NEWSLETTER
of the
AMERICAN SCIENTIFIC AFFILIATION - CANADIAN SCIENTIFIC & CHRISTIAN AFFILIATION
VOLUME 19, NUMBER 1 FEBRUARY/MARCH 1977
ASA COUNCIL GETS WEISS; SADDLES HAAS
A. Kurt Weiss,
professor of physiology and biophysics at the University of Oklahoma
Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City, was elected by the ASA membership to serve
the next five-year term on the Executive Council. He replaces Claude Stipe, outgoing
president, on the council.
Many of us find the annual election frustrating because it's so hard to choose between
two nominees of equally high caliber. But this year, in a sense, both won. The other
candidate,, Daniel H. Osmond, associate professor of physiology and medicine at the
University of Toronto, will be president of ASA's sister organization, the Canadian
Scientific and Christian Affiliation, for 1977.
The Executive Council of the American Scientific Affiliation has elected officers for
1977, who become the officers of the ASA. "Saddled" with the presidency is John W.
Haas, Jr., Chemistry professor at Gordon College, Wenham, Massachusetts.
Vice-president is
Dewey K. Carpenter, professor of chemistry at Louisiana State University
in Baton Rouge. Secretary-treasurer is Howard H. Claassen, professor of physics at
Wheaton College, Illinois. Also on the Council is James 0. Buswell III, professor of
anthropology at Wheaton College.
A WORD FROM THE NEW PRESIDENT...
In beginning a new year of ASA activity, it is encouraging to note the Christian commitment, professional accomplishment and high potential for Christian service found
in the more than 2,600 men and women who comprise our membership. We owe thanks to
retiring Executive Council member Claude Stipe who can return to full time study of
the Marquette basketball team without the weighty concerns of ASA to distract his
attention. In joining the ranks of ASA elder statesmen, Claude and his colleagues
are reminded of our continuing need for their counsel. We congratulate newly-elected
Council member Kurt Weiss, who added an extra dimension to the Annual Meeting at
Bethany Nazarene College three years ago.
Executive Council objectives this year include improving our financial and membership
base, evaluation and development of publication projects and the strengthening of
local section activities. The Annual Meeting at Nyack College (near New York City)
will feature Kenneth Pike. Plan to attend and contribute a paper to this stellar
event held August 12-15, 1977. The geographical distribution of the membership prevents our all meeting together to discuss the direction that ASA should take or to
evaluate our current activities. Thus we encourage you to take pen in hand and express
your thoughts to Bill Sisterson at the ASA office in Elgin or to one of the Council
members. We will listen.
Sincerely,
Jack Haas, President, ASA
WITNESSING TO OUR PROFESSION
When Paul R. Leiffer attended the Annual Conference on Engineering in Medicine and
Biology last month, he discovered that ACEMB treated Sunday like any other day, with
technical presentaticn.s beginning at 9 a.m. Other facets of the meeting also convinced him of a need for Christian fellowship
and organized Christian impact at
scientific meetings. Some ideas that came to him: have an ASA book table or information booth; put on a panel discussion on some key issues raised in JASA or a
social event to help Christians find each other; show a Moody Science Film or
Francis Schaeffer's How Should We Then Live; hold an informal worship service or
prayer meeting, especially where papers are scheduled all day Sunday; publish a list of members attending scientific meetings.
Good ideas, Paul, and a good time to raise them. One person who has done something
in this area is our new Executive Council member, Kurt Weiss. In 1961, he and Walt
Hearn started the Federation Christian Fellowship, which met informally at the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology for several years. Since 1964
FCF has managed to get itself listed on the official FASEB program, usually as an
evening coffee hour.
An ASA breakfast gathering has often been held at AAAS meetings. At other meetings,
Christians have found each other by scanning registration lists for the names of ASA
members in that field or by putting a notice in the Newsletter in advance of a meeting
that they would like to meet other Christians there. Lately, some local sections have
"hosted" a get-together for out-of-town members attending a meeting in their city.
But much more can be done. The Newsletter is available to "catalyze effective collisions." To collide or collaborate with Paul on this topic, write him at 4756 Skyline
Drive, Mission, KS 66205.
HOW TO SERVE GOD OVERSEAS No. 1
We've had many stories in the Newsletter about ASA/CSCA members who serve the Lord in
foreign countries. We think it's time to start a new "HOW TO" series focusing on
overseas opportunities open to technically trained men and women. We invite contributions from your own experience as an encouragement to others. Your contribution
can be long or short, but try to provide specific information to help others follow
in your footsteps. lie hope to hear from people serving under traditional mission
boards as well as from "self-supporting missionaries" working for government or industry, from Peace Corps volunteers, from "careerists" as well as
"short-termers."
For openers, consider John E. Mariner. John heard about ASA through Jim Neidhardt
while working for West Virginia Pulp & Paper Co. in New York City. He was active in
the New York local section and served as treasurer for a year or two. Then he was
transferred to a paper mill in Virginia.
John and his wife sensed the Lord calling them to missionary service in Pakistan. He
already had a mechanical engineering degree and an M.B.A., but he added to that a
residency in hospital administration in a Boston hospital. From 1968 through 1976,
John and Sally served in Sahiwal, Pakistan, under the Board of Foreign Missions of
the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. John spent about two-thirds of his
time in the administrative development of the Nancy Fulwood Hospital there, tackling
a sizeable modernization program. The other third was spent in Muslim evangelism,
working with youth, Bible correspondence courses, and literature evangelism. John
says "there is nothing I would rather be doing than standing on a street corner in
that part of the world selling gospel portions." Last summer the Mariners returned to the States, from which John now coordinates the
work of his mission board in Mexico, Pakistan, and Ethiopia. His new job means doing
everything from stirring up interest and support of missions in the denomination to
finding candidates whom the Lord chooses and helping them get to the field. He has
to travel to each field once a year and do extensive speaking in the U. S.
John believes that "now is the time to be involved in missions around the world.
Many doors are open which have not been before, and many areas are critical now that
we have an opportunity to establish a beachhead for the gospel. I know that many
members of our Affiliation are spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and that God
must be calling many to overseas opportunities. The technical abilities of many of
our members would enable them to get consulting jobs and employment as laymen in areas
of the world like the oil-rich Middle East which are closed to traditional missions.
