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News:
September 20, 2005
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Religion in the News
Hurricane
Weblog: Where Is God in the Chaos?
The theodicy questions change as human depravity rears its ugly head in
New Orleans. By Rob Moll.
God
Behind Barbed Wire
How a Nazi-soldier-turned-theologian found hope. By Philip Yancey.
How
to Win Friends and Influence Culture
A prominent Jewish human-rights activist praises—and pointedly counsels—evangelicals.
By Michael Horowitz.
Roe
v. Roberts
If you're a conservative looking for a return to the good old days, you'll
be disappointed with Roberts (Charles Krauthammer, The Washington Post).
The
New Monasticism
A fresh crop of Christian communities is blossoming in blighted urban settings
all over America. By Rob Moll.
The
Holy and the Ivy
Intellectual skepticism persists in the Ivy League. Thankfully, so does
a vibrant Christian faith. By Collin Hansen.
Calvary
Chapel school sues University of California system
Calvary Chapel churches sure are making a
lot of headlines
this month. The latest is the Long Beach Press Telegram's report
that Calvary Chapel Christian School in Murrieta is suing the University
of California system, alleging free
speech and religious freedom violations.
Leader's
Death Unsettles Nation
Can peace process work without the strong-arm Garang? By J. Carter Johnson,
with Sue Sprenkle.
Abolishing
Abstinence
Can we be good without God? The question seems somehow abstract, a topic
for Atlantic Monthly cover stories and college seminars more than
practical applications. So here's another question: Can we keep our pants
on? by Ted Olsen.
Focus
on the Family's newest focus is on AFA
Focus on the Family has called on its millions of followers to contact the
White House with their concerns about new Air Force religious guidelines
and urge President Bush to "restore the right to religious expression"
(Rocky Mountain News, Denver)
Robertson
apologizes for Chavez remarks
Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson apologized Wednesday for calling for
the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, only hours after
he denied saying Chavez should be killed (Associated Press)
'They're
not afraid to rock'
Christian bands gain secular appeal, aim to play as hard as they preach
(Argus Leader, Sioux Falls, S.D.).
Faithful
and true?
The paradoxical state of Christian colleges (World).
Was seminary
obligated to report graduate's molestation history?
One week after settling a lawsuit brought by the victim of one of its former
students, Dallas Theological Seminary officials will go to court Monday
to face another of that student's victims.
Faithful
must root out evil from scriptures
The claim of exclusivity — my truth is the only truth — is the
principal culprit that triggers most of the violence in holy books and the
jealous nature of their god. We must strike that spurious claim and others
like it from all belief systems. Ridding religion of exclusivity means a
radical reinterpretation of some of the central tenets of religious belief
(Steve Gushee, Palm Beach Post).
A
future without religion
Sam Harris's best selling book The End of Faith, Religion, Terror and the
Future of Reason launches a major assault on organized religion and points
to it as the source of many of the problems of the world today (Amsterdam
Forum, Radio Netherlands).
Living
on the Edge
Trapped on the side of a cliff, I had to reexamine the way I was living
my life. by Kathleen Kolar.
Science in the News
Interviews: American Scientific Affiliation Meeting 2005 Messiah College, PA.
- Darrel R. Falk, Biologist. He has written Coming to Peace With Science: Bridging the Worlds Between Faith and Biology. Listen to Darrel Falk's interview. (14 minutes)
- Dick Fischer, President of Genesis Proclaimed Association, finding harmony in Bible, Science, and History. He has written The Origins Solution. His web site is at Genesis Proclaimed Association. Listen to Dick Fisher's interview. (22 minutes)
- Glenn Morton, Geologist. He has written Adam, Apes and Anthropology. He has a web site at Glenn Morton's Creation/Evolution Home Page. Listen to Glenn Morton's interview. (19 minutes)
- George Murphy, PhD. Physics. He has written The Cosmos in Light of the Cross. His web site is at The Science-Theology Interface. Listen to George Murphy's interview. (11 minutes)
- Larry Olsen, PhD. in Physical Chemistry. He teaches at Asbury College in Wilmore, KY. He has written Two Revelations: A High View of Science and Scripture. Listen to Larry Olsen's interview. (7 minutes)
- Paul Seely, Bible scholar. He has written Inerrant Wisdom: Science and Inerrancy in Biblical Perspective. Listen to Paul Seely's interview. (30 minutes)
- Margaret Towne, Biologist. She has written Honest to Genesis. Listen to Margaret Towne's interview. (21 minutes)
Most scientific
papers are probably wrong
Most published scientific research papers are wrong, according to a new
analysis. Assuming that the new paper is itself correct, problems with experimental
and statistical methods mean that there is less than a 50% chance that the
results of any randomly chosen scientific paper are true (New Scientist)
Archaeology/Anthropology
David’s
palace in Jerusalem may have been found
A prominent Israeli archeologist claims to have uncovered the ancient palace
of King David near the Old City of Jerusalem. See also
King David's
fabled palace: Is this it? and King
David palace may have been found.
