Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Is There Any Room for Science in The Church?
From Faith Science;
The foundational principles of science have enabled humanity to understand the world around us. Through the systematic pursuit of knowledge, the collection of data, and subsequent testing of formulated hypotheses, we have established “definitive” conclusions about ourselves and what can be perceived. Hence, established scientific laws must either be proven inconsistent, using the scientific method or fully accepted.
In other words, you have two options: beat them or join them. By definition, science as a whole is an approach to gaining understanding. It is systematic and objective so that the conclusions can be reproduced if the same steps are followed under similar conditions.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2:14 kjv
Scientists who think that spiritual laws are inherently inaccurate are themselves, inaccurate. The Bible refers to them as carnal thinkers who will never understand spiritual things. No human mind on its own is able to perceive the things of God. Even though they may be experts at natural things, without Christ, they are unskilled in spiritual things.
The greatest scientists on their own will never be able to bridge the gap between scientific and spiritual laws. Therefore, it’s easy to understand that just the mention of the word faith sends shivers down the spines of secular scientists. They consider Christianity foolish and don’t see how it’s possible for intelligent people to believe what’s written in the Bible. What many of them really have are preconceived notions that instantly reject anything that contradicts what they believe. So proving the viability of faith to them on a purely academic level will be impossible regardless of the evidence provided.
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:15–16 kjv
The Bible says that he who is spiritual comprehends all things while he who is natural is not qualified to speak on spiritual things. The two systems, though they exist simultaneously, are not equal. Spiritual laws are inherently superior to natural laws because all that is natural came from that which is spiritual. I will prove this by Scripture later in the book. Since God is behind both systems, unless it’s necessary for carrying out his purpose, they shouldn’t inherently contradict.
The Faith Science Experience 3 - Stem Cells and Cloning
When: Sat, April 30, 2pm – 4pm
Where: AMLI at Milton Park, 26000 Mill Creek Ave, Alpharetta GA 30022 (map)
Description: Join Donnell Duncan for next month's "Chapter Study" from his newest book, Faith Science. These sessions are open to the community and provide an open forum for discussion, discovery, and debates arising from the inevitable collision between modern scientific developments and timeless biblical truth!
For More Info Visit; http://www.meetup.com/The-Faith-Science-Experience
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Why Should Christians Care About the Stem Cell Debate?
From Faith Science;
Therapeutic cloning, also known as embryo cloning, probably has the broadest impact on society of the three cloning technologies in question. It’s the foundation of stem cell research and continues to stir passionate discussions worldwide. The Human Genome Project calls it “the production of human embryos for use in research.”
Fierce critics call it farming human embryos for body parts to help other humans who need them. After a human embryo has divided for five days into what is called a blastocyst, stem cells are extracted for research, killing the embryo. Stem cells are valuable because they are not specialized and can divide and renew themselves for extended periods before giving rise to specialized cell types.
What Does the Bible Say about Therapeutic Cloning?
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in
your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
Psalm 139:13–16 nlt
The Lord gave me this message: “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 1:4–5 nlt
But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.
Luke 1:13–15 nlt
At conception, your embryo was formed and earthly life began. As your stem cells replicated themselves, these newly formed cells became specialized in different areas to create your body. The Bible does not give a cut-off stage in the cell division process at which your “real” life began. God had his eyes on you before you were born.
He monitored the process of cell division as you developed from an embryo. Ethically, we cannot value the life of a thirty-year-old more than that of a three-year-old because of age, size, or development.
In the same way, we cannot say a human five days after conception is less valuable than one who is five days away from birth. After birth, I can’t kill you and take your heart because I need one. From the Bible’s perspective, it’s no better if I decided to take you out of your mother’s womb and kill you so that I could use your stem cells to grow heart cells.
There really isn’t much to discuss when it comes to embryo cloning for a Christian who believes the Bible. Every human life is valuable, and we can’t grow human eggs to use in experiments like chicken eggs to use for breakfast. Notwithstanding, vegans might disagree with me about the chicken eggs, but this is the Christian position. Fortunately, that’s not the end of the story.
