The annual Andrews Autumn Conference on Religion & Science is a function of Andrews University and the Midwest Religion and Science Society (MRSS), an organization representing a variety of faith backgrounds including Seventh-day Adventist, Anabaptist, Church of the Brethren, and Catholic. The forum took place in the Biology Amphitheater on Friday & Saturday, November 12-13, 2021.
The theme was "The Andrews Way of Doing Archaeology." Excavations in Hisban Jordan were started in 1968 by Siegfried H. Horn. He later founded the Horn Archaeological Museum, which now houses one of the largest cuneiform collections in the United States. The guidelines under which he worked have been established as the “Andrews Way” of doing archaeology—guidelines still followed by workers in biblical archaeology:
1. Be forthright with findings. Do not minimize problems or stretch interpretations of data to explain things away.
2. Do not make claims beyond what the data can support.
3. Be quick and complete in publishing results.
4. Engage and work within mainstream scholarship.
5. Include a diversity of people and specialists.
6. Take the history of the Bible seriously, but do not place upon archaeology the burden of “proving” the Bible.
Although these guidelines were established for Biblical Archaeology, they are applicable to other disciples and their relation to biblical faith.
The 2021 speakers include Andrews professors Øystein LaBianca, and Randall W. Younker, as well as Darrell J. Rohl (Assistant Professor, Calvin University), Christopher Jenkins (PhD Student, Yale University), Carina Prestes (PhD Student, Andrews University), and Kevin Burton (Director, Center for Adventist Research). The conference is sponsored by the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Institute of Archaeology and Siegfried H. Horn Museum, Theological Center for Interdisciplinary Dialogue, and the Office of Research and Creative Scholarship.
Breakfast and supper were provided for all participants.
The Schedule of events:
Friday, November 12, 2021
7:00 pm Welcome, Gary Burdick & Martin Hanna
7:20 pm Plenary presentation, Øystein LaBianca, PhD, Senior Research Faculty, Andrews University "Cast Your Nets on the Other Side:“ Reflections on Faith, Science and the Andrews Way
Sabbath, November 13, 2021
8:00 am Breakfast
9:00 am Devotional, Kevin Burton
9:20 am Welcome, Andrea Luxton
9:30 am Plenary presentation, Randy Younker, PhD Professor of Archaeology and History of Antiquity Director, PhD (Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Archaeology) Program; Director, Institute of Archaeology “The Andrews Way”: Its impact on non-Adventist Scholarship
10:15 am Break/Refreshments
10:30 am Second presentation, Darrell Rohl, PhD Assistant Professor, Calvin College Archaeology and Christian Faith: Comparing Adventist and Reformed Perspectives
11:00 am Third presentation, Christopher Jenkins PhD Student, Yale University Framing the bigger picture: A graduate student's reflections on doing archaeology the "Andrews way".
11:30 am Fourth presentation, Carina Prestes PhD Student, Andrews University Archaeology, Women, and Early Christianity
12:30 pm Lunch, Terrace Café (Cards or Prepayment required)
2:00 pm Panel discussion I
3:00 pm Panel discussion II with audience questions
4:00 pm Closing worship: Seminary Chorus
4:30 pm Horn Museum open house
5:00 pm Supper (Institute of Archaeology and Siegfried H. Horn Museum)