NEWSLETTER
of the
American
Scientific Affiliation &
Canadian Scientific & Christian Affiliation
Volume 51, Number 3 May/June 2009
“Exploring God’s World of Endless Wonder”
From the ultra-micro world of
nanotechnology to the large scale of space exploration to innovative ways of
helping the poor, this year’s plenary speakers run the gamut. They are
- Nanotechnology specialist
James Tour, Chao Professor of Chemistry, Rice University,
2008 NASA Space Act Award recipient,
- Perla Manapol, president of a Philippine NGO that provides
livelihood for more than 700 families by processing products from
coconuts,
- Former
NASA lunar astronaut Charles Duke, the tenth man to walk on the moon,
- Mario
Beauregard, Associate Professor, Departments of Radiology and Psychology, Université de Montreal, and
author of The Spiritual Brain: A Neuroscientist’s Case for
the Existence of the Soul,
- Robert Mann, Chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy,
University of Waterloo, and past president of the Canadian Christian and
Scientific Affiliation, and
- Robin Collins, Professor
of Philosophy, Messiah College, author of more than 25 articles on philosophical
issues related to science.
Between plenaries,
there will be seven parallel sessions that will include the symposia
“Christianity and the Possibility of a Multiverse”
and “Origins: Intelligent Design and Theistic Evolution” and
sections on the following topics: history of science; science and theology;
social sciences; education; environment; science and technology in service to
the poor; Christian perspectives on the soul; origins; astronomy; and
philosophy, religion, and science.
For details, see www.asa3.org/ASA/meetingASA.html
ASA Executive Council. Left to right: Ted
Davis, Susan Daniels,
Thomas Robey,
Walter Bradley, Jennifer Wiseman, Randy Isaac. Absent is Ruth Miller.
Executive Council Report
The ASA executive council
met in Ipswich on March 28. Walter Bradley, Ted
Davis, Jennifer Wiseman, and Susan Daniels were in attendance. Ruth
Miller was prevented from coming by a major snowstorm in Kansas. Thomas Robey attended
as the student and early career scientist representative and Randy Isaac as the executive director.
A top priority was to review
the financial status and approve a budget for the fiscal year beginning on
April 1. The estimated, unaudited financial results
for the past fiscal year were encouraging. Expenses were approximately 5% less
than the $299,000 budget. Income was within 1% of the expenses, closing the
books within $3,000 of breakeven. Praise the Lord! However, the income was
enhanced by a few unusually large donations which will be a challenge to match
in the coming year. The council approved a flat year-to-year budget, expecting
in faith that the Lord will provide once more.
Membership continued to grow by 3%. The small but
growing endowment fund suffered a setback along with most endowment funds. It
is now approximately $100,000. The council has approved transferring the
endowment fund to Smith-Barney for financial management.
The site for the 2010 ASA
annual meeting was confirmed to be the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Paul Arveson is the local arrangements chair and Susan Daniels is the
program chair, with Francis
Collins serving as the
assistant program chair.
Several projects were
discussed. One project is dedicated to science education materials for home
school and Christian school use. The first phase will be a web-based repository
for an inventory of current materials. ASA members will be able to post
recommendations and reviews. From this inventory we should be able to identify
areas where better materials are needed. The final phase will be to encourage
and enable the writing of materials in these areas. We have already received a
commitment for initial funding.
Another project is to
develop an appropriate survey that can be used to assess views on science and
Christian faith. Most publicized surveys are too superficial or are worded too
ambiguously to interpret coherently. The first phase will be to enlist a team
to draft a survey with more nuanced questions but without being too long.
This process is difficult but worth investing a significant amount of time.
Blogs and wikis are proliferating
throughout the websphere, and ASA intends to join the
trend. We would like to establish a variety of blogs
for thoughtful dialog. We would especially like to start some wiki-style pages for the topics that are now covered on our
website. One wiki that we discussed would provide a
place for ASA members to post links and reviews of exemplary sermons on science
and faith. Volunteers to help with these projects would be greatly appreciated.
Time and expertise are needed more than funding.
The Smithsonian National
Museum of Natural History will open an exhibit on human origins in March 2010.
They have asked the ASA to provide them with feedback of the anticipated
response from the evangelical community. The council supported Randy’s
participation on this committee.
F. Alton Everest, one of the
five founders of the ASA, wrote an extensive book in 1986 about the early
development of our organization. The lengthy project to reformat the book has
now been completed and is ready for printing. Thanks go to the Wheaton College archive team which not only houses all the ASA archives
but graciously scanned all the text and original photos of this manuscript. We
look forward to making both printed and electronic copies available. If anyone
is interested in underwriting the printing of this outstanding historical
record of the ASA, please contact the ASA office.
