Intelligent Design and Biblical Scripture

November 13, 2014
By Guest Writer

Pope Francis drew some media attention last month for his reiteration of the decades-old Catholic endorsement of the big bang theory and evolution as a means of creation. The Washington Post summarized the pope’s statements:1

The pontiff appeared to endorse the theory of the Big Bang and told the gathering at the Vatican that there was no contradiction between believing in God as well as the prevailing scientific theories regarding the expansion of our universe.

“When we read about creation in Genesis, we run the risk of imagining God was a magician, with a magic wand able to do everything. But that is not so,” Francis said. “He created human beings and let them develop according to the internal laws that he gave to each one so they would reach their fulfillment.”

The pope avoids gesturing at the thorny issue (at least for some Christians) of whether humans descended from apes. Atheists argue, moreover, that understanding the Big Bang and what emerged from that cosmic moment obviates a need to believe in a deity. On that count, Francis obviously disagrees.

This position is nothing new. The Catholic Church has supported compatibility between evolution and Christianity (sometimes called theistic evolution) since at least the publication of Pope Pius XII’s encyclical Humani Generis in 1950.2

As an old-earth creationist organization, Reasons to Believe (RTB) would agree that the big bang is compatible with, even supportive of, biblical creation. The Bible describes four key characteristics—a singular beginning, cosmic expansion, and constant laws of physics including the law of decay—that define a big bang universe. Genesis 1:1 and Hebrews 11:3 declare that the universe began to exist (thus required a Beginner). At least five biblical writers describe what may be an expanding universe (e.g., Job 9:8; Psalm 104:2; Isaiah 40:22; 42:5; 44:24; 45:12; 48:13; 51:13; Jeremiah 10:12; 51:15; and Zechariah 12:1). Scripture also talks about the constancy of the laws of physics (see Jeremiah 33:25). Romans 8:18–21 speaks of a pervasive law of decay. Scientists now have the ability to measure these characteristics, thereby demonstrating the Bible’s reliable description of cosmic history. (See the RTB 101: Big Bang web page.)

However, RTB disagrees with the Catholic Church on the issue of evolution. While acceptance of evolution as a means of creation is not “a salvation issue,” it does raise some legitimate theological concerns for Christians. Theologian and philosopher Kenneth Samples points to human origins in particular. “The biblical issues are a little dicey,” he says. “Does theistic evolution require you to relegate Adam and Eve to the status of mythological figures?” (See here and here.)

Many believers feel strongly that such a shift would change our New Testament understanding, of Romans 5 in particular, where Paul compares Adam and Christ. Kenneth elaborates, “It’s apparent, I think, that both Paul and Jesus believed that Adam was a historical person. I think it would deeply affect one’s view of inspiration if you thought Jesus and Paul had an erroneous view of Adam and Eve.”

Kenneth points out that theistic evolution seems to require a questionable shift in literary genres (from history to mythology) and also faces challenges in explaining particular passages. For example, Genesis 2:7 describes God creating Adam from the dust of the earth. “That seems to move from the inanimate (dust) to the animate (human),” Kenneth explains. “But if we believe in evolution, then the move is from animate (hominid) to animate (modern human). This doesn’t seem to square easily with Scripture.”

But what about science? Does it require us to assume an evolutionary model for life’s origin and history, whether that model includes God or not? Not necessarily.

Yes, several facets of evolution have proven true. For example, we know that microorganisms, bacteria, and viruses evolve. They evolve resistance to antibiotics and antiviral compounds. We know that organisms can adapt to changing environments; this would be microevolution (e.g., peppered moths). We know that evolution even happened at the level of speciation, where one species can give rise to a closely related sister species (e.g., Darwin’s finches).

