JOSH STOKES
Lisanne Winslow, Ph.D. (Biology)
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Professor of Philosophy Walter Schultz, Ph.D.,
That first meeting was electric with intellectual
conduct the research and let students observe
and Professor of Biology Lisanne Winslow, Ph.D.,
energy. Both viewed their scholarly work as an
and help inside of a course?” They proposed
were deep in discussion, creating a sprawling and
expression of love for the redeeming God of the
the interdisciplinary class to Janet Sommers,
complex diagram on the whiteboard. “Theology,
Bible and both were fascinated by the opportunity
Ph.D., senior vice president for Academic Affairs,
ontology, divine compositionalism…” The terms were
to conduct research joining their areas of academic
received approval and developed the course over
clues to a groundbreaking research project that they
expertise. They chose one very specific and
three months of intensive planning.
conducted partially inside the classroom this spring
complicated mechanism in biology to study—
“We had a syllabus,” said Winslow, “but we really
when they taught a course called “Metaphysics, An
protein synthesis (how human bodies make protein)
didn’t know how it was going to go. It depended
Interdisciplinary Quest for a Christian Understanding
—and determined to try and understand every
on discussions in class. How would students
of Mechanisms in Science.” How did these scholars
piece of it and the powers that drive the molecules.
perceive and understand with their brilliant minds?”
from separate disciplines find their fields intersecting
“There’s this whole world of nature that
Scholars have biases, but students would have no
in this rare and wonderful way? And what made this
scientists explain without God,” said Winslow.
agenda, just inquisitive minds.
class unlike any before it?
“Walter and I approached the natural world from
In the classroom, the professors’ different
biblically grounded faith, asking, ‘Where is God in
teaching styles came together in a unique
Although Winslow and Schultz both officed in
the actual molecular world?’” This question placed
synthesis. They began with deep theology and
Nazareth Hall, their paths seldom crossed. One
them inside a very new field of study, Christian
philosophy, then offered foundations of scientific
day in April 2012, they were making copies in
philosophy of biology, also called the philosophy
mechanism and finally brought the parts together.
the office center. Small talk led to a conversation
of scientific mechanisms. It was so new, in fact,
Students learned how to analyze a scientific
about the book Schultz was writing, God Acts:
that no scholarly papers in this area had been
mechanism theologically and philosophically. They
The Dynamic Underlying Reality, and his need
presented yet. They decided to be the first. The
participated in interactive group work, with each
for a biologist to help write one crucial chapter.
term they proposed to describe this activity in the
of five groups having a little piece of the protein
Winslow’s enthusiasm confirmed that they should
universe: divine compositionalism.
synthesis mechanism to analyze. Finally, they
meet and talk in more depth.
During one meeting they thought, “Why not
wrote a critical paper on a scientific mechanism
PILOT SPRING 2013 UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN – ST. PAUL
JOSH STOKES
An Interdiscip