Finally, the council elected
the officers for the coming fiscal year. Ted Davis is now president, Jennifer
Wiseman is vice president,
and Susan Daniels is secretary/treasurer. Walter Bradley continues on the council as past president and Bob
Kaita joins as the newly elected member. Thomas Robey
continues as student and early career scientist representative. The next
council meeting will be held on July 30, the day before the annual meeting at Baylor University.
The Executive Director’s Corner
Randall D. Isaac
The strength of any
member-based organization depends largely on its ability to build on the
commonality of perspective and purpose among its members while leveraging the
diversity in the organization. To do that in ASA, we must occasionally step
back and reaffirm our common beliefs and recognize the differences that we
respect. Let’s consider three aspects that we share and the differences
we respect.
First, vocationally, we are
all scientists, in one form or another. Full membership is reserved for those
with a degree in science, very broadly interpreted to include social sciences,
philosophy, and theology. Those without a relevant degree may join as an
associate member. Our common strength is therefore a
knowledge of the practice of science and an interest in pursuing its
relationship to Christian faith.
That commonality is
strengthened by the diversity of disciplines that we represent. Our current
membership of 1,620 is comprised of biology 20%, chemistry 16%, physics 15%,
engineering 9% and the remaining 40% distributed across more than a dozen other
disciplines. We have no information concerning disciplines for 8% of our
members so please log in to ASA Online to check your profile and confirm that
we have the right information for you.
This diversity of
disciplines enables ASA to integrate perspectives from different fields of
study for a more comprehensive view. At times, members appreciate interaction
with those of the same specific area of research, providing a more in-depth
technical discussion. We encourage such subgroups of disciplines and foster
organizations such as the Affiliation of Christian Geologists, the Affiliation
of Christian Biologists, and Christian Engineers and Scientists in Technology.
You may sign up for these newsletters at ASA Online. If there is interest, we
would also encourage other subgroups. We do expect each of these groups to
participate and contribute to the multi-disciplinary interaction that is our
mission.
Second, the theological
conviction that we as ASA members share is summarized in our statement of
faith. Based on the central tenets of Christianity as expressed in the Nicene
and the Apostles’ creeds, our statement of faith is intentionally
inclusive of a broad set of theological traditions. Historically, our roots are
in the evangelical tradition, having been founded through the efforts of Moody
Bible Institute. Yet our doors are open for all who make the common confession
of faith.
In the spirit of our
approach to scientific disciplines, should we encourage the formation of
subgroups along theological lines? Would it be of value to establish groups
based on a reformed tradition, or that of the Anabaptists, or a strict
evangelical interpretation or some other recognized approach? I suggest that
such a grouping does not have the merits of one based on scientific
disciplines. The latter bears a commonality of skills and knowledge while the
former emphasizes interpretations of various aspects of the creeds or
implications thereof. Such a grouping would tend to reinforce classic
dissension and separation of, for example, liberal vs. conservative
interpretations rather than to emphasize our unity as a body of Christ. Above
all, as an organization, the ASA must exemplify our
commitment to respect one another as brothers and sisters in Christ while
discussing our differences in a spirit of love. Subdividing ourselves along
theological lines only serves to highlight those differences.
Third, we have a common commitment to the integrity of science. This means
having a fair and accurate view of the current scientific understanding on a
given topic. We may not agree with it since skepticism of the status quo is the
very foundation of the scientific method. However, any integration of science
and Christian faith that depends on modifying conventional scientific views
must carry with it a large yellow warning flag. Before such an
integration can be of value, the alternative scientific views must be
vetted through normal scientific methodology. Otherwise our integration is not
one of Christian faith with science but with our preference of what science
ought to be.
The Christian community has
too often taken the liberty of disagreeing with scientific results based on
theological preference rather than on scientific method. If we think we have a
better integration of science and faith by embracing either an alternative or a
possible but not widely accepted interpretation, we are all too quick to do so.
Our diversity of interpretation of scientific results is an important and valid
discussion in the ASA. On the other hand, it cannot be substituted for the
fundamental scientific process of validating new results or interpretations.
The ASA is a fellowship of
Christians in science who share a common conviction of the harmony of science
and Christian faith and that our diversity within that envelope strengthens our
understanding. May we always be focused on Christ, who is the center of our
faith, as we share our respective views.
Congratulations
Calvin College in Grand Rapids,
MI, has appointed Janel M. Curry to the Gary and
Henrietta Byker Chair in Christian Perspectives on Political, Social, and Economic Thought.