It is important, however, to distinguish between microevolution (adaptation) and speciation and the large-scale macroevolution that most Darwinists envision (see here and here and here). Biochemist Fazale Rana explains, “Evidence for evolution at small scales doesn’t mean that it explains abiogenesis or the emergence of life from non-life, or that it can explain the entirety of life’s history.” (The Cambrian explosion is an excellent example of natural history causing trouble for the evolutionary paradigm.) Moreover, Fazale argues that many features claimed as evidence of common descent (such as shared anatomical and genetic characteristics) can also be interpreted as evidence for common design. (See “Do You Know the Difference between Observation and Interpretation? Part 1 and Part 2.”)

Though neither science nor Scripture require acceptance of the evolutionary paradigm, many genuine Christians, including Catholics, believe evolution is the best way of explaining life on Earth. Kenneth concludes, “While theistic evolution is an explanatory interpretation in progress (with some views closer to orthodoxy than others), I don’t think, at least yet, that it means that a person couldn’t affirm historic Christianity. I know there’s a whole group of theistic evolutionists who would rather be called evolutionary creationists and are trying to justify a historical Adam. I certainly want to hear them and I want to hear how they can do that from a biblical point of view.”

RTB looks forward to participating in the discussion about theistic evolution and the relationship between science and Scripture.

****

If you’d like to hear in-depth explanations of the old-earth view of creation and why we reject the evolutionary paradigm, we recommend the following resources:

Dissecting Evolution: A Closer Look at a Controversial Theory (audio CD or MP3) with Hugh Ross, Fazale Rana, and Kenneth Samples
The Cambrian Mystery (audio CD or MP3) with Fazale Rana and Hugh Ross
RTB Live! vol. 9: Who’s Your Daddy? (DVD) with Fazale Rana
RTB Live! vol. 8: A Revealing Fossil Record (DVD) with Hugh Ross
RTB Live! vol. 6: Made in the Image of God (DVD) with Kenneth Samples

Guest Writer

RTB guest writers employ their backgrounds, education, and experiences to provide faith-building, testable evidence, each from the perspective of their unique disciplines.

For a listing of all of our Guest Writers, click here

References:

Ishaan Tharoor, “Pope Francis Says Evolution Is Real and God Is No Wizard,” Washington Post, October 28, 2014, http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/10/28/pope-francis-backs-theory-of-evolution-says-god-is-no-wizard/.
Ibid.
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Science has become king in the minds of most people; especially our youth. It’s what gives us our conveniences which allows for more social intercourse. Science and technology has made communicating with love ones any place on the planet a very simple act. Medical science has made many advances which has lengthen our life expectancy and alleviated much pain and suffering. As a result, people are placing their faith in the government who perpetrates scientific endeavors.

It’s a good things to have a government who the people can have faith in, but your government becoming your parent has never been a good idea. Advances in technology has given governments the ability to pry into one’s private life easily. Ideology has already been developed for a globalized government called one world government which can be supported by the advancements in technology mainly in the field of surveillance and active psychological profiles.

Civil rights with quality liberties and freedoms are endangered when powers can invade the privacy of the mind with threats; furthermore, enforce such threats, but the real deep threat is the attack on our faith in God. An individual has no standing if opposed maliciously by others without what is wrong or right; his feelings not counted and livelihood can be virtually destroyed. A person’s life becomes what others in power decides it to be or not to be. You may have the right to seek options but others will have the power to make trying other options very unsuccessful if they so want.

The measurement of the quality of a state is how each individual is treated. For this to happen, a society must have a standard of morality to make determinations of what is right or wrong. If this is not present than behind the scene powers determines what is right or wrong for you with their best interest in mind. If you think things are going great for you now than just live longer.

Our government is slowly becoming our parents by merely allowing situations which are conducive to creating a need for more laws. The influx of drugs into the States that authorities claim that they can not stop is a prime example. Laws are being created daily; it shall reach a point when the one world government shall begin to enforce all the laws with punishments including prison and many others rather than imprisonment such as termination of your employment being one among many. At this time, there are enough petty laws to constitute a totalitarian government. The social machinery exist now that is needed for enforcement of all laws plus under the covers policies.

