Magis Institute
Encyclopedia
Magis Institute is a non-profit educational organization founded by Jesuit priest and former Gonzaga University
president Robert J. Spitzer, SJ. The institute's primary outreaches are the Magis
Center of Reason and Faith and the Magis Center for Catholic Spirituality.
(b. May 16, 1952) is a Jesuit
priest
, philosopher, educator, author, speaker, and retired President of Gonzaga University
in Spokane, Washington
. Father Spitzer is founder and currently active as President of Magis Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to public education concerning the complementary relationship among the varied disciplines of physics, philosophy, reason, and faith. He is also the Chief Education Officer of the Ethics and Performance Institute which delivers web-based ethics education to corporations and individuals. He is also President of the Spitzer Center of Ethical Leadership, which delivers similar curricula to non-profit organizations.
" writers such as Christopher Hitchins and Richard Dawkins
. As a result of these conversations, Father Spitzer began the Center for Reason and Faith to provide a framework for the creation and distribution of materials expressing this alternative viewpoint.
Father Spitzer and some of his scientist acquaintances had become aware of the growing body of data that pointed to a "first cause" event that began the universe and which is most rationally explained by the concept of a Transcendent Creator; transcendent not only in the sense of incredible power, but also possessing super intellect.
On 3 September 2010, the Catholic News Agency featured Magis founder Father Spitzer in their response to the announcement of Stephen Hawking's new book touching on the subject of the origins of the universe. Online magazine "The Blaze" also featured a response to Hawking from Father Spitzer: "There are already numerous video responses to Hawking popping up on YouTube. Let’s pick one. Here is former Gonzaga University President Father Robert Spitzer who now heads the Magis Center of Reason and Faith"
On 10 September 2010, the institute was prominently mentioned on the CNN program Larry King Live
. Father Spitzer appeared as a panelist on the program which featured Dr. Stephen Hawking
, Hawking's literary collaborator, Leonard Mlodinow
, and author Deepak Chopra
in a one-hour prime-time discussion on the need for a transcendent creator of the universe.
in Atchison, Kansas numbered GS298 and titled "Physics and Metaphysics in Dialogue. The course will carry 3 semester credits and will be transferrable as elective credit to any regionally accredited institution of higher education.
Adult Curriculums for group settings or individual study, with less scope and depth than the college course, are also to be released in September of 2011.
Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Spokane, Washington, United States. Founded in 1887 by the Society of Jesus, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is named after the young Jesuit saint, Aloysius Gonzaga...
president Robert J. Spitzer, SJ. The institute's primary outreaches are the Magis
Magis
For the Organization founded by Robert Spitzer, SJ go to Magis Institute.Magis is a Jesuit phrase that means "the more." It is taken from Ad majorem Dei gloriam, a Latin phrase meaning "for the greater glory of God." Magis refers to the philosophy of doing more, for Christ, and therefore for...
Center of Reason and Faith and the Magis Center for Catholic Spirituality.
Founder
Robert J. Spitzer S.J.Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
(b. May 16, 1952) is a Jesuit
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
, philosopher, educator, author, speaker, and retired President of Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University is a private Roman Catholic university located in Spokane, Washington, United States. Founded in 1887 by the Society of Jesus, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is named after the young Jesuit saint, Aloysius Gonzaga...
in Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
. Father Spitzer is founder and currently active as President of Magis Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to public education concerning the complementary relationship among the varied disciplines of physics, philosophy, reason, and faith. He is also the Chief Education Officer of the Ethics and Performance Institute which delivers web-based ethics education to corporations and individuals. He is also President of the Spitzer Center of Ethical Leadership, which delivers similar curricula to non-profit organizations.
The Magis Center for Reason and Faith
Magis Institute originally was created to be only a center for Catholic spirituality. In 2008, Father Spitzer and his associates at Magis considered how they might offer a reasoned, scientific alternative viewpoint to those publicly expressed by "new atheismNew Atheism
New Atheism is the name given to a movement among some early-21st-century atheist writers who have advocated the view that "religion should not simply be tolerated but should be countered, criticized, and exposed by rational argument wherever its influence arises." New atheists argue that recent...