Janel joined the Calvin faculty in 1996. She has a PhD in geography and a BA in
political science and has received several grants as well as a Fulbright
research fellowship and a research fellowship through the Pew Charitable Trusts
Evangelical Scholars Program. Her research focuses on the
intersection of religious worldviews and social relations, particularly as
illustrated by natural resource policies. Much of this research has been in the
context of cross-cultural comparisons, including ethnographic and historical
research in southern Louisiana for the Houma Tribe, comparisons of Canadian and U.S. policy frameworks, and research on New Zealand’s economic structures and community vitality. Her
most recent book (with Ron Wells) is an edited volume titled Faithful
Imagination in the Academy: Explorations in Religious Belief and Scholarship.
The goals of the Chair are
to enhance the training and preparation of students for lives of service in
God’s global kingdom and to further the development of ideas and
strategies that can provide the foundation for effective involvement by
Christian individuals, churches, and organizations in politics, social policy,
and economic development.
PBS Features ASA Duo
In February, Francis Collins, geneticist, and Loren Haarsma, physicist and astronomer at Calvin College, were interviewed by a PBS Religion and Ethics
Newsweekly segment, in conjunction with the February 12 anniversary of Darwin’s birth and the 150th
anniversary of the publishing of On the Origin of Species. Francis
commented:
There is no greater
flashpoint right now in the tensions between science and faith than evolution.
Ever since Darwin’s Origin of the Species was published, that
tension has been flaring, and it seems, in my view, to be getting almost worse
even after all these years.
If God, who is outside
space and time, chose to create a universe and populate it with creatures in
his image with whom he could have fellowship, who are we to say that the
process that we as scientists have uncovered—the Big Bang, the formation
of stars and planets and the mechanism of evolution to create life and
ultimately human life—is not the way we would have done it? I find that
enormously satisfying. Nothing that I know as a scientist is in contradiction
to that. Nothing that I know as a believer is in contradiction to that.
Loren commented:
Many people are raised
to believe a certain interpretation of Genesis, which is mostly literal, not
completely literal, but implies a young Earth, and most people when they hear
the Genesis story of God creating everything, they picture God miraculously
creating everything.
There are Christians who agree that evolution
equals atheism, and since they believe in God, since they’re convinced
that God is real from their experiences of
reading the Bible and worship, prayer, if God is true they conclude evolution
must be false. So that idea that you have to choose between evolution and God
is, I think, the main source of the problem—the main reason why this
issue keeps coming up over and over again.
If the majority of
Christians could come to the place where they say, “I might or might
not believe in evolution, but it’s OK for Christians to believe in
evolution,” that would take some of the weight off. On the other side, it
would be very helpful if science educators could find better ways to discuss
how different religious views might view evolution.
Interpretations of
Origins
- On February 12, Darwin’s birthday, William Dembski, research
professor of philosophy at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX, challenged Darwin’s theory during a seminary chapel service.
Christianity and Darwinian evolution put forward “radically
different worldviews. I think the real challenge for the church now is not
the atheistic Darwinists … but it is now the church itself and
Christian higher education embracing this semi-materialistic
worldview.” As for Intelligent Design (ID), he said, “It is
not creationism. It’s engineering.” He maintained that ID
entails research that seeks to discover evidence of design, or
engineering, within nature. After his message, Southwestern’s
president noted that their institution encourages students to explore all
worldviews so that they may examine them according to a biblical
worldview. Students are taught about ID and are also required to read On
the Origin of Species. Benjamin Hawkins, Baptist Press, Feb. 16,
2009.
- Keith
Miller, research
assistant professor in the Dept. of Geology, Kansas State University,
wrote an article (coauthored with Iris Totten)
in the March/April 2009 issue of the Journal of College Science
Teaching titled “Developing and Implementing an
Interdisciplinary Origins Course at a State University.” The
article is based on a presentation that he gave at an ASA meeting a few
years ago. Keith also has a chapter titled, “The Misguided Attack on
Methodological Naturalism” in a just released book For the Rock
Record: Geologists on Intelligent Design published by the University of California Press. His chapter discusses the meaning of the term
“methodological naturalism” as defined by Paul de Vries at Wheaton College.
Keith also gave a presentation titled “Acceptance
of Biological Evolution within the Evangelical
Christian Community” at Hofstra University in
Hempstead, NY, at a conference “Darwin’s Reach: Celebrating
Darwin’s Legacy Across the Disciplines” in mid-March. In addition,
he spoke at the 2009 Emerson-Wier Symposium at the University of Science and Arts of
Oklahoma, Chickasha, OK, on “Obstacles to Science Literacy” on March
26. The symposium theme was “The Promise of Science and Challenges of
Science Education.” Keith also gave a presentation at Shawnee
State University in Portsmouth, OH, on April 17 titled “Darwin’s Forgotten Defenders: Then and Now.”