Science may be a good king now but it shall become our oppressor if not moderated by our religious beliefs and moral standard. After all, there shall always be those mad scientist who desires more power aided by the government who always want more power in order to control the people.

Education and knowledge does not necessarily support morality. They are not directly related. The German Nazis are a prime example. All the knowledge in the world doesn’t insure against unthinkable acts of violence against people. Faith in God with a personal conviction always has resisted unscrupulous powers. The individual has standing with God, and knows what is right or wrong. The individual can withstand the winds of public opinion.

*** Will Myers
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October 30, 2014
Guest Writer, Dr. Jeff Zweerink

From Jeremiah in Vancouver, Washington

Hello Reasons staff,

Revelation 21:1 says, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away” (NIV). Do you think that this could be hinting at the possibility of a multiverse?

****

Great question, Jeremiah! I think the “new heaven and new earth” shows that the present universe is not the only physical realm contained in God’s plan. Revelation 20–21 and other biblical descriptions of the forthcoming creation imply a new physical realm with some new physics not at work in the current universe.

For example, New Jerusalem is described as a cube measuring 12,000 stadia (about 1,400 miles) on each side. Such a structure cannot exist in the present universe because gravity would force something that size into a sphere. Thus, it appears that the new creation must exhibit some different form of gravity.

I find it entirely plausible in reading the Bible (partially based on the passage you mention) that God might have created a multiverse. However, just because God will create a universe, different from the present one, for redeemed humanity to inhabit forever does not mean that he did create a multiverse that contains the current cosmos.

From an apologetics perspective, research into the multiverse seems to reinforce the necessity for both a Beginner and a Designer.

For more information on the multiverse, visit our Multiverse web page.

Subjects: Multiverse
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By Will Myers

The world is in such a state that one can only believe half of what they first see and nothing of what they hear. Politicians continually yo-yo from one extreme to another attempting to pacify the people and gain favor. God’s Spirit of Truth speaks only what he hears and tells of things to come. The Spirit of Truth proceeds from God in the world and speaks perfectly. The Spirit of Truth testifies of the Son of God, Jesus.

Those that have accepted Jesus as their Lord and loves Jesus and have received from God the Comforter (God’s Holy Spirit internally); this is being born again. These saved souls begin to recognize the Spirit of Truth in the world. The Comforter send from God is in His Son’s name. The Comforter also testifies about the Son of God, Jesus. In addition the Comforter reveals mystery after mystery until all mysteries are revealed. This is man’s relationship with God.

The universe is constantly suggesting the Word of God. The heavens declare the glory of God. The firmaments shows His handiwork. As we make our observations in life one can access things from their learning experience for themselves, the selfish belief, or put God first, the God that your soul shall be with you for eternity, while seeking God’s Kingdom. The scriptures says that anyone who seeks God diligently shall have all things added unto them.

Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Hebrews 11:3
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Isaiah 28:16
Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Zion means in Hebrew the essence of things. Therefore, God has laid a stone in the essence of things…all things. All means All. His Righteousness holds me and all others together, and His disciplines directs us; for all things reflects His Righteousness. The stone that God laid is always what the Spirit of Truth in the world is speaking of; based on this the Spirit of Truth proceeding from God speaks of things to come. Man mimics all of above, but falls quite short.

One can relieve the depressive and oppressiveness in the world by letting God’s Holy Spirit (Who works as the Spirit of Truth in the world and the Comfort within saved persons) control their life. Presently, Christianity is under attack but it shall rise again because the Spirit of Truth always rides a slow horse, but a sure horse, and liars rides a fiery and fast horse. The slow horse surely shall walk into the camp.

” Do everything unto the Lord ” and the Lord shall be with you making all things right for you.

*** Author Will Myers

October 27, 2014
By Guest Writer

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

— Psalm 139:13–14

When anticipating the birth of a child—be it our own or a grandchild, niece or nephew—we might find ourselves contemplating the wonder of human life and the way in which God designs each unique person. Certainly life is a miracle—but what kind of miracle? I’d suggest that each and every one of us is an example of a hypernatural miracle.