Technically trained people are definitely part of God's strategy for reaching the
world for Jesus Christ."
Interested? John would be "very pleased to correspond with any members who want to
know more about how God could use their talents in mission." Write to John E. Mariner,
Executive Secretary, Board of Foreign Missions, Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church,
300 University Ridge, Suite 206, Greenville, SC 29601.
DO WE BEAR EACH OTHER'S BURDENS?
Request for news for PERSONALS brought one very personal response. An ASA member
said he intends to drop his membership because "something important is lacking."
His story is that when he was having a difficult time in graduate school, his request
for prayer and support from ASA members was handled as a kind of routine matter:
it,
became aware of the inability of ASA to react to the real needs of fellow members, as
members of the Body of Christ. It seems that when one rejoices all rejoice, but when
one suffers seldom do all suffer, and I don't just mean 'with ASA', I thought it
would be neat to be able to have a group of fellow scientists who were blood-brothers
in Christ pray for me, perhaps encourage me. The answers I received and the things
I've read don't indicate to me any 'philosophy' geared to meeting the spiritual and
other needs of fellow members. In my church I have agonized at the same lack of concern for the Body."
I've written to him, telling him that my experience has been different. To me, just
knowing that so many ASA members have been through the same struggles has been a great
encouragement. Perhaps I haven't expected as much. In fact, I so often feel stretched
by the burdens of others (family, friends, church, organizations, our nation, the
world, etc.) that I'm painfully aware of my own limitations. I'm not surprised to
discover that other Christians, or Christian organizations, also have limitations.
But maybe he has a valid point. Let's begin by praying for our members in greatest
need, whoever they are. Are there other things we should be doing? I've asked our
wounded brother for some practical suggestions.
HOW TO START SOMETHING No. 28. LAWRENCE STARKEY
Although North Dakota State University in Fargo has a heavy emphasis on agriculture,
about 850 of its 7000 students are enrolled in nontraditional programs. The newest
of these, a "Bachelor's Degree Program for Bible College Transferees," came into
existence this year as a direct result of Lawrence H. Starkey's "HOW-TO-START-SOME
THING" instincts.
Larry, M.Div., Ph.D., long-time ASA Fellow, and "philosopher-of-all-trades," has
invented a program under which students can obtain considerable university credit for
work transferred from a Bible school--even if unaccredited. With the help of an advisor, the students formulate some coherent career goal toward which their Bible
school credits and proposed NDSU work will combine to form a reasonable pattern of
studies. These students enroll in the College of University Studies, which can employ standardized tests and special techniques for evaluating unusual types of
educational experience. NDSU is willing to evaluate credits from a nearby school
of horsemanship, Larry thought, so why not from a Bible school?)
Under the new set-up, degree programs (which must be individually approved by a
faculty committee) can be tailor-made to help Bible-institute transferees become
better agricultural missionaries, missionaries with a technical skill that will
enable them to get a visa, pastor's wives, seminarians, Christian humanists, or you
name it.
In Larry's own words (more or less), here's how this program, evidently the first of
its kind in the university world, got started:
"It amazes me how often I have backed into opportunity. Not long ago, I got the
message that, in an age of analytic philosophy, of secular, superficial, and hip
philosophy with 170 applicants for every teaching vacancy, no one wants a 56-year-old,
serious, synthetic, Christian philosopher. In fact, the college where I was then
teaching didn't want any philosopher--the Board, in financial despair, voted the
department out of existence. I became one of those faceless economic statistics
that did Ford out the presidency while enriching the U.S. Postal Service (with
resume' letters).
"Eventually, I received an offer to apply my philosophical skills as a small-town
city planner. Unable to see the connection or muster the enthusiasm required, I
backed off. At the nearest employment office I desperately ran down the job list.
"Coordinator of Adult Television Studies" caught my eye, for I had accumulated some
TV experience years before, helping Irwin Moon with "Sermons from Science" films.
Soon a group of directors and deans were urging me to thumb my nose at planning a
city and instead to plan and produce for the University a series of 30 programs on
management skills for aspiring career women. Could I finish the job in five months?
Sure! Sure! Anything you say. And I did. (The series attracted 462 enrollees,
not counting many thousands who watched the programs but did not register).
"Toward the end of the project, when I was taping the last few programs and writing
up my report, I had some time to think about my future. Thus it happened that, during
one TGIF evening letdown, the dean of the College of University Studies and I began
to bandy some ideas about. Maybe we could do some TV programs on religion, I ventured. The conversation turned to the NDSU School of Religion, in danger of expiring
with the imminent retirement of its director--then to the question of the 'action' in
religion. Evangelicalism is 'where it's at' today, we agreed. Why, Trinity Bible
Institute (a nearby school) has grown in three years from 250 to 430 students! And
Trinity College near Chicago is another success story. Suddenly we pointed at each
other at almost the same instant and each of us burst out: ?agricultural missions!'
Why not recruit graduates of 3-year Bible colleges into the College of University
Studies for tailor-made degrees in agricultural missions? And if agricultural missions, why not business (for Bible school business managers, etc.), or nursing,
or counseling, or teaching?
"Or natural theology? I
had met a man deeply interested in natural theology who had
established a foundation. The next weekend I wrote a four-page proposal for a program
for Bible institute transfers, with a natural-theology thrust. The dean was almost
ecstatic. Soon he had enlisted the equally enthusiastic support of the dean of the
College of Humanities and Social Sciences. The three of us talked it over. Then the
director of Continuing Studies, who wanted to keep me on the staff for future TV work,
performed some budgetary miracles. Before long, I had a concrete offer from the
Humanities dean for an additional year at NDSU with a salary gathered from funds here
and there--a jerry-built position for the purpose of developing a Bible-school liaison
project. I was to visit Bible colleges across the country to encourage their deans
and presidents to send students to us for supplementary career studies, then follow
this up by actual recruitment visits.
