Delaware Dialogues on Science, Ethics, and Religion (D-DoSER)

A partnership between CIL and First Unitarian Church

Sponsored in part by grants from Metanexus

All Programs FREE to the public (Details)

All presentations held at First Unitarian at 730 Halstead Road, Wilmington DE (intersection of route 202, just behind the old New Castle County library). For directions, see www.firstuuwilm.org

                               Upcoming Programs:

9/16 The Unholy Alliance of Religion and Medicine with Dr. Richard P. Sloan

11/18 Evolution for Everyone with David Sloan Wilson

12/ 2 Why Good Things Happen to Good People with Dr. Stephen Post

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Sunday, September 16th at 4:30
The Unholy Alliance of Religion and Medicine

Dr. Richard P. Sloan, Professor of Behavioral Medicine at Columbia University

In an America that is increasingly turning its back on science, a majority of Americans now believe that religious activities can help people recover from illness, prevent disease entirely and even act as viable substitutes for well-established medical treatments, Dr. Richard Sloan offers a critical examination of the science, ethics and health care policy associated with the movement to bring religious practices into the medical world. He provides a provocative examination of the dangerous emerging alliance between religion and medicine—two words that have grown disconcertingly close.

Sloan debunks the view that religion is good for your health and demonstrates how attempts to link religion and medicine actually can cause harm.  While he does not dispute the fact that religion can bring a sense of comfort in times of difficulty, he nevertheless clearly shows that there is no compelling evidence that it provides an actual cure for any ailment.  Looking at the consequences for research, he sees money spent on studies of the medical benefits of religious activities as competition, drawing support away from the research of real cures developed by sound science. Edged in controversy, he exposes the flawed research practices and questionable claims made by some scientists and practitioners whose aim appears to be bringing religion into the medicine regardless of the evidence.  By showing how real science works, Sloan exposes the destructive forces at play when two very different domains—religion and medicine—meet.

For more information on Dr. Sloan check his profile on Columbia's web site

And Following...
Tuesday September 18 at 7PM

Panel Discussion. We will look at more comments by Richard Sloan by video and hear from a panel of physicians on the state of spirituality and health in Wilmington hospitals.

Sunday November 18 at 4:30

David Sloan Wilson

Evolution for Everyone

Wilson will outline the basic principles of evolution and show how, properly understood, they can illuminate the length and breadth of creation, from the origin of life to the nature of religion. Now everyone can move beyond the sterile debates about creationism and intelligent design to share Darwin’s panoramic view of animal and human life, seamlessly connected to each other. Evolution is not just about dinosaurs and human origins, but about why all species behave as they do—from beetles that devour their own young, to bees that function as a collective brain, to dogs that are smarter in some respects than our closest ape relatives. And basic evolutionary principles are also the foundation for humanity’s capacity for symbolic thought, culture, and morality.

David Sloan Wilson, Distinguished professor of biology and anthropology at Binghamton University; author of Darwin’s Cathedral: Evolution, Religion, and the Nature of Society and most recently Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin’s Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives.

For more on Wilson and his work go to his web site at David Sloan Wilson

And Following...
Tuesday November 20 at 7PM

Sunday December 2 at 4:30
Ten Ways of Love: Science and Theology in Dialogue

Dr. Stephen Post
Professor of Bioethics at Case Western Reserve University’s School of Medicine.

Stephen Post distills academic research into an inspirational message. The research includes a 50-year study showing that people who are giving during their high school years have better physical and mental health throughout their lives. Other studies show that older people who give live longer than those who don't. Helping others has been shown to bring health benefits to those with chronic illness, including HIV, multiple sclerosis, and heart problems. And studies show that people of all ages who help others on a regular basis, even in small ways, feel happiest. 

Stephen Post is president of the Institute for Research on Unlimited Love; his work has appeared in top journals such as Science. He will also be speaking in Wilmington on Friday November 30. Look for the announcement for details.

About D-DoSER

Delaware Dialogue on Science, Ethics and Religion (D-DoSER) is one of 200 Local Societies around the world sponsored by the Metanexus Institute (www.metanexus.net) to explore issues in and between science and religion. Recently D-DoSER won a $15,000 grant (over 3 years) from non-profit Metanexus Institute of Philadelphia to sponsor lectures and dialogues on the interaction of Science, Ethics and Religion. First Unitarian took the lead. A joint team will host on-going dialogues with local speakers and also seek nationally-known speakers for periodic major public events.

For more information contact Parry Norling at 302-652-5377, Patti Emmons at First Unitarian Church 302-478-2384 or send an email message to

Main Program typically held on the 3rd Sunday of each month (check here)
A discussion/Dialog on the following Tuesday evening
All Sunday presentations: 4:30 - 6 PM
All Tuesday discussion/dialogues 7-9 PM.

All presentations are hosted by First Unitarian at 730 Halstead Road, Wilmington DE (intersection of route 202, just behind the old New Castle County library). For directions, see www.firstuuwilm.org. Open this link for a Google map.