Theologian Daniel Dyke and physicist Hugh Henry describe hypernaturalism as “the extraordinary use of natural law by the God described in the Bible,”1 distinguishing it from supernaturalism, which operates outside the natural laws (supernatural miracles would include the Virgin birth and resurrection of Christ from the dead). Hypernaturalism is God’s use of natural mechanisms in unusual ways and involves the power of God to “manipulate nature by overcoming ridiculously small probabilities within natural law.”2 Possible biblical examples of hypernatural miracles include the parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21–28) and Elijah’s calling down fire from heaven (1 Kings 18:3).

Biochemist Fazale Rana, along with Dyke and Henry, also applied hypernaturalism to the origin of life, integrating the otherwise seemingly dichotomous concepts of intelligent design with methodological naturalism.3 As they suggest, the origin of life could have occurred through strictly natural means and yet would still qualify as a miracle.

The concept of hypernaturalism has powerful implications throughout Christian apologetics and may be much more prevailing than most people realize. Let’s look at an example close to home—the origin of your own self.

Consider this question: Who made you—God or your parents? According to biblical Scriptures, God created everything that has ever been made (John 1:3; Revelation 4:11)—that includes each and every one of us as unique human individuals (Psalm 139:14; Jeremiah 1:5; Matthew 10:30; Ephesians 1:4). At the same time, science can describe how meiosis, genetic recombination, gene expression, and environmental factors produce human individuals. In other words, God made you, yet you came into this world via natural mechanisms. Would not the concept of hypernaturalism apply here—especially when we consider the incredibly slim odds that natural mechanisms alone will produce you, instead of someone else?

Hypernaturalism and You

For the purposes of this discussion, I will focus on the genetic and chromosomal aspects of a unique human individual’s origin. It is well known that genetic recombination through sexual reproduction (meiosis and fertilization) maintains genetic diversity among populations and species.4 Meiosis is a category of cell division that involves the division of homologous chromosome pairs in a parent diploid (2n) cell to produce haploid (n) cells of gametes (ova and sperm) for the purposes of reproduction. Fertilization of gametes restores the paired condition of these homologous chromosome pairs to produce a zygote containing the genetic foundation of a unique new individual.

There are three primary sources for maintaining genetic diversity.5

1. Independent assortment of homologous chromosome pairs. Every human inherits one set of homologous chromosome pairs from each parent. These pairs must be lined up and separated during the first division of meiosis. Independent assortment pertains to the fact that each pair of chromosomes lines up independently of all other pairs—just as the result of one coin toss is independent of other coin tosses. Because independent assortment is considered statistically random, the number of possible outcomes of chromosomes among the gametes can be reflected by the formula 2n, where n is the haploid number (or number of pairs of homologous chromosomes). Humans have 23 pairs of homologous chromosomes; therefore each human gamete produced by an individual person represents one in 223 (or one in 8,388,608) possible outcomes, based on independent assortment alone.

2. Random fertilization of gametes. Fertilization is also generally considered a statistically random event. If each gamete represents 2n possible outcomes, then each zygote produced at fertilization between two parents represents 2n x 2n possible outcomes. For humans, that number exceeds 70 trillion. If one couple produced 70 trillion children, two of the children might be genetically identical (aside from identical twins, which come from a single zygote). However, the odds of you being you don’t stop there.

3. Crossing over between homologous chromosomes. Early into meiosis (prophase I), homologous pairs of chromosomes make contact and swap pieces with one another, resulting in recombinant chromosomes in the gametes that differ in genetic makeup from the chromosomes of the parent. The numbers stated above assume no crossover events. Obviously, crossing over would have the potential to drive the odds considerably higher.