"We mailed the proposal to the wealthy natural-theology patron, prepared a program
description for our own president, and began work on a more detailed proposal to submit to a larger foundation or government agency. Unfortunately, the theology patron
turned us down. We still have hopes for funding from our other proposal--which deletes
the natural-theology dimension in favor of a campaign for persuading Bible students
of their need for further studies.
"Since the travel envisioned and the continuance of the program beyond the first year
is contingent on further funding, we met with a committee of the University Development Foundation, chaired by a Texas millionaire. That committee referred us to the
president of the University, whose support was required before they could move. I
researched the Bible-school movement and prepared for the president a fact-filled
description of the project and its potential. Two conferences with the president,
vice president, and the two deans followed; in due time I submitted a detailed
calendar of activities and a proposed budget for the current year.
"The results of all this groundwork are as yet unclear. Whether substantial travel
money can be rounded up remains to be seen. But meanwhile the vice president has
provided a modest amount from his own travel budget and I, at least, have my salary
(and supplies) from the office of the Humanities dean.
"So far, I have personally visited 25 Bible schools and Christian junior colleges
in five states and have contacted 40 other Bible-college administrators by attending
the annual meeting of the American Association of Bible Colleges. Though my Fact
Sheet describing the program has been out only a few months, students are already
responding; some have enrolled for our Winter Quarter.
" An unexpected by-product of the program has been an action of a nearby Bible institute that has developed my liaison into a program for upgrading their faculty. This
has already led to an agreement for the University to send a professor to teach one
graduate class this spring on the Bible school campus, with the intention of ultimately establishing a permanent University extension program there.
"There are 26 Bible schools and Christian junior colleges within 300 miles of Fargo;
and 85 within 600 miles. In the United States and Canada there are about 270 Bible
schools and 157 church-affiliated junior colleges. I estimate that the total enrollment in North American Bible schools is roughly 61,000. If we could attract to
NDSU as little as 5 percent of the graduating class from each Bible school within
300 miles and, from each junior college, attract as many students as from the average
Bible school, we would be receiving into this program about 70 students per year.
A comparable figure for schools within 600 miles would be about 220 students.
"Zoologist Frank Cassel, who has been on the NDSU faculty for many years as chairman
of his department, says that respect and friendly tolerance from his colleagues give
him a free hand to take a Christian stand on this campus. Other evangelicals here
include horticulture and agricultural economics professors; a USDA research
specialist; chairmen of the education, ag econ, and mechanical engineering departments;
and the assistant to the president. The two deans under whom I work are men of faith
with heartfelt sympathies for the work of God in the Bible-college movement; one of
them has even had invitations to preach in churches."
Larry asks us to pray that this new venture might prosper and benefit the students
of God's choosing. If you know of any promising students who ought to know about
the program, please send their names to: Dr. Lawrence H. Starkey, College of University Studies, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58102. (That's also where
we'll send Larry a dozen copies of the "Scientist's Psalm" greeting cards, to thank
him for contributing to HOW TO START SOMETHING. Where should we send yours?)
THE EXPERIENCE OF DYING
According to newspaper reports, conclusions in the new Prentice-Hall book The Experience of Dying,
edited by E. Mansell Pattison, differ from those of Elisabeth KublerRoss in her widely acclaimed 1969 book
On Death and Dying. She had suggested that
people approach death in a series of recognizable stages: initial shock and numbness
followed in turn by denial, anger, bargaining for life, depression, and final acceptance.
"There is really no clinical evidence to support the concept of a series of emotional
stages--and Dr. Kubler-Ross never insisted these stages were a rigid order of progression," says Pattison. "Some people, however, who have applied her concepts too rigidly,
become cross with dying persons because they haven't advanced swiftly enough into the
so-called next stage."
"Our research shows that people use whatever coping resources are relevant to their
position in the life cycle. There is considerable ebb and flow of emotions throughout the dying process, just as our emotions ebb and flow as we face conflicts and
crises throughout our entire life. Dying people should be treated as you would treat
anyone else with a problem. If you have a friend who is divorced or whose child is
in some trouble, you respond in terms of sympathy and empathy from your own experiences. You draw on your common knowledge. It's the same with death."
Mansell is professor and vice-chairman of psychiatry and human behavior at the College
of Medicine of the University of California, Irvine, professor of social sciences and
social ecology at UCI, and deputy director of training, consultation, and education
for the Orange County Department of Mental Health. The Experience of Dying is based
on an analysis of research studies provided by more than twenty clinicians working
in many fields involving death and dying patients. The book goes beyond a textbook
presentation of the psychology of dying to case studies, a review of research into
death and dying, and suggestions for professionals, family members, and friends for
helping dying persons. Mansell feels that children need to be taught that death is
just as much a part of life as living.
AN AFFIRMATION OF LIFE
A psychiatrist who coped with death in a more personal way was the late Orville S.
Walters. Orville died on February 18, 1975, two years after learning that he had
cancer of the stomach, and shortly after writing a brief testimony for the CMS Journal
entitled "A Psychiatrist's Approach to Death." His statement is now available in
pamphlet form from the Christian Medical Society, 1122 Westgate, Oak Park, IL 60301.
Orville, too, called attention to Kubler-Ross's Death and Dying, but felt that it
took little notice of the resources of Christian faith for the dying. He said that
11with the self awareness that is required in the competent psychiatrist, I cannot
identify in my own experience the stages commonly attributed to the dying patient."
After presenting the biblical basis for his faith in God and describing his two years
of "living with death," Orville ended his witness with an affirmation of life: "I
approach death with a deep sense of gratitude for the abundant life that has been
mine through grace ministered by the Holy Spirit and through the fellowship of God's
people. 'Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."'
OBITUARY NOTICES
Donald E. King passed away unexpectedly on October 14, 1976, from a coronary. Donald
was chaplain at Lebanon Community Hospital, Lebanon, Oregon. We learned of his death
from La Vernae J. Dick, now the interim chaplain.
