Templeton World Charity Foundation, Inc. (TWCF) offers a massive funding to Mount Kenya University
A team of leading scholars from three universities namely Mount Kenya University, Daystar University, Moi University and African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC) have received a generous grant of USD 862, 311 from Templeton World Charity Foundation, Inc. (TWCF)to fund a platform that fosters co-existence of religion and science termed as Kenya Christian and Scientific Association (KCSA).The project titled “Kenya Christian and Scientific Association (KCSA): Facilitating Synergetic Interaction between Science and Christian Faith” will run for the next three years.
Dr. Francis W. Muregi of Mount Kenya University (MKU) the Director, Research, Grants and Endowments is the Project Leader. Other MKU scholars leading the project are Dr. Peter Kirira, Dr. Samuel Karenga, Mr. Francis Makokha and Mr. Humphrey Mwambeo. Key partners from other institutions are Prof. Bernard Boyo, a Professor of Theology at Daystar University, who is the acting Chairman of the Board of Management of KCSA; Prof. Eunice Kamara, a renowned scholar from Moi University who is serving as the acting Vice-Chairman of the KCSA Board of Management. Prof. Peter Ngure of APHRC is a Professor of Biotechnology, and is serving as a Board of Management Member. Other key players in the platform from Mount Kenya University are Dr. Ronald Maathai, Madam Jane G. Nyutu and Dr. Regina Kinuthia who are serving as KCSA Board of Management members. Dr Simon Nderitu is the Acting Coordinator of the KCSA online course on Christians and Science.
The Executive summary below highlights the overarching goal of the KCSA Project
Africa is at a three-way crossroads of culture, religion (including Christianity) and modern education (science), often perceived to be immiscible” entities that are antagonistic and non-complementary. Many practitioners of religion and science do not view the latter as a God-given gift to benefit humanity. The apparent dichotomy needs to be bridged. Unfortunately, this has created a knowledge barrier that has resulted in a lack of sharing of scientific information on religious platforms by scientists, even when there are apparent misrepresentations of scientific facts.
Kenya Christian & Scientific Association (KCSA) views science as a God given tool for the benefit of humanity. The Association is thus a platform on which the aforementioned issues can be addressed using scientific and theological knowledge to influence change of attitudes and practices within the academia and the wider community for socio-cultural transformation.
Use of modern science including biotechnology to afford products such as vaccines, medicines, and genetically modified organisms continues to elicit conflicting opinions with no apparent consensus between practitioners of faith and science. There is therefore need for scientists to be engaged in healthy discussions with all stakeholders on such issues and explain the role modern technologies play for betterment of humanity and responsible stewardship of the environment. KCSA will therefore provide the much needed platform for constructive engagement between practitioners of science and religion.
The platform therefore serves to bring together Christians interested in science to explore how interactions between Christianity and science in the African context can best synergise each other. Issues related to cultural practices and traditional beliefs within the context of Christian and scientific principles and how science can be harnessed as a God-given gift to contribute to the good of the society will be addressed. Membership to the Association is open to scientists and theologians notably lecturers, administrators, postgraduate students and others who have an interest in the relationship between science and Christian faith.
For more information on how to register as KCSA member, please visit www.kcsa.or.ke