Evolutionism and the Fundamental Problem of Biology.

Posted on 29/11/2013 by Sy Garte

In 1853, a mere 6 years before the publication of Origin of Species, a minor textbook written for the education of the public was published with the title Library of Natural History, and the subtitle “containing scientific and popular descriptions of man, quadrupeds,  birds, fishes, reptiles, and insects, compiled from the works of…” and there follows a list of the most active and well known naturalists of the day. While most of the text is not very interesting, there are some remarkable aspects of this book, clearly meant to be an up to date summary of the field. First, the word biology is never used.

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Posted in History, Politics and sociology, Science, Sy Garte | 14 Comments

On the integrity of forms

Posted on 28/11/2013 by Jon Garvey

I don’t suppose any of my American brethren will be posting on Thanksgiving Day, so have a good one!

Here’s a conversation that Werner Heisenberg said changed his life:

Heisenberg: “We cannot observe electron orbits inside the atom…Now, since a good theory must be based on directly observable magnitudes, I thought it more fitting to restrict myself to these, treating them, as it were, as representatives of the electron orbits.”

“But you don’t seriously believe,” Einstein protested, “that none but observable magnitudes must go into a physical theory?”

“Isn’t that precisely what you have done with relativity?” I asked in some surprise…

“Possibly I did use this kind of reasoning,” Einstein admitted, “but it is nonsense all the same….In reality the very opposite happens. It is the theory which decides what we can observe.”

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Posted in Creation, Philosophy, Science, Theology | 3 Comments

A history of providence, part two

Posted on 27/11/2013 by James Penman

The Theology of St John Chrysostom

St John Chrysostom (347-407) is generally hailed as the most eloquent preacher in the Greek language among the early church fathers. The doctrine of divine providence saturates his sermons and treatises. This is particularly interesting, in that sometimes a strong doctrine of providence is associated with Augustinian theology. Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, History, James Penman, Theology | 12 Comments

Jimi Hendrix on Aristotelian causation

Posted on 26/11/2013 by Jon Garvey

August 1970 – It was the end of my gap year, men had walked on the moon twice and I saw Jimi Hendrix at the Isle of Wight Festival just a couple of weeks before he died. Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Philosophy, Science, Theology | 4 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. Continue reading →

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

Surprise!

Posted on 22/11/2013 by Sy Garte

There is a remarkable thing about scientific discoveries in all fields. They generally tend to be surprising. Nobody expected that the universe had a clear beginning, and that space and time started at a particular moment, before which there was….. well, nothing. Not even time. How surprising was that?

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Posted in Science, Sy Garte, Theology | 50 Comments

Bats, theistic personalism and Frankenstein

Posted on 20/11/2013 by Jon Garvey

Let me present three apparently disparate themes and then show that, together, they give some useful theological insights. Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Prometheus, Science, Theology | 6 Comments

An Enlightening Evening.

Posted on 19/11/2013 by Sy Garte

I have just returned home from a small after dinner gathering of Christians at the home of one of the members of the Washington area chapter of the ASA (The American Scientific Affiliation). The guest of honor, was Denis Lamoureux, a well known evolutionary creationist, whose books include “I love Jesus, and I believe in Evolution”, and “Evolutionary Creation”. I have known Denis for a few years, and he is a gifted speaker and teacher. I don’t agree with everything he says. He does not believe in the existence of Adam, and would accept none of the 6 possible interpretations of Adam that Jon so ably presented us with a week ago.

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Posted in Creation, Science, Sy Garte, Theology | 11 Comments

Evolution, function and meaning

Posted on 16/11/2013 by Jon Garvey

This piece arises from some discussion on the last post about the mathematical predictability (lack of) in evolution.

Question: Is this the image of an insect, or not?

Goniurelliawing Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Science | 18 Comments

God, reason, science, proof

Posted on 15/11/2013 by Jon Garvey

One of the bitterest points of contention between many TEs and ID supporters is whether God’s existence or activity can be detected by science, granted that it is real. The bitterness shows that there are ideological issues lurking behind what ought to be just an intellectual question. But I want to leave those aside to ask what Christian biblical teaching actually says on the matter. Continue reading →

Posted in Creation, Science, Theology | 68 Comments