We have been notified by Mrs. Shirley Johnson of Los Gatos, California, that her husband,
Duane E. Johnson, died of leukemia on November 29, 1976. Duane, 47, was a research
chemist for IBM Corporation. Shortly before his death, company officials came to his
room at Stanford University Hospital in Palo Alto to present him with a substantial
bonus in recognition of his discoveries in electron-beam litography, which make possible the production of finer lines in printed circuits. He had been hospitalized
for nearly two months. Duane, a native Iowan and graduate of Iowa State, received
his Ph.D. from UCLA. He was active in Calvary Baptist Church of Los Gatos, where his
funeral service was held. Besides his widow, he is survived by two sons and a daughter
in Los Gatos, a brother in Iowa, and a sister in Nebraska.
PEOPLE LOOKING FOR POSITIONS
Robert W. Manweiler (646 Main St., Collegeville, PA 19426) seeks a faculty position
in physics in a liberal arts college or university. After a B.S. in physics at Kansas
(1967), Bob received an M.S. in 1969 and Ph.D. in 1972 under Hans Bethe at Cornell.
He studied effective interaction for unbound nucleons and its relation to the optical
potential, collaborating with W. Schmidt on theoretical high energy calculations
using fixed-t dispersion relations. A year with an experimental group using the Cornell Electron Synchrotron to investigate
KO
interactions gave him extensive experience
with computer calculations. Bob spent 1972-73 and the summer of 1974 at Oak Ridge
National Lab working under Eugene Wigner on a variety of problems in nuclear physics
and engineering. Since 1973 Bob has been an instructor in physics at Ursinus College
in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, teaching lecture and lab for both science-and
non-science major courses. At the same time he has been pursuing theological and biblical-studies
at Westminster Seminary and Biblical School of Theology, receiving an M.Div. from
Westminster in December 1976. Bob has served as faculty advisor to Ursinus Christian
fellowship and enjoys working with students. He is interested in teaching physics,
working in the interdisciplinary areas of science and Christianity, and perhaps continuing investigations in nuclear structure theory. Bob has a number of publications
from his work at Cornell and Oak Ridge, and a paper on "The Relationship Between
Prophecy and the Authentication of Revelation" to be published. He is 31, married,
with no children.
POSITIONS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE
Houghton College in New York expects to have an opening in its Sociology Dept. for the
fall of 1977. Preference is for a committed Christian with a Ph.D. degree and some
teaching experience or experience in administering internship programs. Submit letters
of application to: Dr. Katherine W. Lindley, Chair of the Division of History &
Social Science, Houghton College, Houghton, NY 14744. (Received 15 Dec 1976)
Bread for the World, "A Christian Citizens' Movement in the USA," learned of ASA
through our mention of them in the Oct. 1976 issue. Art Simon wrote to thank us,
adding that it "occurred to me as I read your newsletter that somewhere along the
line persons may surface who might be candidates for our staff. A paragraph about
someone with a background in economics and American studies prompted this thought.
At some time in the future, one of your members with extensive background in areas
such as those might be available just when we are looking for someone to work on
issues here. I hasten to add that we do not at present have staff openings, so I
cannot encourage you to make an appeal, but from time to time we do seek additional
staff." For more information about the organization, or to let them know that you
might be interested in employment, write to: Arthur Simon, Executive Director,
Bread for the World, 235 East 49th St., New York, NY 10017. (Received 23 Jan. 1977)
NEW ENGLAND
A note from Marlin Kreider says that a seminar on "Dishonesty in Science" was
planned for Saturday, February 12, 2-5 p.m., at Park Street Church in Boston.
WESTERN NEW YORK
April 15-16 is the date set for the spring meeting at Roberts Wesleyan College,
North Chili, NY. Wilber Sutherland, director of Toronto's "Imago" Christian consulting service, film-maker, and former Canadian IVCF director, will be the principal
speaker. For further details, contact: John Setchell, 376 English Road, Rochester,
NY 14616.
WASHINGTON-BALTIMORE
Glenn Kirkland, secretary-treasurer, sent us an encouraging account of the "reawakening"
of the section. Attendance grew at the several 1976 meetingsand 1977 got off to a
good start with a meeting on January 18 at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Bethesda,
Maryland. Speaking on "Astronomy Update--1976" was Paul Arveson, physicist with the
Naval Ships Research & Development Center. Paul's professional field is underwater
sound technology but it was clear from his excellent slide-tape presentation that he
takes his hobby of astronomy seriously. Besides color photographs from Viking missions, he had simulated space rocks on hand to display.
Ed Karlow and Luis Oms of
Columbia Union College brought a number of their students to the meeting.
With Glenn on the Executive Committee are David Ka (president), Paul Arveson (v-p.),
Robert Buckler, Talivaldis Smits, and James Wagner. The committee has drafted a set
of By-laws for approval at a future meeting. They've heard a rumor that Bernard Ramm
will be giving a series of lectures in the Washington area in May, and hope to build
a meeting around him. With visitors coming through all the time, this local section
has the potential for a varied program.
Although its territory covers parts of two or three states, the Washington-Baltimore
section actually represents quite a concentration of ASA members. In fact, they've
discovered that one church in the area has four members on official boards plus eight
others in the congregation--enough to constitute a quorum in some ASA sections.
(Does that mean we now have a local section that holds weekly meetings? How active
can you get?)
CHICAGO A very exciting project has been undertaken by the Chicago section. ' Bill
Sisterson,
Howard Claassen, and Jim Buswell proposed that the CSCA tape/slide presentation prepared by the Toronto section be modified for widespread ASA use in churches. The
presentation deals specifically with creation and evolution but has been effective
in introducing the whole issue of science and Christian faith and in publicizing
the work of the Canadian Scientific and Christian Affiliation.
The committee got professional advice from graduate students in visual programming
(to shorten it, tighten it, use some new slides and revise the script for ASA use).
Then they sent a copy of the script with a letter to members of the Chicago section
asking for: 1) detailed criticism of the script; 2) suggestions for use of the
presentation; 3) commitment to make personal use of it in churches and other groups;
4) technical advice on matters touched on in the presentation; and 5) financial
contributions toward the project. A budget of one to two thousand dollars was estimated. An individual in the Chicago area (may his tithe increase!) offered to match
gifts up to $1000 on a dollar-for-dollar basis.
Gifts and pledges of $1300 came in for the project and work on it is now beginning
with communications people at Wheaton College. (Maybe we'all all get to see the
Revised Version at the 1977 ANNUAL MEETING at NYACK COLLEGE, AUGUST 12-15.)