All stem cell research is not morally repugnant. The NIH Stem Cell Basics states, “Until recently, scientists primarily worked with two kinds of stem cells from animals and humans: embryonic stem cells and non-embryonic “somatic” or “adult” stem cells.” (Stem Cell Information, The National Institutes of Health resource for stem cell research, stemcells.nih.gov)
Adult stem cells are undifferentiated cells found among differentiated cells in a tissue or organ. Undifferentiated cells have not yet developed into a specialized cell type. These stem cells acquire the features of the specialized cells (heart, liver, muscle, etc.) around which they abide to replace what is lost whenever there is tissue damage. This describes part of the process of natural healing that takes place in living organisms.
If these cells can be harvested, doctors can treat patients with their own adult stem cells to induce the natural process of healing. Scientists are also searching for ways to cause trans-differentiation. That way, if an organ is too damaged to source adult stem cells, scientists can genetically modify cells from one body part to use in treating another. If this process is successful, the problem of tissue rejection will be history since the source tissue cells and recipient cells can come from the same person.
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Mark 8:36–37 kjv
In sum, from a biblical perspective, therapeutic cloning using human embryos is out of the question. We can’t grow people, kill them, then use their parts to help other people. On the other hand, as I explained earlier in this chapter, I see nothing wrong with the use of non-embryonic “somatic” or “adult” stem cells. The stem cell debate is important and Christians should care!
The Faith Science Experience 3 - Stem Cells and Cloning
When: Sat, April 30, 2pm – 4pm
Where: AMLI at Milton Park, 26000 Mill Creek Ave, Alpharetta GA 30022 (map)
Description: Join Donnell Duncan for next month's "Chapter Study" from his newest book, Faith Science. These sessions are open to the community and provide an open forum for discussion, discovery, and debates arising from the inevitable collision between modern scientific developments and timeless biblical truth!
For More Info Visit; http://www.meetup.com/The-Faith-Science-Experience
Monday, March 21, 2011
Faith Science on Stem Cells and Human Cloning
From Faith Science;
In recent weeks we learned that scientists have created human embryos in test tubes solely to experiment on them. This is deeply troubling, and a warning sign that should prompt all of us to think through these issues very carefully. We recoil at the idea of growing human beings for spare body parts or creating life for our convenience. I strongly oppose cloning. And while we must devote enormous energy to conquering disease, it is equally important that we pay attention to the moral concerns raised by the new frontier of human embryo stem cell research. Even the most noble ends do not justify any means.
—George W. Bush, radio address, Aug. 11, 2001
The top story in the June 2010 edition of Scientific American listed “12
Events That Will Change Everything.” They are as follows:
1. Fusion Energy
2. Extraterrestrial Intelligence
3. Asteroid Collision
4. Machine Self-awareness
5. Polar Meltdown
6. Nuclear Exchange
7. Deadly Pandemic
8. Creation of Life
9. Room-Temperature Superconductors
10. Pacific Earthquake
11. Human Cloning
12. Extra Dimensions
The article acknowledged that some of the items on the list are much more likely than others. Notwithstanding, number eleven, human cloning, is believed to be on schedule for some time in the future. It may take decades to get the process right, but who’s counting? Whether we think it’s ethical or not has no bearing on what will be done. As long as there is funding, the research will continue.
What many of us don’t realize is that by the time a paper is published or an announcement is made, it’s too late to ask ethical questions about the project. They only make the information public after years of gathering and testing data. Today’s hot new scientific breakthrough is really just the announcement of what’s been going on in some cases for decades in the lab. It’s only news for the people outside the loop.
This type of research puts an interesting twist on the concept of “faith science,” which forms the basis of this book. There must be an element of faith at the beginning of these projects to cause scientists to invest their lives and millions of dollars in funding. Research scientists sometimes only theoretically know what they’re looking for when they start their projects. They may not be able to prove it at first, but they must believe before they see the hard evidence. Why? Simply put, finding proof to support scientific theories is the basis of cutting-edge scientific research.
Stem cell research and cloning seem like the stuff of science fiction.
The ideas surrounding these scientific phenomena have been used to produce books and movies that are so farfetched they discredit the science behind them. For that reason, I joined the masses of people who considered the advancement of both stem cell research and cloning as not just irrelevant but improbable. When they made news headlines I refused to pay attention.