What this all means is that the odds of your parents producing you—as opposed to someone else—genetically speaking, are hundreds-of-trillions-to-one. If you think these odds seem unfathomable, consider the fact that these odds also exist for both of your parents, for each of your four grandparents, for each of your eight great-grandparents, and so on, for as far back as human history goes. The genetic basis behind your unique physical makeup certainly qualifies as overcoming ridiculously small probabilities within natural law. The odds of you being you are so incalculable that it may make the fine-tuning of the universe seem trivial by comparison. Perhaps the best example you will see of a divinely inspired and fine-tuned physical object is to look at yourself in the mirror, for each and every one of us are indeed “fearfully and wonderfully made.”

Matthew R. McClure

Dr. Matthew McClure received his PhD in zoology from Texas A&M University in 1994, and is currently professor of biology at Lamar State College–Orange.

Subjects: Life Design
Guest Writer

RTB guest writers employ their backgrounds, education, and experiences to provide faith-building, testable evidence, each from the perspective of their unique disciplines.
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Guest Writer, Anna Lemind

REALITY is not as obvious and simple as we like to think. Some of the things that we accept as true at face value are notoriously wrong. Scientists and philosophers have made every effort to change our common perceptions of it. The 10 examples below will show you what I mean.

1. Great Glaciation: Great glaciation is the theory of the final state that our universe is heading toward. The universe has a limited supply of energy. According to this theory, when that energy finally runs out, the universe will devolve into a frozen state. Heat energy produced by the motion of the particles, heat loss, a natural law of the universe, means that eventually this particle motion will slow down and, presumably, one day everything will stop.

2. Solipsism. Solipsism is a philosophical theory, which asserts that nothing exists but the individual’s consciousness. At first it seems silly – and who generally got it into his head completely deny the existence of the world around us? Except when you put your mind to it, it really is impossible to verify anything but your own consciousness. Don’t you believe me? Think a moment and think of all the possible dreams that you have experienced in your life. Is it not possible that everything around you is nothing but an incredibly intricate dream? But we have people and things around us that we cannot doubt, because we can hear, see, smell, taste and feel them, right? Yes, and no. People who take LSD, for example, say that they can touch the most convincing hallucinations, but we do not claim that their visions are “reality”. Your dreams simulate sensations as well, after all, what you perceive is what different sections of your brain tell you to. As a result, which parts of existence can we not doubt? None. Not the chicken we ate for dinner or the keyboard beneath our fingers. Each of us can only be sure in his own thoughts.

3. Idealist Philosophy George Berkeley, the father of Idealism, argued that everything exists as an idea in someone’s mind. Berkley discovered that some of his comrades considered his theory stupid. The story goes that one of his detractors kicked a stone with his eyes closed and said, “There I’ve disproved it!” The idea being that if the stone really only exists in his imagination, he could not have kicked it with his eyes closed. Refutation of Berkeley is hard to understand, especially in these days. He argued that there is an omnipotent and omnipresent God, who sees all and all at once. Realistic, or not?

4. Plato and Logos. reality illusion Everybody has heard of Plato. He is the world’s most famous philosopher. Like all philosophers he had a few things to say about reality. He argued that beyond our perceived reality there lies a world of “perfect” forms. Everything that we see is just a shade, an imitation of how things truly are. He argued that by studying philosophy we have a chance of catching a glimpse of how things truly are, of discovering the perfect forms of everything we perceive. In addition to this stunning statement, Plato, being a monist, said that everything is made of a single substance. Which means (according to him) that diamonds, gold and dog feces all consist of the same basic material, but in a different form, which, with science’s discovery of atoms and molecules, has been proven true to an extent.

5. Presentism. Time is something that we perceive as a matter of course, if we view it at the moment, we usually divide it into past, present and future. Presentism argues that the past and the future are imagined concepts, while only the present is real. In other words, today’s breakfast and every word of this article will cease to exist after you have read it, until you open it again. The future is just as imaginary, because time cannot exist before and after it happened, as claimed by St. Augustine.