GULF SOUTHWEST
The December 3rd meeting was the first to be held at Texas A&M University in College
Station. Gil Miller, assistant professor of mathematics at A&M was the speaker.
Roy
Cornwell sent us a good account of the meeting, including a clipping from the student
newspaper, The Battalion (headline: "Science Unable to Prove God Exists, Miller Says").
There were 33 persons in attendance, including two from Galveston but none from Houston.
Gil's talk on "Creation and Cosmogony" began by tracing ideas of the earth's origin
and its place in the solar system from the early philosophers up to present times.
Just as earier theories were replaced it seems likely that present theories will be
superseded. A clear account of the steady-state and big-bang theories was given,
followed by the experimental evidence, including radiation experiments at Princeton
(where Gil earned his Ph.D. in physics), making the steady-state theory no longer
tenable.
The open and closed big-bang theories were discussed.. The open model, with a continually expanding universe, seems to coincide with the Genesis account of creation.
However, it is unwise to identify Genesis with a singularity in the equations, which
could lead to a breakdown of the theory. Genesis stands on its own. We accept it
not because it seems to be supported by a scientific theory, but also not on blind
faith. There are evidences for accepting not only Genesis but the whole Christian
message. The apostle Paul argued Christ's resurrection as the undeniable proof of
the gospel; the resurrection turned 11 fearful disciples into revolutionaries; Jesus
affirmed the authenticity of the Old Testament. Gil closed his talk by affirming
that God is a personal God and that Jesus Christ makes a relationship possible. He
quoted Pascal: "God is not the God of philosophy but of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."
SAN DIEGO On Saturday, February 26, H. Harold Hartzler will speak at Mesa College, according to
a note from Jerry Albert. From Harold's list of lecture titles the section chose
"Paradoxes in Mathematics and in Christianity" and "Faith and the Scientific Method."
Jerry thought they might talk Harold into giving both talks, with lunch sandwiched
in between.
Randy S. Baker was hoping to complete his Master's thesis at Stephin F. Austin State
University, Nacogdoches, Texas, in January. He was scheduled to leave on February 3
for the Fiji Islands to do research on forest entomology problems with the Peace Corps.
Richard H. Bube of Stanford University gave an all-school lecture at Whitworth College
in Spokane, Washington, on December 2 on "The Biblical Basis for a New Social Paradigm."
Dick's host was Ed Olson, professor of physics and geology at Whitworth. After a
"1985" lunch, featuring a menu of the future keeping in mind energy and food concerns,
Dick led the final discussion in Ed's seminar course, which had used Dick's The Encounter Between Christianity and Science
as a text. The class had studied one chapter
a week, with seven different faculty members leading discussions.
Rodger K. Bufford is now chairman of the Dept. of Psychology at Huntington College in
Huntington, Indiana. He was expecting to attend an Indiana University conference on
"Ethics, Medicine, and the Life Sciences" early in February. Rodger's paper, "God
and Behavior Mod: Some Thoughts Concerning the Relationships Between Biblical Principles and Behavior Modification" appeared in J.
Psychology and Theology 5, No. 1 (1977).
Miguel Capote is an undergraduate at Harvey Mudd College of the Claremont Colleges of
Claremont, California. Miguel is always on the lookout for Christians who can speak
effectively to the science and engineering students at Harvey Mudd. He has been
helping to organize a Christian Awareness Week program at the Claremont Colleges in
February.
John Cummins is now on the faculty of Northside Christian School, Newport News, Virginia.
When last we heard, John was teaching six different classes at the junior high level:
biology, earth science, physical science, algebra, geometry, and Bible. (We hope he
doesn't have to coach soccer to boot!) John had been at Milligan College in Tennessee.
Janet Cunningham of Mansfield, Ohio, is working as a hospital scrub-nurse after graduating from college, hoping to get into medical school. Last year she spent six
months traveling in Europe, much of the time visiting Christian physicians in England
finding out how they relate their faith to the practice of medicine.
Monte F. Hancock, JE., recently married and now lives in Syracuse, New York, where
he is continuing graduate work in mathematics. The Hancocks were settling in at
Syracuse when we heard from them, seeking God's place of service there.
Richard H. Harrison is employed by Educational Testing Service in New Jersey, where
he meets with a small witnessing Christian group during lunch break. Richard investigates such things as "the optimum number of classes in the X2 statistic," and "the
national SAT score decline and field dependence/independence (cognitive style) scores"
for ETS (not to be confused with the psychological rip-off, Erhard Seminars Training,
which is pronounced Ifest").
H. Harold Hartzler reports that he has given over 50 lectures on his tour around the
country. For December through most of February he parked his trailer in Glendale,
Arizona, and has been speaking at Mennonite churches in the area and at the Mennonite
Retirement Community in Glendale. Harold and Dorothy think they may leave their
trailer in Arizona as they head farther west this spring. Their itinerary includes
San Diego, Los Angeles, Fresno, and the Bay Area by the end of March. To line up a
lecture on Christianity and science, write to Harold at 8401 N. 67th Ave. #209,
Glendale, AZ 85301.
Pamela M. Hurley has just received her PhD in toxicology from MIT in Cambridge,
Massachusetts. Pam is beginning postdoctoral training at Mass General Hospital,
where she looks forward to meeting a new group of Christians and finding opportunities for Christian witness.
.Benjamin M. Hatch, Jr., is an engineer working as a division manager for A, W. Martin
Associates, Inc., a consulting firm in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Ben is vicepresident of the newly formed Delaware Valley section of ASA. He sent us an outline
of his elective Sunday school courses, one of three offered this winter at the First
Baptist Church of Newton Township, Newton Square (PA). Ben's course on "Science and
Christianity" attracted 25 people from teenagers on up, who are very exciting to
teach. One feature of the course is a "telescope night," giving class members an
opportunity to observe some of God's distant creation through an 8" reflector telescope.
,Peter D. Hyde is now an associate professor of electronic data processing at Odessa
College in Odessa, Texas. From January 1974 to July 1976 he was with Wycliffe Bible
Translators in Mexico City, where he wrote computer programs for systems, automated
typesetting, and accounting.