The latest on the David's Palace debate:
A debate of biblical proportions
View image of archaeologist and ruins
King David's Palace Is Found, Archaeologist Says
(free registration required)
New
finds at the “Cave of John the Baptist” and the Pool of Shiloah
(NT Pool of Siloam)
"Monumental rock-hewn water system" found during an eight-week
dig at a cave in Ein Kerem, which is regarded as the traditional birthplace
of John the Baptist. Also, sections of the earliest phase of the Shiloah
Pool, mentioned in Nehemiah 3:15, are being uncovered. See also Two
recent excavations uncover ancient water systems.
2005
excavation results at Tel Kabri
Site is possibly the Rehov of Joshua 19:28.
Shroud
of Turin Conference
Scientists, religious scholars to present Shroud of Turin findings in Dallas,
September 8-11. Is image a hoax or visible projection of Christ’s resurrection?
Philistine
city of Gath being excavated
New evidence regarding the bitter end of Gath, the largest and most important
Philistine city, was recently unearthed at a dig at Tel Zafit near the Masmia
intersection in the Lachish region.
Summary of
recent excavations in Israel
Commentary on work at Pool of Siloam, palace of David, Gath, and Hazor.
Mysterious Temple
Mt. artifact evokes `Da Vinci Code'
Cross-shaped bronze pendant shows Holy Grail lying on a crown of thorns
(Haaretz, Tel Aviv)
Organic
bath saves paper from decay
Scavenging copper from ancient inks stops archives falling apart.
Enthusiast
uses Google to reveal Roman ruins
Google Earth programme leads to remains of ancient villa.
Secrets
of the Pharaohs' Physicians Revealed
It is the oldest surgical text yet discovered. And along with a host of
artifacts, it will be the centerpiece of The Art of Medicine in Ancient
Egypt, a major exhibit set to open Sept. 13 at New York City's Metropolitan
Museum of Art.
Astronomy
Dark
matter highlights extra dimensions
Three new 'directions' could explain astronomical puzzle.
Comet
Impact Unearths More Questions
Among the surprising results, which are detailed in this week's issue of
the journal Science, is the first evidence that comets may hold more than
remnants of the solar system's formation. Tempel 1, at least, shows a geologic
history, with what looks like impact craters on its surface, as well as
layers of rock, origin unknown.
Space
2005
More than a thousand of the biggest movers and shakers in spaceflight have
gathered in Long Beach, California, to discuss how to get back to the Moon,
defend space and replace NASA's shuttle.
Dragon Storms
And Tiger Stripes: Scientists Stunned By New Saturn Data Cambridge,
England (AFP) Sep 05 2005
New data sent back by the Cassini space probe has left scientists beguiled
by Saturn's seething clouds of gas, the beauty and unexpected turbulence
of its rings and the diversity of its moons, a conference heard on Monday.
Asteroids Caused
The Early Inner Solar System Cataclysm
"When we derived the projectile sizes from the cratering record using
scaling laws, the ancient and more recent projectile sizes matched the ancient
and younger asteroid populations smack on," Strom said. "It's
an astonishing fit."
NASA Research Finds Green Sand Crystals (Olivine) Are In Comet Tempel 1
New Mexico's
Governor To Announce Launch Of New Commercial Spaceport Hartford CT
(SPX) Sep 07, 2005
New Mexico's Governor, Bill Richardson, will announce Wednesday in Santa
Fe the inaugural launch in a series of space launches to occur at the State's
new Southwest Regional Spaceport.