6. Eternalism. Enternalism is the exact opposite of presentism. This is a philosophical theory that says that time is multi-layered. It can be compared to a pound cake (however, unlike the time, a biscuit is not up for philosophical debate). All time exists simultaneously, but the measurement is determined by the observer. What he sees depends on which point he is looking at. Thus dinosaurs, World War II and Justin Bieber all exist simultaneously but can only be observed from a specific location. If one takes this view of reality then the future is hopeless and the deterministic free will is illusory.

7. The Brain in a Jar The “brain in a jar” thought experiment is a question discussed by thinkers and scientists, who, like most people, believe that human’s understanding of reality depends solely on his subjective feelings. So, what is the debate? Imagine that you are just a brain in a jar that is run by aliens or mad scientists. How would you know? And can you truly deny the possibility that this is your reality? This is a modern interpretation of the Cartesian evil demon problem. This thought experiment leads to the same conclusion: we cannot confirm the actual existence of anything except our consciousness. If this seems to sound reminiscent of the movie “The Matrix“, it is only because this idea was part of the very basis of the story. Unfortunately, in reality we have no red pills…

8. The Multiverse Theory multiverse reality Anyone who has not spent the last ten years on a desert island, has at least once heard of “the multiverse”, or parallel universes. As many of us have seen, parallel words, in theory, are worlds very similar to ours, with little (or in some cases, large) changes or differences. The multiverse theory speculates that there could exist an infinite number of these alternate realities. What’s the point? In a parallel reality you have already killed the dinosaurs, and you are lying under the ground at a depth of eight feet (because that’s what happened there.) In the other you might be a powerful dictator. In another you might never have even been born since your parents never met. Now that’s a memorable image.

9. Fictional realism. This is the most fascinating branch of multiverse theory. Superman is real. Yes, some of you would probably choose a different story, for argument’s sake, Harry Potter might be real too. This branch of the theory argues that given an infinite number of universes, everything must exist somewhere. So, all of our favorite fiction and fantasy may be descriptive of an alternate universe, one where all the right pieces came in to place to make it happen.

10. Phenomenalism. Everyone is interested in what happens to things when we aren’t looking at them. Scientists have carefully studied this problem and some of them came to a simple conclusion – they disappear. Well, not quite like this. Phenomenalist philosophers believe that objects only exist as a phenomenon of consciousness. So, your laptop is only here while you are aware of, and believe in its existence, but when you turn away from it, it ceases to exist until you or someone else interacts with it. There is no existence without perception.

This is the root of phenomenalism. via listverse.com Read more at: http://www.learning-mind.com/10-mind-blowing-theories-that-will-change-your-perception-of-the-world/

Written by Dr. Caroline Leaf

Relating with members of the opposite sex can be frustrating and difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. Successful relationships begin in the mind (which seeks understanding) and, through the choices we make, will end in the Spirit (which knows truth). In my book, “Who switched off your brain? The mystery of he said/she said”, I show the three C’s of relationships:

We are designed to complete each other and not compete with each other. We are compatible. We are complimentary.

Men and women have been created to complement one another through their own unique strengths; we are exponentially better together. This goes for husband/wife, father/daughter, mother/son, personal and professional relationships.

It does not take PhD to know men and women are not the same – we don’t think the same, talk the same or act the same. These differences aren’t a result of our environments and our upbringing, they’re built in by design, God’s design. As it say in Genesis 1:27, “He made male and female in His image.”

The video clip below from a series I did at Victory world church in Atlanta, highlights some of these points that I discuss in depth in my book “Who switched off your brain? The mystery of he said/she said”. More than a marriage series, it is filled with key insights that will help you better understand the often mysterious behavior of the opposite sex, and practical tips that will quickly improve your relationships! That book is also available as a digital download.

You are you and your express your uniqueness through your maleness and your femaleness, and you will be interacting with the opposite sex daily whether you like it or not! So in order to not get toxic in our minds, we need to understand each other and target that struggle! In doing so we increase our intelligence, health and longevity!

