"Scientists, theologians to explore infinity" (2005)

Rome, Nov. 03 (CWNews.com) - Scientists and theologians will join for a discussion of the concept of infinity at a scholarly conference to be held at the Pontifical Lateran University next week. The conference is the first international gathering of a project entitled STOQ: science, technology, and the ontological quest.

At a November 3 press conference discussing the meeting, Cardinal Paul Poupard, the president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, explained that the purpose of STOQ is “to create a new climate of dialogue within the Catholic Church,” encouraging scientists and theologians to share their insights. The project, he said, is an effort at “changing the mentality of believers toward the sciences,” while at the same time giving scientists an opportunity to explore the theologians’ approach to ultimate questions.

Professor Rodolfo Guzzi of the Italian space agency said that the STOQ conference will “study the conceptions of infinity that emerge from physics, cosmology, and mathematics.” The discussion, he said, would be aimed at finding common ground among the different fields, “in order to create as unitary a view as possible.”

The STOQ conference will bring together scientists from leading universities such as Oxford and Princeton, as well as Catholic theologians and two rabbis.