Aerobot
aims for Titan
Robotic plane could survey alien moons or Amazon rain forest.
Cosmic
'cigar' spins at astonishing pace
Pluto's neighbour has a very unexpected shape.
Astronomers
spot most distant explosion ever
Ancient burst shines light on junior Universe.
Space
cycle makes artificial gravity
Astronauts set to benefit from exercise revolution.
THE
BIG BANG
The question of the universe's origins has fascinated people for millennia,
and ours is the first generation of humans to have a scientific answer,
explains Martin Rees.
Biology
Exercise
Helps Reduce Pain In Old Age
People who exercise regularly experience 25% less muscle and joint pain
in their old age than people who are less active.
Chicken
Eggs Made to Produce Human Antibodies
For the past 50 years or so, chicken eggs have played a vital role in producing
the flu vaccine. Now scientists report another application for the breakfast
staple: manufacturing fully functional human monoclonal antibodies, molecules
that mimic the immune system to fight specific invaders.
Gene
defects plague stem-cell lines
Cancerous mutations threaten therapeutic future for cells.
Mouse
stem cells heal sheep hearts
Future therapy for heart attacks gets a boost.
Breakthrough
In Micro-device Fabrication Combines Biology And Synthetic Chemistry
Nanostructured micro-devices may be mass produced at a lower cost, and with
a wider variety of shapes and compositions than ever before, for dramatic
improvements in device performance.
Large-scale
Computer Simulations Reveal New Insights Into Antibiotic Resistance
Large-scale computer simulations have pinpointed a tiny change in molecular
structure that could account for drug resistance in Streptomices pneumoniae,
the organism that causes childhood pneumonia
Creation/Evolution
Chimp
Genome--and First Fossils--Unveiled
Many animals, ranging from the rat to the puffer fish, have had their genome
sequenced, and now humankind's closest living relative, the chimpanzee,
has joined the group. The recent publication of a draft sequence of this
primate's genome provides the most detailed look yet at the similarities,
and differences, between humans and chimps.
MOTHER
Of All Life
Every living thing on Earth - from humans to bacteria, from bluebells to
blue whales - is thought to be descended from one single entity, a sort
of primitive cell floating around in the primordial soup 3 or 4 billion
years ago. So what did it look like? How did it live, and where? Named the
"last universal common ancestor", or LUCA for short, it has left
no known fossil remains, nor any other physical clues to its identity. For
a long time, questions about LUCA were thought beyond the reach of science.
But now LUCA could be about to enjoy a resurrection.
Life's
Origins Were Easier Than Was Thought
An international team of scientists, leaded by Universitat Autònoma
de Barcelona researchers, has discovered that RNA early molecules were much
more resistant than was thought until now. According to the conclusions
of the study, they may have developed enough to contain around 100 genes,
which is considered to be the minimum quantity required for the most basic
forms of primitive life, similar to the bacteria we have today. The research
was published in Nature Genetics.
ID
Versus Creationism
The grassroots activists and scientific theorists don't see eye to eye.
Compiled by Rob Moll and Ted Olsen
Ending
the debate?
Edmond author hopes book will 'marry' science, religion (Edmond Sun,
Canada)
'Intelligent
design' and faith-based science
The people who are being seduced into thinking that there is a debate and
that students should hear all sides are not giving adequate attention to
the motives of the groups and institutions which have bought and paid for
the popularization of their ideology (John C. Mohawk, Indian Country
Today)
Darwinism On
Trial In Kansas Topeka, Kan. (UPI) Sep 06, 2005
Kansas is reportedly ready to approve teaching standards requiring Darwin's
theory of evolution be challenged in the classroom. See
New
school year, new battle over evolution
Is intelligent design science or religion? That's the question a U.S. district
court judge in Harrisburg will consider starting Sept. 26, and Dover voters
will weigh Nov. 4 (USA Today)
A
natural selection: intelligent design
As a critique of science, intelligent design could have a place in the classroom
too — but not as an alternative to the theory of evolution. Rather,
good biology teachers could use issues raised by the intelligent design
movement to help their classes better understand Darwinism. (Edward J. Larson,
Los Angeles Times)
Intelligent
debate according to Ernie
Up until recently I thought "intelligent design" had something
to do with the arrangement of parking spaces in the basement of large buildings.
