Events
To Make a Man Appreciate the Creation of God: Space Travel and the Sacred
Date and Time
Wednesday, February 12, 2014 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Description
Outer space is often connected symbolically and even theologically to the concept of "the heavens". This program explores the idea of stars, planets and other heavenly bodies as objects that hold religious significance, the way that space exploration (and resultant images from space) influence and are influenced by religious beliefs, and how religious practices are modified when they take place in space.
This lecture will be presented by Deana Weibel and Glen Swanson. Deana, Associate Professor and Chair of Anthropology at Grand Valley State University, is a cultural anthropologist whose work focuses primarily on religion, especially the topics of pilgrimage and sacred space. Glen Swanson, an instructor of physics at GVSU, worked for NASA as historian of the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
All events are open to the public with free admission.