It was fascinating to see that, despite being in a worldwide economic downturn, this type of pricey research was still being financed. I put them in the same category as NASA: interesting but unnecessary. Billions of dollars, years of effort, and what really has their research changed in how we live each day? Absolutely nothing!
Well, at least that’s what I thought. Then God tugged my heart and opened my eyes. Something’s going on in these laboratories that will directly affect our lives in the future, so we better start paying attention.
The Faith Science Experience 3 - Stem Cells and Cloning
When: Sat, April 30, 2pm – 4pm
Where: AMLI at Milton Park, 26000 Mill Creek Ave, Alpharetta GA 30022 (map)
Description: Join Donnell Duncan for next month's "Chapter Study" from his newest book, Faith Scence. These sessions are open to the community and provide an open forum for discussion, discovery, and debates arising from the inevitable collision between modern scientific developments and timeless biblical truth!
For More Info Visit; http://www.meetup.com/The-Faith-Science-Experience
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Hearing God's Voice Through Nature
From Faith Science;
Robert Boyle (1627–1691): Boyle’s Law
When with bold telescopes I survey the old and newly discovered stars and planets that adorn the upper region of the world; and when with excellent microscopes I discern in otherwise invisible objects … nature’s curious workmanship; and when, in a word … I study the book of nature … I find myself oftentimes reduced to exclaim with the Psalmist, How manifold are thy Works O Lord? In Wisdom hast thou made them all! And when I have been losing myself in admiration of what I understand not, but enough to admire, and not to comprehend; I am often obliged to interrupt or break off my enquiries, by applying to the works of God’s creation the expression … O the depth of the Riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his way untraceable.
—Robert Boyle, Seraphick Love: Some Motives and Incentives to the Love of God
Frank Wattenberg from the Department of Mathematics at Montana State University said the following of Boyle’s Law:
Boyle’s Law involves a relationship between three properties of a gas in a container: the volume of the container (denoted V), the pressure of the gas (denoted P), the temperature of the gas (denoted T).
Boyle’s Law states: PV = kT where k is a constant, or Pressure * Volume = Constant * Temperature
The value of the constant k depends on the units used for the other quantities, but once the units are fixed, k is also fixed. When any one of the quantities V, P, or T is changed, one or two of the others must change so that the equation above still holds. Robert Boyle developed his scientific and religious philosophies simultaneously. He is described as one of the founders of modern chemistry.
In college, I learned Boyle’s law as the inversely proportional relationship between absolute pressure and the volume of gas. It’s used to understand the behavior of gases in balloons, syringes, and even human lungs. It’s so commonly used that we hardly acknowledge it. With his extensive understanding of science came a great respect for God.
Michael Faraday (1791–1867): Faraday’s Law, Electromagnetic Fields
The Christian who is taught of God … finds his guide in the Word of God … and looks for no assurance beyond what the Word can give him. The Christian religion is a revelation, and that revelation is the Word of God. No revival and no temporal teaching comes between it and him. He who is taught of the Holy Spirit needs no crowd and no revival to teach him; if he stands alone he is fully taught.
—Selected Exhortations Delivered to Various Churches of Christ by the Late Michael Faraday, Wm. Buchanan, John M. Baxter, and Alex Moir, James Rorie, editor, (Dundee: John Leng and Co., Ltc., 1910)
HyperPhysics hosted by the Department of Physics and Astronomy of Georgia State University simply defines Faraday’s Law as:
Any change in the magnetic environment of a coil of wire will cause a voltage (emf ) to be “induced” in the coil. No matter how the change is produced, the voltage will be generated. The change could be produced by changing the magnetic field strength, moving a magnet toward or away from the coil, moving the coil into or out of the magnetic field, rotating the
coil relative to the magnet, etc.
Faraday’s law is a fundamental relationship which comes from Maxwell’s equations. It serves as a succinct summary of the ways a voltage (or emf ) may be generated by a changing magnetic environment. The induced emf in a coil is equal to the negative of the rate of change of magnetic flux times the number of turns in the coil. It involves the interaction of charge
with magnetic field.