Here is a summary of his Hofstra presentation.
The broader
“warfare” view of science and faith owes much of its modern
expression to a pair of widely influential 19th-century polemical works by John
William Draper and Andrew Dickson White. However, many evangelical Christians
at the time of Darwin found no inherent conflict between evolutionary theory
and faithfulness to the historic creeds. In fact, several of the founders of
the fundamentalist movement accepted some form of evolutionary theory. One of
these was B. B. Warfield, a theologian who argued forcefully for biblical
inerrancy, and who accepted the validity of evolution as a scientific
description of natural history. Probably the most prominent American advocate
of evolutionary theory in Darwin’s time was Asa Gray, a
committed evangelical Christian.
The acceptance of
evolutionary science by the evangelical Christian community was, and continues
to be, rooted in the theology of God’s providential action in and through
natural processes. Also central to this accommodation is the recognition that
the scientific enterprise is a limited way of knowing about the natural world,
confining itself to the investigation of “natural” entities and
forces. This limitation of the scientific enterprise is sometimes referred to
as “methodological naturalism”—a term coined by an
evangelical Christian philosopher.
Keith has also helped
organize a symposium for the North American Paleontological
Convention to be held in Cincinnati,
OH, June 22–26. On June 25 the symposium titled
“The Nature of Science and Public Science Literacy” will have 14
presentations, including insights from education, philosophy, history, and
theology as well as paleontology. Other ASA members who will be involved with
this are George Murphy and Loren
Haarsma.
- Karl Giberson, author of Saving Darwin, was part of a
debate at Biola University on the question of whether a Christian can be a
Darwinist. He argued that the evidence for evolution is “overwhelming,”
that it has theological advantages, and that theological problems raised
by Darwinism have answers. Theologically speaking, Karl argued that
evolution “helps to get God off the hook for the problem of bad
design (evil), because bad design emerges indirectly from processes of
nature rather than directly by God.” His scientific proof for
evolution included the fossil record, biogeography, comparative anatomy,
genetics, and developmental similarities. AwakenGeneration.com, Dec.
16, 2008, Sean McDowell.
- In our last newsletter,
we noted that Hugh
Ross had participated in a Skeptics Society conference at
CalTech. On Feb. 25, Hugh and Fazale Rana were
involved in a debate with skeptic Michael Shermer
at the University of Florida. It was titled “Evolution or ID?” The
debate was repeated on April 28 at the University of Texas, Austin.
ASAer Ministers to His
Grandchildren
Leland H. Williams, retired Fellow of ASA and mathematician, sent the
following:
Inspired by Francis Collins at our 2006
Annual Meeting in Grand Rapids, I have been seeking a neat way to enhance my
grandchildren’s understanding of what science can tell us about the
created universe, and to enrich their understanding of the awesomeness of our
God. I have discovered Lucy and Stephen Hawking’s
2007 book for children, George’s Secret Key to the Universe, and
find it to be a useful vehicle for my purpose.
This is a wonderful
story for children, with intrigue, fun, mystery, and some pretty good physics,
to be expected from the co-author. It is about a boy, George, and his pet pig.
They live next door to a physicist named Greg, who has developed a computer
named Cosmos, which is capable of transporting people into the cosmos. Greg has
a daughter named Annie. George and Annie meet via a pig escapade and adventures
begin including a ride through the cosmos on an asteroid where a lot of
astronomical physics is learned. There is a villain in the story, a renegade
physicist (who happens to be teaching at George’s school), who wants
Cosmos for evil purposes. He manages to trap Greg in a black hole and Cosmos,
with George’s help, manages to extricate him via Hawking radiation.
The story concludes
with George giving a science lecture at his school about the astronomical
physics he has learned via Cosmos. In that lecture, George answers his own
rhetorical question about relevance with “Because that cloud of dust is
the reason we are here today.” He also says, “All people on Earth,
the animals, the plants, the rocks, the air, and the oceans are made of elements
forged inside stars. Whatever we may think, we are all the children of
stars.”
Leland included a letter to
his grandchildren sharing his personal journey in faith and in science, making
the case that since God is the author of both natural creation and the Bible,
they cannot conflict. He suggests that being children of stars can relate to
Gen. 1:27 and 2:7–25 and John 1:2. It shows us that God is more awesome
than we thought. He includes a lot of quotes from Hawking’s
A Brief History of Time and Collins’ The Language of God and
also refers to several scriptural passages.
