CDRESS
Center for dialogue between Religion, Education, Science, and society
"Faith Based Excellence in all we pursue"
About CDRESS
Established on 24th Jan 2006 with a conference on "Science Progress, Vatues, and education", in collaboration with IISR (Indian Institute of Science and Religion), Pune.
Achievements :
Organized a state level inaugural conference.
JAM-just a minute elocution competition on Friendship day.
Inauguration of a wallpaper "VIBRATIONS" in the college.
Organization for about 55 volunteers.
The center has three units.
1. Dynamics cell
2. Wall paper cell
3. Media cell.
Hitavada the local English daily has tied up with the center to bring out fortnightly youth magazine for college students.
Teaching staff
Fr. Allan Tavares S.F.X co-ordinator.
Mrs. Anuradha Patnaik
Mr. Halim Ahmed
Mrs. Soma Banerjee.
Goals of the center
Arouse interest among university students faculty on discovery of natural and social sciences and the eternal wisdom of faith traditions.
Create a network of institutions, students and faculty to popularize the dialogue between science and religion in the RTM Nagpur University
Crystallize this as a prospective course on science and religion at the university level.
Up Coming Events
| September : |
An Inter Collegiate workshop for students on "The Making of an ideal student" based on "The Seven Habits of highly effective people" by Stephen R. Cavey.
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| October : |
"Techno - Value Fest" a two day Inter Collegiate technology and values fest with various competitions like power point presentation, elocution debate, painting, science mode, a music - dance- drama presentation. |
| December : |
National conference Topic : "Cosmic Harmony" - "A concern for Science and Religion dialogue" |
Contact
CDRESS
St. Francis de sales college,
Seminary Hills, Nagpur - 440006
Maharashtra, India
E-mail ID : cdress.sfs@gmail.com
Explanation of the logo
The logo of CDRESS explicitates its vision. The technological progress which science ushers in (as manifested by the glowing bulb in the centre) dispels the darkness around us. Religion and more so Religions in communion with one another (depicted as connected burning lamps surrounding the bulb) dispel the darkness within us. The theme 'LET THE LIGHT OF TRUTH DISPEL ALL DARKNESS' in the logo expounds the challenge to the human society. The society has to out of deliberate and committed choice, embark upon an educational process that enhances our capacity to explore and admire the rhythm of truth and consequently allow the radiant light of truth dispel all darkness with in and around.
Conference on Scientific progress, Values and Education. CDRESS, S.F.S. college and HSR, Pune, January 24, 2006
THE REASON AND THE VISION FOR DIALOGUE BETWEEN RELIGION, EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND SOCIETY.
Menino Allan Tavares S.F.S.
Department of Physics, S.F.S College, Seminary Hills, Nagpur.
"He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yield its fruit in season and whose leaf does not whiter. Whatever he does prospers" (Psalm 3)
In life I would simply be one such tree. Prosperity and abundance in living both as an individual and as a society would be one common yardstick, I'd prefer to use, in order to measure the fruitfulness of any religious practice or scientific progress or educational paradigm respectively.
In fact, our efforts towards the convergence of science and religion for the benefit of society stem from the fact that a couple of centuries ago each of these giant organisms were making an exclusivistic bid to usurp the whole territory of knowledge to itself - scientists trying to explain everything scientifically and religion trying to do the same in religious terms ..... today in a much contemporary scenario of modern science, would a scientist venture to taken God into account in science?
Dr. B.D. Josephon - A Nobel laureate for physics in 1973 opines " ..... we might hope that appropriate mathematical tools will be developed so that in not too many years from now we'll have a new Paradigm in which God and religion will be right in the middle of the picture .... "
Do science and religion really need to converge? Will their convergence be a sort of a categorical error? Fritjof Capra in his book 'The Tao of Physics' says that mysticism (religion) deals with the roots of reality while science deals with the branches and these are totally different things, and we shouldn't expect to be able to connect them. Whatever be their mode of engagement or disengagement we need both science and religion for the benevolence of society. Society is the recipient and as such is either a beneficiary or a victim. As Betty Williams the noble laureate for peace in 1976 observes '............ "The human family", Religious leaders use it in their sermons, Politicians use it in theirs campaigns, Professors use it in their classrooms. How easily these words roll off the tongue. It makes me sad and yet I wonder what kind of family, in a world that is capable of feeding itself, allows her children to starve. What kind to family allows the development and use of weapons for mass destruction? What kind of family allows her elders and leaders to justify these weapons and tell her members it's "for defense" ..... '
The real schism that in fact exists, as it seems to me, is not between science and religion but between science and society. On the one hand society blames science for most of the evils on earth, yet thoughtlessly use and misuses all the benefits of science and technology! Society doesn't mind flaunting all values and ethics while relishing the sumptuous dinner of luxuries which the scientific enterprise so generously and repeatedly provides.
Therefore neither science nor technology alone nor isolated religious practices alone can solve the problems of the new millennium. We need an educational paradigm that synergizes scientific temper, technological exploits and the eternal religious values and thus empower society to listen to the innate voice of the divine.
The centre for dialogue between religion, education, science and society (CDRESS) is launched in S.F.S College as a small venture in this direction. The logo of CDRESS explicitates its vision. The technological progress which science ushers in (as manifested by the glowing bulb in the centre) dispels the darkness around us. Religion and more so Religions in communion with one another (depicted as connected burning lamps surrounding the bulb) dispel the darkness within us. The theme 'LET THE LIGHT OF TRUTH DISPEL ALL DARKNESS' in the logo expounds the challenge to the human society. The society has to, out of deliberate and committed choice, embark upon an educational process that enhances our capacity to explore and admire the rhythm of truth and consequently allow the radiant light of truth dispel all darkness within and around.
Ultimately, may my education give me honest critical curiosity of a scientist that enhances my spiritual quest and may it imbibe in me genuine faith that will
propel me towards excellence in all my scientific and technological pursuits ... FAITH BASED EXCELLENCE IN ALL WE PURSUF .... this is my prayer for me, for you and for us ... a cosmic family! ... may you and I and us in whatever we do ............... prosper!
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St. Francis De Sales College
NAGPUR, INDIA