For the past 50 years, the Canadian Scientific and Christian Affiliation has facilitated discussions about science and Christian faith in Canada. As part of our 50th-anniversary celebrations, we asked 50 CSCA members to comment on their personal connections to science, scripture, and Canadian scenery. We will share these contributions throughout 2023 in the hope that you will find them engaging and encouraging.
CSCA member of the week: Pastor Terry Defoe, Emeritus, Lutheran Church – Canada
1. Why did you choose your scientific discipline?
Since I’m a pastor, my scientific interest is a sideline to my basic profession and vocation. It basically got started when I was a campus chaplain at the University of British Columbia. In the campus bookstore, I found a book by Stephen Jay Gould, titled Wonderful Life. That book sparked my interest in science. That was back in 1989. Ministry duties kept me from studying the subject in detail until about ten years ago. After building a library of science books, I decided to put my thoughts together in a book, Evolving Certainties: Resolving Conflict at the Intersection of Faith & Science.
2. What is one of your favourite Bible verses and why?
“… what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature has been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made — so that the people are without excuse.”
—Romans 1:18-20
3. Which Canadian city or landscape do you love exploring and why?
I love Vancouver. The city has mountains to the north and ocean to the west. There’s a river delta to the south and a fertile valley to the east. The climate is West Coast Marine, and the plentiful rainfall keeps everything green.