For more, read Chapter 2 - Prominent Christians in Science and to discuss even further join us at;
The Faith Science Experience 2 - Prominent Christians in Science
When: Sat, March 19, 2pm – 4pm
Where: AMLI at Milton Park, 26000 Mill Creek Ave, Alpharetta GA 30022 (map)
Description: Join Donnell Duncan for monthly "Chapter Studies" of his newest book, Faith Scence. These sessions are open to the community and provide an open forum for discussion, discovery, and debates arising from the inevitable collision between modern scientific developments and timeless biblical truth!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Does God Exist?
“I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use”
(Galileo Galilei: 1564–1642 Italian physicist).
Does God exist? Let's see what some of the most prominent scientists in history had to say in their own words.
From Faith Science;
1. Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1627): Pioneer of the Scientific Method
The Scripture saith, The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God; it is not said, The fool hath thought in his heart; so as he rather saith it, by rote to himself, as that he would have, than that he can thoroughly believe it, or be persuaded of it. For none deny, there is a God, but those, for whom it maketh that there were no God. It appeareth in nothing more, that atheism is rather in the lip, than in the heart of man, than by
this; that atheists will ever be talking of that their opinion, as if they fainted in it, within themselves, and would be glad to be strengthened, by the consent of others.
—Francis Bacon, Of Atheism (Essays of Francis Bacon)
The scientific method defines science as we know it. So I can’t think of anyone who qualifies more to accept the title of an accomplished scientist than the man who proposed its definition in the first place. Bacon clearly despised atheism and did not hold anything back in his essay Of Atheism. I specifically chose this quote because he demonstrated his use of the Bible in approaching the concept of atheism.
He quoted from Psalm 14:1 and expounded on the scripture just like a preacher. In essence, he said that atheists can’t really believe what they say about God. People who claim there is no God know the truth in their hearts. They have no excuse, like Paul said in Romans 1:18–23. They just talk off their heads and feel better about their position if they could get some support from others.
2. Johannes Kepler (1571–1630): Kepler’s Laws of Planetary Motion
I wanted to become a theologian; for a long time I was restless. Now, however, behold how through my effort God is being celebrated in astronomy.
—Johannes Kepler, 1595 Letter to Michael Maestlin, mathematics professor and Kepler’s mentor
HyperPhysics hosted by the Department of Physics and Astronomy of Georgia State University simply defines Kepler’s Laws as:
• The Law of Orbits: All planets move in elliptical orbits, with the sun at one focus.
• The Law of Areas: A line that connects a planet to the sun sweeps out equal areas in equal times.
• The Law of Periods: The square of the period of any planet is proportional to the cube of the semimajor axis of its orbit.
Note: Kepler’s laws were derived for orbits around the sun, but they apply to satellite orbits as well.
While the general consensus was that orbits were circular, Kepler proposed that they were elliptical. His laws approximated the motion of planets around the sun and became building blocks of modern astronomy. Even as a respected astronomer, he was quoted as saying, “Nothing in the world was created by God without a plan.”
Kepler’s testimony in his letter to Maestlin is similar to mine. I also wanted to become a theologian but pursued physics and structural engineering. Now, God is being celebrated through my life.
For more, read Chapter 2 - Prominent Christians in Science and to discuss even further join us at;
The Faith Science Experience 2 - Prominent Christians in Science
When: Sat, March 19, 2pm – 4pm
Where: AMLI at Milton Park, 26000 Mill Creek Ave, Alpharetta GA 30022 (map)
Description: Join Donnell Duncan for monthly "Chapter Studies" of his newest book, Faith Scence. These sessions are open to the community and provide an open forum for discussion, discovery, and debates arising from the inevitable collision between modern scientific developments and timeless biblical truth!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Prominent Christians in Science
The Faith Science Experience 2 - Prominent Christians in Science
When: Sat, March 19, 2pm – 4pm
Where: AMLI at Milton Park, 26000 Mill Creek Ave, Alpharetta GA 30022 (map)
Description: Join Donnell Duncan for monthly "Chapter Studies" of his newest book, Faith Scence. These sessions are open to the community and provide an open forum for discussion, discovery, and debates arising from the inevitable collision between modern scientific developments and timeless biblical truth!