It took my cat to straighten me out (Al Martinez, Los Angeles Times)
To read Dawkins and Coyne's "One Side Can be Wrong."
To read Dennett's "Show Me the Science."
Intelligent
donation?
Why the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation gave more than $10 million to
the Discovery Institute, champions of "intelligent design" (Salon.com)
EVOLUTION
Evolution by natural selection is the only workable theory ever proposed
that is capable of explaining life. And Richard Dawkins argues that it does
so brilliantly.
Stressed
Cells Spark DNA Repair Missteps And Speed Evolution (September 16, 2005)
When Dr. Susan Rosenberg, professor of molecular and human genetics at Baylor
College of Medicine, first published her finding that the mutation rate
increased in bacteria stressed by starvation, sometimes resulting in a rare
change that benefited the bacteria, it was controversial.
Earth Science
Japanese
Explorer Finds Evidence Of 'Robinson Crusoe's' Island Home (September
20, 2005)
On a remote, wooded island 470 miles off the coast of Chile, Japanese explorer
Daisuke Takahashi believes he has found the location of the hut where Scottish
privateer Alexander Selkirk, who likely inspired the Daniel Defoe classic
"Robinson Crusoe," lived during the four years and four months
he was marooned on the island 300 years ago.
TECTONICS
Plate tectonics is the underpinning of our living, moving planet. Earth,
like life, has evolved, and the plates provide the language of that evolution,
just as genes speak for the evolution of organisms.
CLIMATE
CHANGE
Why should we care about climate change? Because its impact could pose an
unprecedented challenge to human society. If we don't react, war, pestilence
and famine will follow close behind.
Morphology
Of Fossil Salamanders Reflects Climate Change (September 19, 2005)
A fossil record of the Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) shows
population-wide changes in body size and morphology in response to climate
change over the last 3,000 years.
Researchers
Find That Carbon Dioxide Does Not Boost Forest Growth
Levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas, have been
on the upswing over the last century. How the earth's plant life, particularly
trees, will react to the change remains unclear. Some researchers have proposed,
however, that the rising concentrations will spur plant growth and thus
allow them to store additional amounts of carbon dioxide, thereby mitigating
the atmospheric increase to some degree. Now a report disputes this claim.
A four-year study of a forest in Switzerland indicates that additional carbon
dioxide does not boost tree growth.
Dinosaur
big as a plane ruled sky
Scientists knew from fossils that the pterosaur, which roamed land and seas
all over the world for hundreds of millions of years, had a wingspan of
up to ten metres. Now analysis of fossilised footprints and bone fragments
has confirmed some specimens were almost twice as big, with wingspans of
18 metres, making them as big as a medium-sized commercial aircraft.
Skull
Study Sheds Light On Dinosaur Diversity (September 16, 2005)
With their long necks and tails, sauropod dinosaurs -- famous as the Sinclair
gasoline logo and Fred Flintstone's gravel pit tractor -- are easy to recognize,
in part because they all seem to look alike.
Physics
THEORY
OF EVERYTHING
Successful calculations about black holes and forces have given stunning
indications that our present approach to the theory of everything is the
right one, explains Lisa Randall.
New
Catalyst Produces Hydrogen from Water
The promise of a hydrogen economy, which would lessen dependence on nonrenewable
energy sources such as fossil fuels, hinges on the ability to produce and
store large amounts of the clean-burning element. New results from experiments
on a novel catalyst suggest that it can be used to coax hydrogen from water
without the need for severe reaction conditions.
Psychology
Brain
Serotonin Could Link Anxiety, Anorexia
Women with a certain type of anorexia nervosa show altered serotonin activity
in their brains, a finding doctors believe could link the eating disorder
to anxiety levels.
Battle
in the brain predicts risky behaviour
Pleasure and anxiety centres decide when a safe bet beats a dicey one.
NIMH
Study To Guide Treatment Choices For Schizophrenia
A large study for the first time provides detailed information comparing
the effectiveness and side effects of five medications -- both new and older
medications -- that are currently used.