MichaelPrewitt.com » science

God Invented Christmas Tree Lights

Michael — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 01:21:24 +0000

According to an October 25, 2008, Quirks and Quarks podcast, pine cones give off infrared heat. When viewed with infrared technology, or as “seen” by a particular kind of beetle, the cones actually glow. The beetle that is the subject of the podcast does not actually see the infrared with its eyes, as far as scientists can tell, but it has special sensors on its abdomen that allow it to sense the heat from a great distance, with an acuity that is probably as good as insect vision.

So maybe the Christmas tree lights used to decorate trees during the holidays aren’t so far off after all. They are somewhat cone-shaped. To beetles they may seem perfectly natural!

Acts & Facts: A Free Publication From the Institute for Creation Research

Michael — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 04:16:56 +0000

Anyone who has an interest in the creationism-evolution conflict, or who enjoys creationist writings in general, should request a free subscription to Acts & Facts. I just received my first issue, and it was really interesting. There was a short biography on a Bible-believing scientist, an insightful look at Hyracotherium (whom you may remember from biology textbooks as the “little horse” that predated modern horses), a well-thought article on whether science is the only path to real knowledge, and quite a bit more. It’s an attractive full-color publication, and the articles are easy to read. This publication is produced by the Institute for Creation Research, a very well known creation-science organization.

Francis Collins: The Scientist as Believer

Michael — Sun, 27 May 2007 19:39:17 +0000

The February 2007 issue of National Geographic included an interesting featurette, “Francis Collins: The Scientist as Believer.” Francis Collins is the leader of the Human Genome Project (and a Bible-believing Christian), and he was interviewed by John Horgan, an author on religion and science issues (who happens to be agnostic).

The interview, although brief, covers some important topics, such as miracles, religious extremism, suffering, free will, and neurotheology. The questions are candid, and the answers are simple. Well-read Christians who have an interest in science or theology will probably not learn anything new, but for me the article was significant in two ways: First, the fact that it appeared in National Geographic is remarkable in itself. Second, it suggests that in 2007 the doubts about basic Christian teachings are the same as, and as shallow as, they have always been.

While I’m talking about it, here are my own additions to the dialog (these will make more sense if you read the linked article above first):

Miracles: The idea that miracles “violate” science is a common but unfounded idea. The accusation that miracles are against the laws of science presupposes an absurdity: that God cannot directly manipulate matter and energy. It is no more of a violation of nature’s laws for God to hold water molecules steady while Jesus walked across the waves, than it is for a parent to hold up his or her child during swimming lessons. There is not one miracle in the Bible that cannot be interpreted as manipulation of matter and energy by an omnipotent God.

Prayer: Horgan’s question highlights the superstitious view of prayer that seems all too common. Namely, if we pray “hard enough,” or long enough, or are ourselves saintly enough, God will hear; otherwise, He won’t. Although the Bible does suggest that persistence in prayer is a virtue, it also strongly suggests that “No” is a fully qualified answer to even our best prayers, and that the focus of a mature Christian’s prayer should be on spiritual aims more than on selfish or earthly objects. (That is not to suggest that worldly concerns do not have spiritual significance, or that God does not care about our happiness. But I am saying that the bigger picture is where God’s priorities lie, and should be where ours are also.)

Religious power: The growth of religious extremism in all faiths, including Christianity, should be a subject of concern. There is no inherent virtue in religion per se.

Suffering and tragedy: It is unlikely we will ever know in this life why certain things happen. However, the New Testament declares, Satan is “the god of this world.” We live in a world where Satan’s principles are followed, and consequently where he is king. Suffering is the way we learn what happens when Satan’s principles are followed. Sin affects the sinner, and it affects everyone else, even God. If there was no horror and brutality and mayhem in our world, how would we associate those outcomes with the actions that brought them about?

May 12 Lesson Study: The Bible and Science

Michael — Sun, 13 May 2007 18:41:32 +0000

I taught one of the adult Bible classes at my church this morning. The topic was “The Bible and Science.” It almost seemed funny to me that the study guide devoted one class to this topic, which has raged unabated around the world for the past couple centuries. But I accept the choice of the editors of our study guide to handle it that way, since it is only one facet of a topic we are studying for 13 weeks, “The Bible for Today.” Still, to wrap up centuries of argument and counter-argument in a 45-minute class is a bit daunting!

Since many of my friends reading this blog are following the same study guide, I won’t go into all the points here. But here is a basic outline of our discussion:

What is science? Science is the systematic study of the world we live in, our universe, and ourselves, to determine cause and effect relationships and to acquire useful knowledge. Ideally, rigorous methods are used to safeguard the validity of scientific research. By nature of its methods, science is limited to that which is consistent in human experience and that which can be objectively tested.

Is science good? Yes. Virtually everyone in our group indicated personal enjoyment of one or more branches of science, including astronomy (probably the most popular field of science in our group), physics, anatomy, and biology. We have also benefited greatly from science in such fields as medicine and technology. Many in our church work at a worldwide television and radio network, which is highly dependent on advanced technology for many aspects of its day-to-day operations. Psalm 8:3, 4 encourages us to study the world we live in. Daniel 1:4 indicates that science was a field of study for the prophet Daniel and his friends. Mark 2:27 (the Sabbath being related to creation itself), Isaiah 45:18, Psalm 8:6, and other passages indicate this world was made of us — not merely to be lived in, but to be studied and understood.