" writers such as Christopher Hitchins and Richard Dawkins
Richard Dawkins
Clinton Richard Dawkins, FRS, FRSL , known as Richard Dawkins, is a British ethologist, evolutionary biologist and author...
. As a result of these conversations, Father Spitzer began the Center for Reason and Faith to provide a framework for the creation and distribution of materials expressing this alternative viewpoint.
Father Spitzer and some of his scientist acquaintances had become aware of the growing body of data that pointed to a "first cause" event that began the universe and which is most rationally explained by the concept of a Transcendent Creator; transcendent not only in the sense of incredible power, but also possessing super intellect.
On 3 September 2010, the Catholic News Agency featured Magis founder Father Spitzer in their response to the announcement of Stephen Hawking's new book touching on the subject of the origins of the universe. Online magazine "The Blaze" also featured a response to Hawking from Father Spitzer: "There are already numerous video responses to Hawking popping up on YouTube. Let’s pick one. Here is former Gonzaga University President Father Robert Spitzer who now heads the Magis Center of Reason and Faith"
On 10 September 2010, the institute was prominently mentioned on the CNN program Larry King Live
Larry King Live
Larry King Live is an American talk show hosted by Larry King on CNN from 1985 to 2010. It was CNN's most watched and longest-running program, with over one million viewers nightly....
. Father Spitzer appeared as a panelist on the program which featured Dr. Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking
Stephen William Hawking, CH, CBE, FRS, FRSA is an English theoretical physicist and cosmologist, whose scientific books and public appearances have made him an academic celebrity...
, Hawking's literary collaborator, Leonard Mlodinow
Leonard Mlodinow
Leonard Mlodinow is a physicist and author.Mlodinow was born in Chicago, Illinois, of parents who were both Holocaust survivors. His father, who spent more than a year in the Buchenwald concentration camp, had been a leader in the Jewish resistance under Nazi rule in his hometown of Częstochowa,...
, and author Deepak Chopra
Deepak Chopra
Deepak Chopra is an Indian medical doctor, public speaker, and writer on subjects such as spirituality, Ayurveda and mind-body medicine. Chopra began his career as an endocrinologist and later shifted his focus to alternative medicine. Chopra now runs his own medical center, with a focus on...
in a one-hour prime-time discussion on the need for a transcendent creator of the universe.
Methods
The institute, through Magis Center for Reason and Faith, is using five methods to leverage media to publicize their view of the compatibility of faith and reason:Books
Father Spitzer has published New Proofs for the Existence of God The books authored by members of the institute will be "affordable (under $30.00 US for the most part) and tailored for the average reader within the planned demographic. The institute also helps to promote the books of other writers who share a similar viewpoint, e.g. William Lane Craig, working with a physicist named Simpson, published the Blackwell Commentary on Natural Theology.Documentary films
The institute hired Martha Cotton, former producer of NBC News and the Today Show, who has written a script that made these complex issues more intelligible, with the goal of bringing the discussion to the level of a high school student. Planned for a 2011 release, the first documentary features Nobel Laureate Arno Penzias, who discovered background radiation from the Big Bang. A Templeton Prize winner, John Polkinghorne, who is also an Anglican priest, is featured as well. The feature is completed and distribution is being negotiated (as of March 2011).New media
The institute is reaching out via the world wide web, and to the blogosphere; it has a popular Facebook page, and also releases frequent videos via YouTube. The institute provides information concerning the long history of scientific research done by members of the clergy over the centuries with a special focus on those who are currently active in their respective fields both on Facebook and its website.High school curriculum
The institute has planned the release in September 2011 of a curriculum aimed at the high school student, and designed for use in parochial schools and church youth groups.Adult education and college curricula
Catalogued for the Fall (September) of 2011, there is a college course in conjunction with Benedictine CollegeBenedictine College
Benedictine College is a co-educational university in Atchison, Kansas, founded in 1971 by the merger of St. Benedict's College for men and Mount St. Scholastica College for women. It is a Roman Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts, and residential college located on bluffs overlooking the...
in Atchison, Kansas numbered GS298 and titled "Physics and Metaphysics in Dialogue. The course will carry 3 semester credits and will be transferrable as elective credit to any regionally accredited institution of higher education.
Adult Curriculums for group settings or individual study, with less scope and depth than the college course, are also to be released in September of 2011.