From Faith Science;
Prominent Christians in Science
Mr. Duncan is a theologian, not a scientist. Rather than spend his time on academic pursuits, Duncan spends his time (by his own admission: “twenty-four hours a day”) on “spreading the gospel.”
—Arthur Ide, PhD, MD, DA: October 6, 2005, responding to comments by Donnell Duncan on the article “Drawing a Line in the Academic Sand” on Inside Higher Ed.
I guess I pushed this man over the edge when I said the following in a heated debate that day: “Intelligent design is definitely a sketchy issue, but some of the foundational principles of evolution, though widely accepted, are also highly debatable. A university is the one place where we hope students can develop into independent thinkers. If they cannot even discuss the validity of a contentious scientific theory with the faculty in a bio-physical science class, then some of that independence is lost. It is unfortunate that a public university administration chooses to be one sided instead of allowing competing theories fair exposure.”
The most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets could only proceed from the counsel and dominion on an intelligent and powerful Being.
—Sir Isaac Newton (1642–1727), Principia (1687)
Science and theology are not mutually exclusive. Sir Isaac Newton is considered to be one of the most prominent physicists, mathematicians, astronomers, chemists, and theologians. Newton’s laws of motion are the foundational principles for classical mechanics. He also wrote the book “Observations upon the Prophecies of Daniel and the Apocalypse of St. John.” If I were to respond with the same logic as those secular scientists who think Christians can’t also be scientists, I would say, “These guys are agnostics and atheists; they are not scientists.”
With that in mind, let’s observe the lives of prominent Christians who throughout history embraced the call of science and theology. I’ll start in the early 1500s and work my way to the twenty-first century. By the time this chapter is complete you will see how foolish it is to believe that Christians cannot be scientists and scientists cannot be Christians. Instead of telling you only what I think about their faith in the Lord, I’ll let them say it in their own words.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Donnell on the Mancow Muller Show
Mancow Muller Show Interview
When: Wed, March 16, 8:00am – 8:30am (Eastern Time)
Description: Donnell Duncan will be interviewed on the Mancow Muller Show (www.mancow.com
Follow it live at the following link; Mancow Live.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Freshly Roasted Coffee and Scientific Conversations
Atlanta Coffee Roasters Book Signing
When: Sat, March 12, 1pm – 3pm
Where: Atlanta Coffee Roasters 2205 Lavista Road Northeast Atlanta, GA (map)
Description: Have you ever seen a real coffee roasting machine? Freshly roasted coffee combined with conversations about Faith and Science. That's right. Join Donnell Duncan and the Faith Science crew at this exciting book signing event.
Monday, March 7, 2011
The Faith Science Experience
The collision between Faith and Science continues with our brand new meetup group in Alpharetta, GA called The Faith Science Experience.... Check it out at the following link; http://www.meetup.com/The-Faith-Science-Experience/
What's happening in March!
Atlanta Coffee Roasters Book Signing
When: Sat, March 12, 1pm – 3pm
Where: Atlanta Coffee Roasters 2205 Lavista Road Northeast Atlanta, GA (map)
Description: Join Donnell Duncan and the Faith Science crew at this exciting book signing event.
The Faith Science Experience 2 - Prominent Christians in Science
When: Sat, March 19, 2pm – 4pm
Where: AMLI at Milton Park, 26000 Mill Creek Ave, Alpharetta GA 30022 (map)
Description: Join Donnell Duncan for monthly "Chapter Studies" of his newest book, Faith Scence. These sessions are open to the community and provide an open forum for discussion, discovery, and debates arising from the inevitable collision between modern scientific developments and timeless biblical truth!
Talk and Taste - Writer's Edition
When: Tue, March 22, 6pm – 9pm
Where: Five Seasons Brewing - 1000 Marietta St, Atlanta, GA 30318 (map)
Description: Celebration * Networking* Fundraiser
Donnell Duncan will be a featured author at this event. For more info and to RSVP in advance visit; www.talkandtaste.eventbrite.com
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