[tt] CHE: Polish Cosmologist Wins Templeton Prize for Bridging Science and Faith

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Polish Cosmologist Wins Templeton Prize for Bridging Science and Faith
News bulletin from the Chronicle of Higher Education, 8.3.13

Michael Heller, a Polish cosmologist and Roman Catholic priest who studies 
the origins of the universe, was named on Wednesday as the winner of the 
2008 Templeton Prize for Research or Discoveries About Spiritual 
Realities, which this year is worth more than $1.6-million.

Father Heller was awarded the prize by the John Templeton Foundation for 
his more than 40 years of work in bridging science and religion, much of 
which was conducted under the government repression of the Soviet era.

The foundation said Father Heller’s “examination of fundamental questions 
such as ‘Does the universe need to have a cause?’ engages a wide range of 
sources who might otherwise find little in common.”

“By drawing together mathematicians, philosophers, cosmologists, and 
theologians who pursue these topics, he also allows each to share insights 
that may edify the other without any violence to their respective 
methodologies,” the foundation said in a statement.

Father Heller managed to be a scholar and a priest under a regime that was 
both anti-intellectual and anti-religion. He holds master’s degrees in 
theology and philosophy from the Catholic University of Lublin, in Poland. 
He went on to earn a doctorate in philosophy and a docent degree, which 
represents a level of study beyond a Ph.D., from the university. He 
studied cosmology, but the authorities would not permit the university to 
grant degrees in physics at the time, so his degrees are in philosophy 
instead.

Father Heller has taught at several institutions, including the Pontifical 
Academy of Theology, in Cracow, and studied at the Catholic University of 
America, in Washington, and the Vatican Observatory at Castel Gandolfo, 
Italy, among other places.

The Templeton Prize was created by Sir John Templeton in 1972.

Father Heller has indicated he will use his prize money to help establish 
the Copernicus Center, which will further the study of science and 
theology, in partnership with Jagiellonian University and the Pontifical 
Academy of Theology, in Cracow. —Beckie Supiano Posted on Thursday March 
13, 2008 | Permalink |

Comment

I can’t believe this “prize” is being seriously reported by the Chronicle. 
How disappointing.

gir Mar 13, 11:13 AM #