Rodney D. ice has been appointed dean of the College of Pharmacy at the University of
Oklahoma, located at the O.U. Health Services Center in Oklahoma City. Rod hopes to
continue research on the design, development, and dosimetry of radiopharmaceuticals
along with his new responsibilities.
Everett R. Irish of Richland, Washington, was recently elected a Fellow of the
American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Everett is manager of the Commercial Nuclear Waste Vitrification Program at Battelle Northwest Laboratories. He joined
the Battelle lab in 1965 as deputy manager of the Environmental and Radiological
Sciences Dept., acting manager of the Earth Sciences Section, and overlay coordinator
for environmental pollution research. (If you saw the NBC TV documentary, "Danger!
Radioactive Waste," on January 26, you know how crucial Everett's work is to all of
us. Highly dangerous radioactive wastes from nuclear power plants pile up daily and
liquid wastes from 20 years ago are still not safely disposed of.)
Glenn R. Irish has left the U. of Maine in Orono but still lives in South Windham
(ME). He is working as a salesman for Texas Refinery Corporation of Fort Worth, Texas.
Mark Iskra is employed at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, having completed his M.S. in nuclear
engineering at Virginia Polytech in October 1976. A paper incorporating his thesis
work on plasma physics for fusion reactors was given at the American Nuclear Society
meeting in Washington, D. C., in November.
Darrell W. Johnson has become pastor of St. John's Presbyterian Church in West Los
Angeles, California, about 3 miles south of UCLA. Darrell hopes to build St. John's
into a theologically grounded lighthouse to an area drowning in all kinds of rival
claims about God, the universe, and humanity. The theme for Darrell's first year at
St. John's is the total adequacy and availability of Jesus Christ.
Robert H. Johnson works for E-Systems
Inc. in
Greenville, Texas. He has been promoted
and put in charge of some Survivability/Vulnerability projects, also called nuclear
hardening or just "hardening." Under a subcontract from Boeing, E-Systems is
"hardening" some 747s into E-4B aircraft (Advanced Airborne Command Posts) designed
to be (gulp!) maybe the only thing left in the event of a nuclear war. The problem
is to make the pressure hull "into an EMI enclosure to minimize nuclear radiation
effects on the mission equipment of this airborne military headquarters." (Bob's
concern for spiritual survivability is shown in the three different Bible classes he
teaches, to men & boys, and to young marrieds through his church, and to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at the senior high school.
Robert H. Johnson of Vancouver, Washington, is a senior at George Fox College in
Oregon. This Bob Johnson is doing research on circadian rhythms in insects in an
Intensified Studies Program and anxiously awaiting acceptance into medical school for
next year.
Rodney W, Johnson works for NASA in Washington, D. C. In August 1976 he was appointed
to a new position as director of advanced studies in the Office of Space Flight. He
is responsible for study of future manned missions and spacecraft for earth-orbiting
space stations, lunar bases, planetary missions, and large launch vehicles. Rod's
hobby is competitive long-distance running; he competed in 5 marathon runs in 1976.
William A. Johnson, M.D., returned in August 1976 after 18 months in the same mission
hospital in Kenya, East Africa, where he served in 1970-71 under the Africa Inland
Mission. Bill, whose address is San Jose, California, says that "medical missions is
still a way to open villages and countries, as well as the individual heart, to the
good news of Jesus Christ, and we rejoiced to be part of this fruitful ministry."
Sherman P. Kanagy, II, at the U. of Illinois, says that during the fall semester,
he, Richard Taubold, Bruce Patterson, and prof. M. E. Clark co-taught a course on
"Science and the Bible" at Twin City Bible Church in Urbana. Topics included astronomy and the Bible; biochemistry, evolution, and the Christian faith; and the theories
of Immanuel Velikovsky.
James A. Katerberg is also at the U. of Illinois in Urbana. He's a grad student in
physics, working on the "low temperature Kapitza resistance problem." Jim married
Mary Dekker of Washington, who is now teaching profoundly mentally impaired students
in Champaign (the "twin city" of Urbana).
Reuben L. Katter, president of Theotes-Logos Research Inc. of Minneapolis, Minnesota,
has been ASA member for many years and is now retired from his work as an administrator in religious education. Reuben's book, The History of Creation and Origin
of Species, is known to many of us. His second book, a sequel to some extent,
entitled Jesus Christ,, the Divine Executive, is scheduled for publication this spring.
The first dealt with how the universe was created and this one deals with why it was
created. Reuben is listed in Who's Who in The Midwest and the International Scholars
Directory.
Irving W. Knobloch, another ASA old-timer, retired on July 1, 1976 from the Dept. of
Botany & Plant Pathology at Michigan State University, East Lansing. Irv keeps busy
working on biographies of all plant collectors in northem Mexico and on his own
genealogy. His technical papers also keep coming: "Pteridophyte Hybrids," MSU Museum
Publication 5: No. 4; "Morphological Characters in Cheilanthes, "Flora 1977; and
"A New Plants and Man Course," in Plant Science Bulletin.
Fred Klock of Bloomfield, New Jersey, has completed a one-year term as president of
the Science Teachers Association of Newark (NJ). Fred was also selected as a participant in the 20th International Edison Birthday Celebration in Chicago, February 9-13,
1976.
Michael Krebs is a graduate student in counseling at California State University, Chico.
Mike is a relatively new ASA member who says he finds the Journal helpful in a challenging new situation.
Francis (Norm) Kredit of Anaheim, California, is now doing sales work for Fullwell
Motor Products Company. Before that, Norm spent 5 years on Inter-Varsity Christian
Fellowshipp staff and says he really appreciated ASA during that time.
D. W. Kupke is professor of biochemistry & biophysics at the University of Virginia
School of Medicine in Charlottesville, His article, "Change in Time: Special
Relativity and Genesis One," appeared in Academy 23, 28 (Summer 1976), Academy is
published by Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, Missouri.
Paul R. Leiffer completed his Ph.D. in bioengineering in September 1976 and is praising
God for his postdoctoral research position in the Physiology Dept. at the U. of Kansas
Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas. He is studying the mechanical properties of
single isolated cardiac cells.
