Catholics, students, and astronomy enthusiasts are in for a treat, as the Vatican Observatory’s website has grown to include a massive repository for writings, recordings, and videos that teach about the relationship between faith and science. Called the Faith and Science Resource Center, this extensive catalog contains hundreds of entries to peruse at your leisure, at no charge.
The Vatican Observatory is an institution with roots that go back to the 16th century, founded with the mission of advancing astronomical research on the understanding of the universe and providing such information to the public. Headquartered at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, the Vatican Observatory boasts a position at the forefront of research on a broad range of topics, “from an examination of the tiniest specks of interplanetary dust to the origin and structure of the universe,” as they explain on the website.
On the Faith and Science Resource Center page, users are greeted by a list of a dozen of the most popular articles and videos. Popular tags can be easily navigated on a short side list, while any topic related to the pursuit of science from a religious mindset can be searched by category. The offerings of hundreds of academic articles, studies, videos, audio recordings, images, books, and PDF files are a vast resource that allows users to spend less time scouring journals and more time reading and learning.
The topics of the resources are varied, but they all contain themes of religion and science. Among the most accessed pieces are a video about extraterrestrials, a book on references to science within the Catholic Catechism, Thomas Aquinas’ writings On Creation and Time, and an explanation of dark matter and dark energy, just to name a few.
This free online resource is an invaluable tool for any religiously minded student of science, or even just independent learners who wish to explore the crossroads of religious thought and scientific advancement. Visit the Vatican Observatory’s website and access the Faith and Science Resource Center today to learn more about the universe and how it relates to the Catholic faith.