What are the limitations of science? We didn’t have time to fully explore this question. But we talked about how everything in science, and especially any point that delves into the distant past or deals with highly theoretical subjects, is subject to interpretation. Only in the light of divine truth can we interpret correctly (Proverbs 1:7). Not all conclusions of mainstream science are equally valid (1 Timothy 6:20). Although nature clearly points to a divine Author, it is possible for humans, because of their perversity, to be blind to the evidence (Romans 1:20-25).

Can science prove the Bible true? While practical proof, or evidence, is abundant, absolute proof is impossible. This is equally true for both doctrine and scientific theory. Ultimately what we believe will always be a matter of faith, whether it is Christianity, paganism, atheism, or something else. The best we can do is find a source of authority that is consistent and settled, and which gives us useful answers. For the most important questions of life, science offers little help, and moreover, popular science fallacies have caused widespread misery, depravity, and despair. On the other hand, Christianity has given many of us purpose and meaning in life, and rings true even today, having stood the test of time.

Do science and the Bible agree? Ideally, yes. Do scientists and theologians agree? Often, no. We discussed reasons for this disconnect. There are undoubtedly various causes. Some that we discussed include: (1) The abuse of science by the church, especially during the long centuries when the spiritually corrupted imperial church of Rome became dogmatic in matters of science. (2) Poor discipleship of young Christians, contributing to their lack of biblical knowledge and misunderstanding of Christian belief, predisposing them to be swayed by false science later in life. (3) Ignorance of science and the presence of superstition within branches of the church, which erode the credibility of the church in the eyes of educated persons.

Historically, science was not always at odds with faith. In the class, I mentioned a short list of important scientists, including many of the most famous and influential scientists, all people of faith. Not only did their faith not interfere with their science, in many cases they regarded faith and God as the motivation and purpose of their research. Here are some of the sources I pulled from:

* * *

There were some points in my notes that we did not cover due to lack of time:

Does modern science owe anything to Christianity? The Christian worldview contains a number of pro-science suppositions that were not widespread in the pre-Christian (pagan) world. I am indebted to David Asscherick and the Pan de Vida audio commentary series for the following points, elements of the Christian worldview: Nature is real, not imaginary; nature is not God; nature (the material world) is good and worth studying; nature is unified and orderly; the natural order is mathematically precise; human minds are in the image of the original mind (God’s), and thus can understand the natural order. These Christian beliefs provided a framework that allowed science to flourish in the Western world.

Do scientific findings support the Bible? It is important that nature and the Bible agree, since they have one Author. But science, understood as that which is commonly believed by those calling themselves scientists, may or may not agree with the Bible. Popular science is full of conjecture, bias, and wishful thinking — and therefore, error. The Bible has no need for this kind of scientific support. Indeed, the idea that the Bible needs scientific props shows a lack of faith. Popular science is itself a faith venture, and since it lacks the divine illumination we find in the Bible, there is no reason to accept popular science as trustworthy in any spiritual or moral context. Even when scientific findings seem to match divine revelation, we must be careful not to infuse science with any spiritual authority.

Nevertheless, certain branches of science do seem to undercut naturalistic materialism and point to a Creator. These include anthropic coincidences (ways the universe seems tuned to support life), astronomy, biology, and geology.

What is God’s role in relation to the natural world? See Genesis 1:1; Psalm 100:3; John 1:1-3; Acts 17:24-31; Colossians 1:16-17.

For those wishing to explore further, I recommend the books The Wedge of Truth by Phillip Johnson, and Evidence of Purpose, edited by John Marks Templeton.

Reading Minds

Michael — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 03:26:01 +0000

“What would it mean to be able to listen in on other’s thoughts? This idea has been a science fiction staple, but recent advances in imaging and neuropsychology are starting to make it look as if it might soon be possible.” From the Quirks and Quarks website.

One of the podcasts that I subscribe to on iTunes is “Quirks and Quarks,” a science talk show. I don’t listen to every episode, but mainly the ones that especially interest me. This one titled, “Reading Minds,” grabbed my attention. And it was definitely worth listening to. You can find a link to this particular program here. Prepare to be surprised and amazed, if not somewhat concerned. If you’re the fun-loving type, pay particular attention to the small segment on “false memories,” and to the word list that is given, and to the questions that immediately follow. I fell for this mental trick, and the explanation of why it works is quite revealing.

(If you aren’t familiar with podcasts and would like to try this one, just download the free iTunes program and install it, run it, and configure it to your liking. Then once you have it running, click on the Music Store section in the left pane, and then in the “Search Music Store” field at the very top-right side of the window, type “quirks and quarks.” The search may turn up related items for sale, but the podcasts are free, so look for the word “free” or “subscribe.” When I last checked, the “Quirks and Quarks” podcast was at the bottom of the list. Of course there are thousands of other podcasts to choose from, virtually all of them free. You can browse them from inside the iTunes Music Store. If you are using iTunes for the first time, just be aware that the application’s built-in advertising is mainly geared towards music albums and audiobooks that are available for purchase.)