So I want to preface my talk with the admission that I'm not an expert on the thought of St. Thomas or of Aristotle.

So if I say things that are incorrect about them, I hope the real experts will correct me gently.

Now, this symposium is about how Thomistic philosophy relates to natural science.

This is, however, a subsidiary question.

The primary question to which it's relevant is the consistency of Catholic doctrine to natural

science. Our faith, specifically Catholic faith and modern science compatible.

I've been dealing with science faith issues on a personal level since I was a child,

but in a public way since 1995 when I started writing about them,

mostly in the journal First Things.

In 2003, I wrote a book called Modern Physics and Ancient Faith,

and since then I've given well over 100 public lectures on science and faith, mostly on college campuses.

As a result, I've been asked many questions over the years, by Catholics and sometimes Protestants

struggling with these issues and even by a few atheists.

These questions have come in question and answer sessions after my talks or in emails to me or in private conversations.

So I've been down in the trenches, so to speak, as I know some of you also have been.

I therefore come at this from a somewhat practical point of view, as well as theoretical.

What ideas, concepts, and modes of expression are most helpful to people today in sorting out the science

faith issues that concern them. And what ideas, concepts, and modes of expression are not so

helpful and maybe even a hindrance for them? Let me clarify that when I say science faith issues, I'm focusing

specifically on such questions as why we should believe in God at all, whether the universe is

created, and whether we have spiritual souls and free will. I'm not talking about questions

of bioethics, the nature of human sexuality,

...