This is a commendable
attempt to communicate some significant subjects to young people and can be an
example for us all. Do we share our thoughts regularly with our various family
members, including children and grandchildren?
Visiting the ASA
Office
Newsletter co-editor Margaret Towne was in Boston in October prior to going on a cruise and had a free
day. Before her arrival, she contacted ASA Executive Director, Randy Isaac, to see if it might be possible to visit the ASA
headquarters in Ipswich. Not only did Randy say “Yes,” but he
volunteered to drive down to Boston and pick up Margaret, her husband, and two friends,
meeting them at the Old North Church. Randy showed them around Ipswich,
a most historic city. It was settled in 1633 and has 58 first period homes
(1625–1725). Within walking distance of the ASA offices is the Choate Bridge (1764), the oldest stone arch bridge in continuous use.
Co-editor Dave Fisher and daughter Louise Palmer visited the office March 10,
following the November death of Dave’s wife, Doris. Among the surprises
was the discovery that one of Louise’s students is Carol Aiken’s grandniece.
Randy encourages all ASA
members to stop in and say hello. When in Boston,
take the train to Ipswich and visit this special setting and get to know our
remarkable leaders.
ASAer Available
George L. Murphy holds a MDiv
as well as a PhD in physics and is an adjunct professor at Trinity Lutheran
Seminary in Columbus, OH. He is available to give workshops, lectures, or
consultations on Faith and Science in churches, academic settings, or other
environments. These could be continuing education events for clergy, workshops
for laity and clergy, or programs for specialized audiences. Some of his topics
are: Seeing the Cosmos from Calvary; The Religious Value of the Environment; The
Universe—Present, Past, and Future; Preaching in
a Scientific Age; Teaching about Creation; and Genetics, Medicine, and the
Cross.
We all know that the more people in the pulpits and in
the pews are aware of the many issues in science and faith the better our
churches will serve the Lord. Also, students at colleges need to be informed on
these many significant issues. George has published many articles and books and
has been very active in the science and faith dialogue and in ASA. His most
recent book is The Cosmos in the Light of the Cross. Call him at (330)
633-4376; or email, gmurphy10@neo.rr.com;
http://home.roadrunner.com/~scitheologyglm
Creationism/Evolution
in Europe
- The Ulster Museum in Belfast, Ireland, has an exhibit on Charles Darwin and a member of
the Northern Ireland assembly has called for an “alternative
exhibition” promoting creationism to be staged alongside it. They
maintain that since it is a publicly funded institution that voices from
those who question Darwin’s thesis should also be heard.
- DutchNews.nl on Feb. 27, 2009 stated,
One in five Dutch people
believe God created the world in six days, according to research in … Trouw. Protestants are much more likely than
Catholics to believe in the biblical creation story … [The research
bureau] Synovate questioned 908 people about their
beliefs. Their answers showed that young people are just as likely as their
elders to believe in creationism.
- In early March a series
of workshops and an International Conference titled “Biological
Evolution Facts and Theories: A Critical Appraisal 150 Years After
‘The Origin of Species’” was held at the Pontifical
Gregorian University in Rome in collaboration with the US University of
Notre Dame with the goal of promoting a fair and fruitful dialectical
relationship between science, philosophy and theology. They attempted to
integrate these fields and show that they are not in conflict.
- Spiegel Online, Feb. 28, 2009 states,
For many years, people have
viewed creationism as a purely American phenomenon. The fact is, however, that
there are also creationist currents in Europe, too, and an anti-evolution
movement that is even less homogenous than the one in the US … In June,
2007, the Council of Europe’s Committee on Culture, Science and Education
released a report entitled “The Dangers of Creationism in
Education.” … The report was prompted by resistance to teaching Darwin’s theory in some European countries.
They said that in Switzerland, the ProGenesis group has a
tentative project called “Genesis-Land” that envisions a leisure
park on the model of the Answers in Genesis creation museum in Kentucky.
- Michael Reiss, the Royal
Society’s director of education and an ordained Church of England
clergyman, resigned from his position with the Royal Society because he
stated that science teachers should treat creationist beliefs “not
as a misconception but as a worldview.” Many members felt that these
comments damaged the Royal Society’s reputation, and Reiss decided
to resign because his comments were interpreted as endorsing the teaching
of creationism. See www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article4768820.ccc
The Times, Online, Sept. 17. 2008.