David C. Lindberg is professor of the history of science at the U. of Wisconsin in
Madison. Dave's Theories of Vision from Al-Kindi to Kepler (U. of Chicago Press, 1976)
was called by one reviewer "the best survey of past optical theory in print, as well
as one of the best books of the year in intellectual history." Ed Olson of Whitworth
College spotted that review in the November 1976 issue of Choice.
Terry Lomheim has advanced to Ph.D. candidacy status in physics at the University of
Southern California. Terry lives in Placentia (CA).
Stanley W. Moore of Pepperdine University has been elected secretary of the Southern
California Political Science Association. Stan will be presenting papers at both
the Western Pol. Sci. Assoc. in Phoenix, March 30 - April 1, and at the Southwestern
Pol. Sci. Assoc. in Dallas, March 30 - April 2. His papers are on "Developing Concepts
of Law and Morality in Children" and "Who Governs? The Perspective from Second Grade."
.Richard B. Perkins has completed his doctorate in sociology at the University of
Massachusetts in Amherst, and has moved from teaching at Washington and Jefferson
College to Westminster College, New Wilmington, Pennsylvania.
Roger G. Soule is professor and chairman of Physical Education at Liberty Baptist
College in Lynchburg, Virginia. Roger had been chairman of the Dept. of Health
Sciences at Sargent College of Boston University. He is co-author of a new book and
author of a chapter on "Neuromuscular Mechanisms for Therapeutic and Conditioning
Exercise" (University Park, Press, 1976).
Levin P. Tull has received his B.A. in biology at Macalester College and moved to
Kansas City, Kansas. Levin is a VISTA volunteer working at the Institute for Alcoholic Recovery, Inc. He hopes to use his skills as a media specialist to obtain
funds and volunteer workers for IFAR.
Jon Robert Westa is at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, working toward a
master's degree in wildlife ecology while employed half-time by the Cooperative
Wildlife Research Laboratory. Jon is studying activity patterns of a refuge population of fox squirrels (Sciurus
niger . Jon married in July 1976 and says that he and
his wife both praise God for ASA; she is a psychology student who particularly appreciated the September 1976 issue of JASA. The Westas attended IVCF's Urbana '76, where
God strongly impressed upon them the importance of missions. Jon hopes to finish at
SIU in 1979 and go into a Christian camping ministry either in the U.S. or abroad.
Steven P, Wilson is a postdoctoral fellow in the Laboratory of Biochemical Genetics,
NHLBI, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, studying the neurobiology
of synpase formation. Steve's doctoral dissertation in biochemistry at Duke
University was entitled "Isolation and Characterization of the Plasma Membrane of
the Adrenal Medulla."
Jonathan H. Woodcock hopes to receive his M.D. degree at the State University of
New York, Buffalo, in May 1977. He is finishing up an extracurricular project on
the natural history of the Belgrade rat anemia. Jon did an elective in psychopharmacology at the National Institute of Mental Health, NIH, in the fall of 1976.
ARIZONA
Dr. L. W. Kemper, 7238 E. Coronado Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 87257
Tom W. Zigterman, 1237 E. Water St., Tucson, AZ 85719 BS - Civil Engr.
CALIFORNIA
David A. Fraser, 1915 N. Grand Oaks Ave., Altadena, CA 91001 MDiv - Theology
John C. Richards, 53 Atherton Ave., Atherton, CA 94025 SB - Gen. Eng.
Dr. E. Dwight Jordan, 9344 Rosser St., Bellflower, CA 90706
Norman K. Nystrom, 6159 Longmont Way, Carmichael, CA 95608
David R. Williams, 915 Sea View Drive, El Cerrito, CA 94530
Ken Nightingale, 5508 E. Lane, Fresno, CA 93727 Student
Wesley E. Ahlberg, 2436 Cambridge Ave., Fullerton, CA 92635 BEE - Elect. Eng.
Gary V. Davis, 339 Colusa Ave., Kensington, CA 94707 MA - Sociology
Lance Hodges, Biology Dept., Loma Linda Univ., Loma Linda, CA 92354 BA - Chem.
Klazina Ryken, 29722 E. Grooms Rd., Oakdale, CA 95361 MA - Psychology
Tom Greenlee, 313 Keck House, Caltech, Pasadena, CA 91126
James Wylie, Jr., 17412 Rainier Drive, Santa Ana, CA 92705
S. Larson, Valley Christian High School, P.O. Box 266, Saratoga, CA 95070
William Anderson, 1046 Pendleton Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94087 PhD - EE
COLORADO
Joan M. Charlson RR5, Box 452, Evergreen, CO 80439 BA - PE
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Dr. Gordon R. Werkema, 11 Dupont Circle N.W., Washington, D. C. 20036
FLORIDA
Martin D. Hollingsworth, 444 Appleyard Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32304 MS - Biology
Thomas J. Worsham, U-672 F.S.U., Tallahassee, FL 32313 Student
GEORGIA
Donald N. Petcher, 383 S. Pope St., Athens, GA 30601 BA - Natural Science
L. T. Ludwig, 74 Pheasant Dr. S.E., Marietta, GA 30067
IDAHO
Dennis G. Laveroni, I.S.U., Box 8954, Pocatello, ID 83209 Student
ILLINOIS
Anthony J. Zordan, 15131 Chaucer Drive, Oak Forest, IL 60452 Student
Gerrit D. Van Dyke, Trinity Christian College, 6601 College Drive, Palos Hghts., IL
Roger Wayne Miller, 1318 W. Hanssler Place, Peoria, IL 61604 MS - Chemistry /60463
J. Lynn Currie, 308 Dickinson #3, Springfield, IL 62704 BA - Psy.
IOWA
Derwin C. Myhr, 302 12th Ave. West, Spencer, IA 51301 MA - Zoology
KANSAS
James E. Yoder, 324 E. Vesper, Hesston, KS 67062 PhD - Org. Chem.
Phillip G. Wahlbeck, Dept. of Chem., Wichita State Univ., Wichita, KS 67208 PhD - Chem.