Why is this important? Here is a sobering thought: research shows that couples that have especially sarcastic and argumentative discussions heal 40% slower than those who don’t. And we all want to be healthy! So let’s start the holiday season with great relationships and thanksgiving in our hearts!

VIDEO
JOIN US AT THE 2015 ANNUAL SWITCH ON YOUR BRAIN CONFERENCE – DALLAS TEXAS AUGUST 21st/22nd TO DISCOVER THE PERFECT YOU!

REGISTER now for early bird pricing! Reserve your Hotel room (WESTIN – Dallas/Fort Worth Airport). There are special rates for Conference delegates and an Organic meal and refreshments will be provide on the Saturday. The hotel provides shuttle services.

Delegates at the Conference will each receive a signed Copy of Dr Leaf’s hardcover book THE GIFT IN YOU and after completing the Gift Profile will develop an understanding in maximising their Gift as well as Practical exercises in Choosing to live out their Gift and overcome Gift Blockers.

READ MORE about the Perfect You! Order the hardcover book or the DIGITAL DOWNLOAD to understand your Gift from God, your Perfect way of thinking.
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October 20, 2014
By Guest Writer, Dr. Jeff Zweerink

“Two great tastes that taste great together!” So goes the tagline for Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. The first ingredient—chocolate—provides the sweet, rich taste. The second—peanut butter—adds a dense, salty kick. Together, they do indeed taste great.

And just like you need chocolate and peanut butter to make a Reese’s, so you need liquid water and plate tectonics to make a habitable planet.

Virtually everyone agrees that a habitable planet hosts an abundance of liquid water—the chemical reactions necessary for life require it. Research also shows that plate tectonic activity plays an important role in sustaining a planet’s liquid water. Studies of Earth’s history demonstrate that a diverse set of circumstances and mechanisms maintain the vital tectonic activity. And scientists continue to gain an even better understanding of the intricate processes that helped Earth sustain a healthy level of tectonic activity over billions of years.

As plates move across Earth’s surface, new plate material forms along some boundaries and at other boundaries one plate will dive under another in a process called subduction. Today, subduction happens as the young plate material moves away from hot ridges and cools. Eventually it cools to the point where it no longer floats on top of the less dense mantle and begins to sink.

Early Earth’s interior and mantle were too warm for this process to occur regularly. However, recent research shows that a different mechanism operated to maintain a healthy level of tectonic activity. Continental material forming and accumulating in the middle regions of the plates caused the plates to spread horizontally and push on the adjacent plates. Eventually one of the plates would push under another, thus starting the process of subduction. As time progressed, Earth continued to cool until the point where the cold plate edges would spontaneously sink into the underlying mantle.1

Plate tectonics has operated on Earth for at least the last three billion years—yet the planet has experienced enormous changes throughout this time. The Sun’s luminosity was previously 20–30 percent lower. The planet began with virtually no atmospheric oxygen and now oxygen makes up roughly 20 percent of the atmosphere. Once there were no continents; now they cover almost 30 percent of the planet surface. Life’s history began with relatively simple, single-celled life and now includes a great diversity of birds, mammals, fish, bacteria, and many other kinds of life.

These changes demonstrate a remarkable match to the description given in Genesis 1. The fact that plate tectonics operated throughout these changes and Earth’s surface remained covered in liquid water point to an intelligence that ensured the planet’s habitability while orchestrating all the necessary changes for humanity to survive and thrive.

Subjects: Plate Tectonics
Guest Writer, Dr. Jeff Zweerink

While many Christians and non-Christians see faith and science as in perpetual conflict, I find they integrate well. They operate by the same principles and are committed to discovering foundational truths. Read more about Dr. Jeff Zweerink.

References:

Patrice F. Rey, Nicolas Coltice, and Nicolas Flament, “Spreading Continents Kick-started Plate Tectonics,” Nature 513 (September 18, 2014): 405–8.

When the world seem to be in chaos the Word of God remains the foundation. God has a plan for each soul and each collective parties as for Christians.

