GOODSTAR (Growing Open Oklahoma Dialogue in Science Technology, and Religion)

Oklahoma City University
Wimberly School of Religion and Graduate Theological Center
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

With matching funds provided by the Wimberly Center for Continuing Education and the Wimberly School of Religion, the society brings together members of local churches and faith groups, universities, and scientific-technological institutions for monthly symposiums and ongoing web-based discussion. Events consist of a moderated symposium, with lectures addressing a specific topic followed by a panel discussion and a questions-and-answers session. Further discussions are fostered via intranet and Internet follow-up sessions. The society explores genetics, environmental influences, and free choice in the determination of human behavior, and will used the shared insights from religion, biology, physics, and computer science to explore the future, evidence of divine influence, altruism and selflessness, creation and origins, genetic engineering in agriculture and medicine, and artificial intelligence. Regular meetings of a broadly representative board, responsible for guidance, planning and administration of activities and outreach, will evaluate and adjust planning as group and community needs are identified.