleven different campus departments or programs and local persons. The Steering Committee meets periodically to plan and administer programs, give overall direction to SASS, manage the budget, and solicit ideas from the broader membership. (Click here for membership information.)
Our Focus
The focus of SASS is to create a space for dialogue and promote education on issues at the intersection of science and religion. We intend to bring together persons who are trained in various areas of science and religion to lead in discussing the implications of things such as artificial intelligence, bioethics, nanotechnology, human consciousness, spirit and body, origins, etc.
The educational task of Eastern Mennonite University is rooted in Christian faith and its scriptures as they have been interpreted and lived out in a unique 476-year Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. This tradition embraces God’s gift of reconciliation through the cross and the power of the resurrection to create new life in conformity to the teaching and spirit of Jesus.
The challenge and intent of SASS is to build on that legacy and promote dialogue and action on scientific issues with faculty and students represented in university academic departments, upper level high school students and faculty, and with professionals in the local community.
Programming to carry out SASS goals includes regular monthly meetings of the membership, creation and maintenance of an interactive web site, speaker forums involving the campus and community, small group book studies, and luncheon dialogues with short paper presentations.
For more information on SASS, please email .