Two Museums in Canada
Canadians can see two
interpretations of origins in museum settings. The Big Valley Creation Science
Museum opened last June in Big Valley,
AB. It includes fossils, DNA
strands, and dinosaurs. Creationism is present in all Canadian provinces and
has made headlines since the late 1990s. About 60 km from the museum is the Royal Tyrell Museum in Drumheller which houses
many dinosaur fossils.
Of Interest
- Researchers from a
variety of disciplines gathered last October at Corpus Christi College at the University of Cambridge to share their research on questions related to
biological complexity. This was the culmination of a three-year $3
million Templeton-Cambridge Consortium, an effort to stimulate research
projects related to the great debate over purpose as it applies to biology,
ranging from the biochemical level to the evolution of life to the
appearance of society and culture. Templeton Report, Oct. 29, 2008.
- Some
of the biggest names in science and the humanities gathered at Florida
State University for two weeks at the end of March for “Origins
’09: Celebrating the Birth & Life of Beginnings.” They
looked at how advances in science, religion, philosophy, and art have
shaped modern society and our understanding of life. E. O. Wilson, Ron
Numbers, Don Johanson (co-discoverer of the 3.2
million-year-old skeleton “Lucy”), Peter Harrison, professor
of science and religion at the University of Oxford, among many others,
gave presentations. Science and Religion Today, March 16, 2009.
- In
April the Ecological and Environmental Ethics Conference met at Southern
Nazarene University in Bethany,
OK. J. Matthew Sleeth,
executive director of Blessed Earth, visiting scholar in Creation Care at Houghton College in NY, and author of Serve God, Save the Planet,
and Larry Rasmussen, author of Earth Community, Earth Ethic, gave
presentations. The Oklahoma Society for Science and Faith sponsored the
event, and they are supported by a grant from Metanexus
Institute as well as Southern Nazarene University. Their website is
http://ossf.snu.edu
* Scott and Penny Robinson
- Kenneth R. Miller, professor of biology in the
Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry at Brown
University and, among many other publications, wrote Finding
Darwin’s God: A Scientist’s Search for Common Ground between
God and Evolution won the American Association for the Advancement of
Science 2008 Award for Public Understanding of Science and Technology in
February at their 175th Annual Meeting in Chicago. Robert M. Hazen, a
research scientist at the Carnegie Institution for Science, nominated him
and said,
Miller wrote my favorite
book on evolution science and, to me, the most persuasive synthesis of science
and faith … Few scientists have so effectively reached out to the
nonscientific community.
- George Coyne, astronomer,
Jesuit priest, and former director of the Vatican Observatory, won the
American Astronomical Society’s George Van Biesbroeck
Prize for 2009. This is awarded every two years for “long-term
extraordinary or unselfish service to astronomy” and recognizes
“the diversity and scientific richness he has brought to the
astronomical community through his visionary leadership of the Vatican
Observatory Summer School and its long-term mentoring program, and for the
unique role he has played at the juncture of science and religion.” Science
and Religion Today, Jan. 27, 2009.
Conference Discount!
A special discount for ASA
members and friends will be given to the “Flourish 2009”
conference, the National Church Leader’s Conference on Creation Care, on
May 13–15 in Duluth, GA. Encourage your pastor or other church leaders to
attend and a 25% discount will be available using the code asa25 at the
Flourish 2009 registration checkout web page, www.eventbrite.com/event/274549184
Randy Isaac, our Executive Director, can be contacted for more
information.
Coming Events
May 2. “Banking on Life,” a conference on umbilical
cord blood stem cell advances as an alternative to embryonic stem cells, San
Francisco, CA, sponsored by Center for Bioethics and Culture Network. Details
at www.cbc-network.org/bankingonlife/
May 8. The ASA Oklahoma-Texas Section will meet at Star Pizza, 77 Harvard St., Houston Heights, 12:00–3:30 p.m. For directions
email Scott Robinson: scottandpennyhouston@comcast.net
May 12. Reasons To Believe/ASA joint
meeting. Randy Isaac, “Science: A
Weapon in a Religious War.” Grace Chapel, 2 Militia
Dr., Lexington, MA,
Room 2-105, 7:00
p.m.
May 12–13. Council for Christian Colleges &
Universities (CCCU) Center for Research in Adult Learning Indiana Wesleyan
University is having an inaugural conference, “Enhancing the Quality of
Christ-Centered Adult Education” at the Greenwood Education Center near
Indianapolis, IN. See www.cccu.org/conferences_events
May 13. Debate: “Grand Canyon: Evolution or
Creation.” Steve Austin (creationist) and Steve Johnson
(evolutionist). Northwestern College, Roseville, MN, 7:00 p.m.
May 13–15. “Flourish
2009” conference in Duluth, GA.