Proverbs 19:20-21
Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

Psalm 17:3
Thou hast tested mine heart; Thou hast visited me in the night; Thou hast tried me and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

Psalm 64:5
They encourage each other in an evil purpose; they commune in laying snares privily; they say, “Who shall see them?”

Psalm 140:4
Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man, who has purposed to overthrow my goings.

Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

God’s plan is non negotiable and never withdrawn. Once working in the vein of God’s plan for you brings joy regardless of the circumstances. The plan is not tentative but is absolute. Your desired self shall materialize and this is best for all mankind.

Each bible scripture gives joy for a time when in the Spirit of Jesus, the Son of God. Continuing in the knowledge of the Word of God brings more times of enjoyment. The world condemns the truth of the scriptures and shall suppress your joy, but continually building wealth of knowledge of the Word of God shall overcome the world’s condemnation.

Compromising any scripture shall lead to the lost of all of it; for God is perfect. Seek His Perfect Will. Jesus is available at any time to guide you and counsel you unto the truth.

Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Seek God’s counsel in the name of Jesus and all things shall be added unto you. The Lord Jesus shall lift you as an eagle and soar high above all, and shall reveal to you answers to mystery after mystery until all is revealed.

*** Will Myers

October 16, 2014
Guest Writer, Dr. Fazale Rana

Who trusted God was love indeed
And love Creation’s final law
Tho’ Nature, red in tooth and claw
With ravine, shriek’d against his creed

— Alfred, Lord Tennyson, In Memoriam A.H.H.

If God exists—and if He is all-powerful, -knowing, and -good—why is there so much pain and suffering in the world?

Perhaps nothing epitomizes the problem of pain and suffering more than the cruelty observed in nature. When asked about the elegant designs that characterize biological systems, Charles Darwin retorted, “What a book a devil’s chaplain might write on the clumsy, wasteful, blundering, low and horridly cruel work of nature!”

This enigma keeps many skeptics and seekers from the Christian faith and even troubles some believers. Yet, researchers from the US have recently uncovered an important function for long-lasting pain in animals, signifying that the suffering these creatures experience can have a purpose.1

In animals (and humans), injury can lead to long-lasting discomfort, whereby repeated exposure to pain-producing stimuli causes an increasingly amplified response well after the injury has healed. (This phenomenon is called nociceptive sensitization.) Biomedical researchers have long regarded nociceptive sensitization as maladaptive because, in humans, anxiety is associated with it. For a skeptic, the amplified response to pain in animals seems senseless, exacerbating the problem of pain and suffering. But is it so senseless after all?

A collaborative team of researchers (from the University of Texas, George Mason University, and the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, MA) recently studied nociceptive sensitization in squid and concluded that heightened sensitivity to pain helps these creatures avoid predation. Squid are an ideal laboratory model because they undertake a well-defined sequence of defensive behaviors when threatened by a predator.

When threatened, previously injured squid (that had fully recovered from their injury) reacted sooner than squid that had not been injured. However, the previously injured squid displayed a slower response to predatory threats when the scientists used anesthetic to block pain immediately after injury and, thus, prevent nociceptive sensitization from developing.

Because nociceptive sensitization is widespread, it likely serves a similar benefit among other animals, as well. These results indicate that pain (and the concomitant suffering) plays an important role in enhancing animals’ survivability following an injury and recovery. This insight (and others) indicates that the pain and suffering in the natural realm is not necessarily incompatible with God’s existence and His goodness. It can serve a good purpose.
Dr. Fazale Rana

In 1999, I left my position in R&D at a Fortune 500 company to join Reasons to Believe because I felt the most important thing I could do as a scientist is to communicate to skeptics and believers alike the powerful scientific evidence—evidence that is being uncovered day after day—for God’s existence and the reliability of Scripture. Read more about Dr. Fazale Rana

References:

Robyn J. Crook et al., “Nociceptive Sensitization Reduces Predation Risk,” Current Biology 24 (May 19, 2014): 1121–25.

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