Thursday, February 23, 2012

Education - Creating A Bridge Between Faith And Science



Proverbs 25:2(The Message) - God delights in concealing things; scientists delight in discovering things.

It's time for a ceasefire in The war between Faith and Science! Fortunately, this ageless battle between "logic" and "belief" might be losing a little steam among the scientific community. Here's the latest.

Last weekend, from February 16-20th The American Association for the Advancement of Science held it's annual meeting in Vancouver, Canada. On Saturday, February 18, 2012: 1:00 PM-2:30 PM was a very interesting symposium entitled "Beyond Evolution: Religious Questions in Science Classrooms." It was led by Kenneth R. Miller of Brown University, Peter M. J. Hess of National Center for Science Education and Francis Q. Eberle of National Science Teachers Association.

Here's what Kenneth Miller had to say in his abstract;

Kenneth R. Miller , Brown University, Providence, RI

Recent studies indicate that as many as 75% of all college students share a belief in God. While fewer claim to attend religious services regularly, the beliefs of these students clearly affect many aspects of their daily lives, including the way in which they will approach university courses in the sciences. A number of specific scientific concepts, including cosmic expansion, geologic history, biological evolution, social psychology, and cognitive neuroscience routinely meet strong resistance from students of faith, and present a distinct challenge for instructors

I will review a number of these conflicts, and will suggest specific strategies for dealing with student concerns, with special emphasis on developing a thorough student understanding of evolutionary biology. Emphasizing science as a process enables students to see scientific ideas as the product of rational, fact-driven inquiry rather than doctrine, and this can be essential in developing an acceptance of established science. Pointing out the historical role of religious institutions in the establishment of western science is another, as is describing the role that people of faith have played in key scientific developments. If properly presented, science need not be compromised or soft-pedaled to accommodate religious concerns. Rather, students can be shown how an acceptance of the scientific approach is essential to develop a rational understanding of nature, even in a religious context.



According to the article; "Education can solve religion-science conflicts: scientist" from The Associated Free Press the symposium was a success. It was published on Tuesday in Yahoo News. This is a great sign. Instead of bickering back and forth about our differences why not find out how we complement each other?

From Faith Science;

The common misperception that there is always conflict between science and faith can be abused by those with anti-Christian or anti-science agendas. In reality science has always been the domain of many committed Christians such as the astronomer Johannes Kepler, who dedicated one of his papers with a prayer, saying, I have here completed the work of my calling, with as much intellectual strength as you have granted me. This same attitude is shared by many Christians who work in science today. CiS exists to support such Christians and their aims.
—Christians in Science (CiS), Why Christians in Science

With so much available public information and abundant resources connecting faith and science, those who choose to reject the connection really are on their own. The conflict between science and Christianity has been contrived in the minds of those who want a conflict to exist. It has never been about logic or reason, like most atheists or secular “Christians” propose. It’s about the selfish human desire to oppose God and create one’s own destiny which, in actuality, defies logic. I’ll close this chapter with the following quote: “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).

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

An Invitation To Nexus






Nexus - Connecting Young Professionals to The Truth


Do you have burning questions or do you just have something to say?


Current affairs, politics, economics, education, social causes, justice issues, business, ministry or anything else on your mind is important to us. Do you want to see how they fit into The Bible?


Join us every month for an interactive Bible Study with a unique twist. It's run by young professionals for young professionals, yet everyone else is welcome! You have to be there to experience it.


The first session will take place at 7:00 PM on March 1st, 2012 in Buckhead, GA. First Topic - "What's really going on in the music industry?"


Contact us for details.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23(NLT) - 19 Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. 20 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 21 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. 22 When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Sir Isaac Newton: Scientific Legend, Theological Scholar or Both?


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)

The "secret" is out concerning Sir Isaac Newton! That is, if you didn't know it already. Now, The National Library of Israel has made Newton's Theological Manuscripts available to the world. Yesterday, Wednesday, February 15th, this information was released by Aron Heller of Associated Press in the article, "Israeli library uploads Newton's theological texts."

Here's an excerpt;
Israeli library uploads Newton's theological texts
By ARON HELLER, Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP) -- He's considered to be one of the greatest scientists of all time. But Sir Isaac Newton was also an influential theologian who applied a scientific approach to the study of scripture, Hebrew and Jewish mysticism.

Now Israel's national library, an unlikely owner of a vast trove of Newton's writings, has digitized his theological collection - some 7,500 pages in Newton's own handwriting - and put it online. Among the yellowed texts are Newton's famous prediction of the apocalypse in 2060.

Newton revolutionized physics, mathematics and astronomy in the 17th and 18th century, laying the foundations for most of classical mechanics - with the principal of universal gravitation and the three laws of motion bearing his name.

However, the curator of Israel's national library's humanities collection said Newton was also a devout Christian who dealt far more in theology than he did in physics and believed that scripture provided a "code" to the natural world.

"Today, we tend to make a distinction between science and faith, but to Newton it was all part of the same world," said Milka Levy-Rubin. "He believed that careful study of holy texts was a type of science, that if analyzed correctly could predict what was to come."

So he learned how to read Hebrew, scrolled through the Bible and delved into the study of Jewish philosophy, the mysticism of Kabbalah and the Talmud - a compendium of Jewish oral law and stories about 1,500 years old.



If you're interested, here is a direct link to The Newton Papers! Since the release of my book, Faith Science, "I've shouted from the mountain tops" that faith and science are not logical opposites. Now you can see it for yourself in the original words of one of the greatest scientists of all time.

Here's an excerpt from Faith Science;

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.”