Sponsored by the National Church Leader’s Conference on Creation Care. Note the item above and
see http://flourishconference.com/
May 16–26. The Biblical Archaeology Society is organizing
a tour “Explore Jordan with the Biblical
Archaeology Society.” This will focus on the biblical connections to this
ancient area. It is the land traveled by the Israelites on their way to the
Promised Land and the place where Jesus was baptized. Email: travelstudy@bib-arch.org See www.biblicalarchaeology.org
May 17. Answers in Genesis creationist
conference, Berean Baptist Church,
Grand Blanc, MI. Call 810-694-0400. See www.allgrace.com
June 3–5. The Second Annual
Meeting of the Society for Spirituality, Theology and Health “Lifecourse Perspectives on Spirituality and Health in
Diverse Religious Communities,” Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club, Durham, NC. Email: kari.lauderback@duke.edu Call (919)
660-7556.
June 22–26. North American Paleontological Convention, Cincinnati, OH. Several
ASA presenters. Note item on Miller (p. 4) and see www.napc2009.org
July 5–9. The American Association for the Advancement
of Science is a major sponsor of the Darwin 2009 Festival, Cambridge, UK See www.darwin2009.cam.ac.uk
July 10–11. Creation Research Society Conference on the
campus of the University of North
Carolina Lancaster. Details at www.creationresearch.org/events/conference_2009.htm
July 10–18. Summer seminars on
Intelligent Design. Center for Science and Culture at
Discovery Institute, Seattle, WA. Designed for
college-level juniors, seniors, and first-year graduate students who intend to
pursue graduate studies in the natural or social sciences, philosophy of
science, law, or the humanities. Visit www.discovery.org/summerseminar
Direct questions to Dr. Bruce Gordon, Research
Director, Center for Science and Culture at gbordon@discovery.org
July 15–18. The Ian Ramsey Centre at the University of Oxford is having a
conference, “Religious Responses to Darwinism 1959–2009.”
Email: ian-ramsey-centre@theology.ox.ac.uk
See: http://users.ox.ac.uk/~theo0038/conferenceinfo/General.htm
July 16–18. “True Significance in the Academy: The
Legacy of Christian Scholarship,” International Institute for Christian
Studies 2009 Vision Conference, Airport Hilton, Kansas City, MO. Details at www.iics.com/conference.html
July 22–25. “The Great Reversal: How Christians Will
Change the Future,” Midway Presbyterian Church, Marietta, GA. Speakers include Jerry Bergman. Details at www.GreatReversal.com
July 30–Aug. 2. The Institute for
Interdisciplinary Research, coordinated by Oskar Gruenwald, is having a symposium
on “Intelligent Design & Artificial Intelligence: The Ghost in the
Machine” at the Hilton Hotel, Pasadena. Abstracts can be
sent to info@JIS3.org See www.JIS3.org/symposium2009.htm
July 31–Aug. 3. ASA
Annual Meeting, Baylor U., Waco, TX. Details at www.asa3.org
Our Thanks
We are most grateful to have
received a donation from the Albert C. Strong trust. Albert was a long-time ASA
member until his death in 2001. He was a faithful supporter of the ASA while he
was living, and now we have learned that he remembered the ASA in his will. We
thank God for his dedication and service.
With the Lord
- Russell Heddendorf, professor of sociology at Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, GA
from 1982–2000, died of heart failure on Dec. 24, 2008, at age 78.
He taught at Dickinson and Geneva Colleges prior to going to Covenant. His main concentrations
in the field were social theory and sociology of religion and he founded
the Association of Christians Teaching Sociology (ACTS) in 1976. Russell
was particularly concerned with the idea of Christian calling as opposed
to career and the conflicts of living in and not of the world. Not long
ago he published From Faith to Fun, which deals with the
sociological aspects of humor contrasted with the Christian idea of joy.
He also wrote Hidden Threads (1994).
Russell was an adjunct
professor after he retired and kept very busy in the department up until
the end. He loved to travel and visited his daughter who was a missionary in France. He leaves his wife, Harriet, son David, and daughter
Ruth Ann.
- Hans E. Band died of Parkinson’s disease March 4 at age 84.
Born in Vienna, Austria, Hans graduated from Harvard University in 1946, and earned his master’s degree in
physics at Boston University in 1953. He served in the Pacific theater with
the U.S. Army, and later joined the U.S. Naval Reserve, retiring as a
commander after 28 years of service. Hans was an engineer, scientist, and
inventor, and received several patents, including one for his pioneering
work in the development of carbon-fiber composites. In retirement, he
tutored mathematics at Middlesex Community College in Bedford,
MA.