KENTUCKY
David E. Oeschger, 702 Raintree Gardens #7, Louisville, KY 40218 PhD - Psychology
MARYLAND
Frank B. Brown, 7100 Radnor Rd., Bethesda, MD, 20034 PhD - Physics
Christian J. Kirschman, 1103 Palmer Rd. #9, Oxon Hill, MD 20022 BA - Chemistry
Nicholas J. Tavani, Jr., 200 Surrey Circle Dr., Tantallon, MD 20022 PhD - Physiology
MASSACHUSETTS
Rachel D. Bangs, 73 Henry St., Framingham, MA 01701 MS - Nutrition
Fred Moore, Gordon College, Wenham, MA 01984 Student
MICHIGAN
Ted W. Ward, 3918 Willoughby Road, Holt, MI 48842 EdD- Curriculum Research
Dale E. Moelker, 1903-D Woodmar Ave., Houghton, MI 49931 BS - Bio. Sci.
Charles E. Hawkins, 508 21st St., Jackson, MI 49283 PhD - Physics
Larry Schwartzman, Rt. 1, John Brown Lake, Mecosta, MI 49332 MSBA - BA
M. Arley Bouwma, 18194 Swiss Drive, Spring Lake, MI 49456
MINNESOTA
David Sperry, 4513 Chatham Road, Minneapolis, MN 55421 PhD - Anthropology
NEW MEXICO
Gerry 0. Wood, 2233 37th St., Los Alamos, N. M. 87544
NEW YORK
Dr. Quinton J. Bianchine, P.O. Box "H", DeWitt, N. Y. 13214
David P. Garoner, 213 Westside Drive, Rochester, N. Y. 14624
David A. Shafer, 9 Westminster Rd., Rockville Centre, N. Y. 11570 EdD - Amin.
Curric.
Robert E. Stover, Jr., 219 N. James St., Rome, N. Y. 13440
NORTH CAROLINA
James H. Crawford, Jr., 311 Wesley Drive, Chapel Hill, N. C. 27514 PhD - Chemistry
James Junker, 2213 Elder St. #4, Durham, N. C. 27705
Merrill Jackson, 3046 Lewis Farm Rd., Raleigh, N. C. 27607 MS - Biochemistry
OHIO
John P. Fackler, 1225 Oak Ridge Drive, Cleveland Heights, OH 44121 PhD - Chemistry
Roger Chambers, 1180 Stahlheber Road, Hamilton, OH 45013 Clergyman
OKLAHOMA
Marion R. Fox, Box 562, Maysville, OK 73062 MS - Elec. Eng.
OREGON
Bruce E. Hofer, 11370 SW Blakeney St., Beaverton, OR 97005 BSEE - Eng.
PENNSYLVANIA
Sharon Blair, Box 191, RD #2, Mercer Rd., Beaver Falls, PA 14010 Student
Bruce E. Miller, Geneva College, Beaver Falls, PA 15010
Edward B. Davis, 7 Mansfield Road, Lansdowne, PA 19050 BS - Physics
SOUTH DAKOTA
C. W. Carlson, R. D. 3, Brookings, S. D. 57006
NEW BOOK FOR SALE
A recent president of the ASA, Gary Collins, has a new book out entitled The Rebuilding
of Psychology, published by Tyndale. Gary gives a valuable overview of the current
state of psychology with its myriad of different viewpoints and proposed solutions.
This part of the book is worth the price of purchase alone in helping not only the
professional psychologist, but the student and interested observer, sort out all the
confusing approaches to this subject current today. However, not content with simply
analyzing the situation, the author goes on to propose a Christian basis for rebuilding
psychology. The solution offered is a responsible attempt to truly integrate the legitimate findings of psychology with Biblical Christianity rather than the all too common
approach of making one "fit" into the other.
To order send your check payable to the ASA to our Elgin office (ASA, 5 Douglas Avenue,
Elgin, IL 60120). List price for this 211 page paperback edition is $4.95. Your price
as an ASA member is $4.50, postage paid. Ask for the book by title and it will be sent
by return mail from stocks kept in our office.
CALL FOR PAPERS - CONFERENCE ON CHRISTIANITY AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES
A definite need exists for Christian involvement with the millions of disturbed children
and adolescents across the nation. In order to begin providing organized assistance to
troubled youth there must be a clarification of the issues involved and a dissemination
of information.
In February of 1978, there will be a national conference on Christianity and Children's
Services. Theoretical and applied papers, workshops, video tapes and films are being
reviewed for presentation at this conference. It will be an opportunity for ideas to
be brought before a projected 1,000 Christian professionals in the helping services.
The conference will be February 10-13, 1978, at the Atlanta Hyatt Regency Hotel. Seven
subject divisions define the wide scope of the conference. The divisions and their
respective coordinators are: Mental Health, Dr. Ross Campbell; Child Development,
Dr. Paul Clemet; Educational Therapy, Dr. Dale Layman; Religious Education, Dr. Larry
Richards; Group Care Homes, Dr. Clifford Sanford; Children and the Family, Dr. John
H. Scanzoni; and Medical Services to Children. Sponsoring organizations include: The
American Scientific Affiliation, Christian Association for Psychological Studies,
Christian Medical Society, Christian Legal Society, National Association of Christians
for Psychological Studies, Family Concern8,Inc., National Association of Christians in
Social Work and the Psychological Studies Institute, Inc.
Preliminary projects should be submitted by May 1, 1977. For additional information
please contact Christianity and Children's Services, P. 0. Box 54737, Atlanta, GA 30308.
REMINDER - MACKAY & HOOYKAAS AT REGENT THIS SUMMER
Dr. R. Hooykaas from the Netherlands and Dr. Donald MacKay from England will teach a
course this summer on Science and Christianity at Regent College in Vancouver, B. C.
This is an exceptional opportunity for ASA/CSCA members to hear these key leaders in
the study of the relationship of science and Christianity. The three week course will
take place on July 4-22, 1977 with a tuition cost of $60 and a registration fee of $15.
Fuller details and registration forms are available either from the Elgin office of the
ASA (address below) or from The Registrar, Regent College, 2130 Wesbrook Crescent,
Vancouver, B. C. V6T 1W6, Canada.