Reflections on Science, Religion and Society: A Medical Perspective

Throughout his long and distinguished career in medicine and neuroscience, Dr. Joseph B. Martin has had the honor of delivering speeches to graduating students, professional societies, and academic conferences. As both a lifelong Anabaptist and prominent member of the scientific community, his talks often focus on how to balance the spiritual and logical sides of our being to become healthier and more productive members of society. Collected here are several of Dr. Martin’s speeches from over more than fifty years as an academic and doctor. They reflect his evolving views on science and spirituality, and explore how that confluence is at the center of some of today’s most important and controversial issues. Interspersed with commentary to provide further context and reflection, the talks reflect the changes we have seen as a society deeply entrenched in technological advances and religious tensions. Through them, Dr. Martin helps us to understand both the world around us, and the world within.