Author Archives: Merv Bitikofer

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About Merv Bitikofer

Merv has been a teacher at Flint Hills Christian School since 1993 and has also been active with his family in Manhattan Mennonite Church. Science and faith issues have long held his interest both personally and professionally, and he is passionate about cultivating a more robust intellect among the wider Christian community in the service of Christ.

Humanity, MN, and other boundary issues

Posted on 12/08/2016 by Merv Bitikofer

In this essay, I argue that our orientation should be a more important focus than the precise locations of boundary lines with regard to where our eternal hope resides.  And since boundaries come up at all for discussion, it should go nearly without saying, that I’ll have my philosophical and theological hat on as I examine a landscape that subsumes science (its modern form) as one of the included territories.  My route meanders a bit to include discussion of the contrast between the materialist agenda and the Christian one.

Posted in Merv Bitikofer, Philosophy, Prometheus, Science, Theology | 5 Comments

Playing the Odds

Posted on 04/10/2014 by Merv Bitikofer

We recently had the fun of escorting our pastor to a skydiving event where she was to jump out of an airplane as a fund raiser for our church. No, we weren’t trying to get rid of her, nor was it her first time exiting an airplane that way. I’m happy to report that the event was a success in every way; not that we expected otherwise. But that’s part of what my thoughts here are about.

Posted in Merv Bitikofer, Theology | 18 Comments

Psalm from Science

Posted on 18/02/2014 by Merv Bitikofer

In church Sunday morning, Keith B. Miller, a geologist at Kansas State University (editor of “Perspectives on an Evolving Creation”), stood and read this modern scientific Psalm written by Walt Hearn.  Hearn holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry, University of Illinois, and has written several books on science/religion subjects and served as editor for the ASA from 1969 to 1993.  This piece was published originally under the title: “63 Thanksgiving” in a 1963 issue of HIS magazine. It is also on the ASA website here, where I found it to reprint below.

Posted in Creation, Merv Bitikofer, Theology | Tagged | 5 Comments

Bringing Mathematics to Theology

Posted on 05/01/2014 by Merv Bitikofer

Since I am a math teacher rather than a theologian, I bring tools to the table that must be subject to the scrutiny and criticism of the real theologians already there.  So what does a hammer-wielding math teacher see in current popular theological discourse that looks to him like his proverbial mathematical nail?

Posted in Merv Bitikofer, Science, Theology | 16 Comments

New Thoughts on an Old Story

Posted on 24/11/2013 by Merv Bitikofer

Much attention has been given to the subject of how to properly read Scriptural narrative, whether it must be historical before it can lay any other claim to truth, or if a Christian can see some of it as mythology and still be considered a faithful student of the Word.  These are worthy subjects in need of continued attention; but in this essay I will set these questions aside and focus on an old story that not only taught Truth about peoples long ago but, I propose, may still be unfolding today.

Posted in Creation, Merv Bitikofer, Science, Theology | 13 Comments