Hans, a steadfast supporter of the ASA and a member since 1960, was convinced
of the full compatibility of science and Scripture. He was a long-time member
of the Carlisle Congregational Church. He leaves his wife, Betty of 61 years,
three sons, four granddaughters, and three great-grandchildren. * Tim Wallace for sending this
information.
Pre-Meeting Activities
On Friday, July 31,
preceding the ASA Annual Meeting, program chair Walter Bradley has planned exciting options for attendees and their
families. They may choose from five field trips and a workshop. The field trips
are (1) HOT (Heart of Texas) Renewable Energy Tour; (2) Dinosaur
Valley (Paluxy River near Glen Rose) and the Waco
Mammoth Site; (3) Waco Wetlands, Waco Cameron Park Zoo, and Waco Cameron Park;
(4) Mayborn Museum, Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and
Museum, and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame; and (5) Texas Capitol Complex, Bob
Bullock Texas State History Museum and IMAX
Theatre, and the University of Texas (Austin).
The workshop “Teaching
about Science and Christianity” is primarily intended for junior faculty
at Christian colleges, but open to others at the discretion of the workshop
leaders, Ted Davis, Distinguished Professor of the History of Science, Messiah College; and Deborah
Haarsma, Associate
Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Calvin College. The morning session will introduce participants to
teaching about science and Christianity in college-level courses. The afternoon
session will introduce the video/book course, “Test of Faith,”
produced by the Faraday Church Resources Project.
Another activity unique to
this meeting is the Saturday night Texas barbecue and Texas line dancing.
All pre-meeting and program
details are included in the registration material on our website: www.asa3.org
Welcome, New Members!
February–March 2009
Anthony, Altaf
–Karachi, Sindh 75160, Pakistan
Ballew, Christopher M. –Urbandale, IA
Bassi, Joseph P. –Lompoc, CA
Beidler, Michael K. –Monterey, CA
Benson, Mellina J.
–Grantham, PA
Cross, Daniel J. –Malvern, PA
Crumb, Dennis –Cerritos, CA
Cureton, Andrew C. –Grayslake, IL
Dawes, Kimberly C. –San Antonio, TX
DiGiovanni, Jane P. –Naperville, IL
Dollman, Ian –Trexlertown, PA
Evans, Carol Joy –Mount Kisco, NY
Frank, Douglas G. –Blue Ash, OH
Fulcher, Kerry D. –San Diego, CA
Kang, Pil S. –Silver Spring, MD
Lee, Dean A. –Pearland, TX
Liu, Xiaofan S.
–Tulsa, OK
Mullins, Tracy M. –Eugene, OR
Passineau, Michael J. –Pittsburg, PA
Sanfilippo, Tom –Marion, PA
Shelton, Nick F. –New Haven, CT
Staver, John R. –Lafayette, IN
Sykes, Mark –Huber
Heights, OH
Vander Vennen, Luke
–Guelph, ON, Canada
Zhou, Grace G. –Chicago, IL
Zondervan, Samuel J. –Lethbridge, AB, Canada
Congratulations, Long-time Members!
Celebrating 40 years
of membership
Jack O. Balswick
Stanley L. Burden
Richard F. Carlson
Charles E. Chaffey
Stanley G. Chamberlain
Bruce J. Clark
John A. Cramer
Edward B. Crowell, Jr.
Edwin A. Karlow
Dwight H. Klaassen
David A. Leep
Daniel C. Norman
Perry G. Phillips
Bernard J. Piersma
Vernon A. Raaflaub
David A. Saunders
The Newsletter of the ASA and CSCA is published
bimonthly for its membership by the American Scientific
Affiliation. Send Newsletter information to the Editors: David
Fisher, 285 Cane Garden Cir., Aurora, IL 60504-2064. E-mail: dfisherasa@comcast.net and Margaret Towne, 8505 Copper Mountain Ave., Las
Vegas, NV 89129. E-mail: TowneMG@aol.com Both
receive e-mail through asan@asa3.org
Please send Canadian matters to: CSCA, P.O. Box 63082, University Plaza, Dundas, ON, Canada L9H 4H0.
Send address changes and other business items to the American Scientific
Affiliation, P.O. Box 668, 55 Market St., Ipswich, MA 01938-0668. Phone: (978)
356-5656; FAX: (978) 356-4375; E-mail: asa@asa3.org;
Web site: www.asa3.org
©2009 American
Scientific Affiliation (except previously
published material). All rights reserved.
Editors: David Fisher, Margaret Towne
Managing Editor: Lyn Berg