NEWSLETTER  

of the

AMERICAN SCIENTIFIC AFFILIATION - CANADIAN SCIENTIFIC & CHRISTIAN AFFILIATION

VOLUME 29 NUMBER 6                                                                            DECEMBER 1987/JANUARY 1988

 

... and we find, in Jesus Christ, stability. Yes, the two meanings of stable do come from the same Latin root (stare, "to stand"). A stable is a
shelter where animals stand to be fed. What is firm, steady, "not easily moved or thrown off balance," is what stands-what is stable in
our lives. 

At this writing, in October, the stock market is "volatile, jittery," having lost nearly a quarter of its value in a single day. Today the World Series is also volatile. Another "come back" series, a deadly one, is being played out elsewhere. Far from its home stadium, the U.S. retaliates in a game of high-tech "chicken"; Iran prepares to show how much low-tech carnage is possible with suicidal fanatics when it runs out of U.S. Stinger and Chinese Silkworm missiles.

Enough. This is our annual Christmas and New Year Greeting, after eighteen years of editing the Newsletter. Even if words like "Merry" and "Happy" seem out of place this week, we recall what happened in an unstable world and in a stable-to change everything. The world's Creator came into that world as the world's Redeemer. Not every one has changed yet for the better, but we have been changed. Having experienced his redeeming love we are 11not easily moved or thrown off balance."

In Jesus Christ we have "peace with God," "access to this grace in which we stand," and "hope of sharing the glory of God." With hope we can be merry and happy ("rejoicing"), even in the midst of suffering. After all, suffering leads (in a cyclic, cause-and-effect sequence) from endurance to character and back to hope. Such hope "does not disappoint us," because "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us" (Romans 5:1-5, RSV).

Remember, it was "while we were enemies" that we were "reconciled to God by the death of his Son" (Romans 5:611, RSV). With that kind of hope for God's enemies, there is hope for the whole world. Be of good cheer. - Waft & Ginny Hearn

EARTHKEEPING: DIGGING IN

The 1987 ASA Annual Meeting focused on "Global Resources and the Environment." Balancing the theoretical with the practical brought that high-sounding theme down to earth, in line with the modern proverb: "Think globally but act locally." Today we understand both the frustration of limited perspectives and the folly of ignoring site-specific circumstances. We serve the Creator of the whole universe, but are called to faithfulness in our own niche.

Keynote speaker Vernon Ehlers touched on both aspects of environmental solutions in his three keynote addresses (Oct/Nov Newsletter, pp. 3-4). Individual papers looked at the conference theme from different "focal lengths."

Martin Pfice of ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger 0manintion, R.R. 2, Box 852, North Ft. Myers, FL 33!4i]13) was one of those "up close" to . hungry people. He began his talk with a rather startling global assertion, however: "On God's abundant earth, there is no shortage of food." The problem is an income shortage. Millions of subsistence farmers work tiny plots of poor land in bad locations, with perhaps no rain at all for nine months of the year, then soil-eroding monsoons. Consequently they can neither buy enough food for their families nor produce it. ECHO serves as an "agricultural experiment station" for such marginal farmers. Martin told inspiring tales of some ideas that are working on a small scale -but a scale that can be multiplied on thousands of tiny plots. He challenged ASA members to use our technical skills to help people escape from persistent poverty in a world of plenty. Martin's wife Bonnie was on hand to answer questions about ECHO and solicit research help to solve some immediate technical problems.

Tom Dent of Gordon College described a trip to Central America he and wife Beverly took in their pickup camper to see how missionaries balance economic, environmental, and evangelistic concerns. Having read claims that both indigenous culture and agriculture have suffered from missionary practices, Tom wanted to see for himself. Some of the criticisms may be valid, he said, but he found inspiring examples of "Christianity with its sleeves rolled up." He told of El Centro de Estudios Experimentales en Artesiana Rural in Chiapas, Mexico, near the Guatemalan border. The Dents found North American missionaries experimenting and effectively demonstrating agricultural conservation in a region where Mayan slash-and-burn cultivation has been practiced for centuries.

Several speakers analyzed Christian responses to the ecological crisis. Joseph K Sheldon of Eastern College reminded us that it is now 25 years since Rachel Carson's Silent Spring called attention to the crisis and 20 years since Lynn White blamed it on "biblical roots." White was wrong about Scripture but right about the way most Christians actually behaved-at least in the past. The first nationwide "Earth Day" was celebrated on 22 April 1970. By 1987 many Christians have grasped the severity of the crisis and are banding together to do something about it. Joe was planning to attend the initial meeting of the broad-based North American Conference on Christianity and Ecology later in August. He described trends in publications on ecology and theology, based on a bibliography of about a thousand citations.

Fred Van Dyke of Fort Wayne Bible College also credited Lynn White's notorious 1967 essay with stirring up interest in ecology among Christian thinkers. But according to Fred, interest declined after 1979 even though environmental problems were getting worse. In his paper and later in a panel of members of ASA's Global Resources & Environment Commission chaired by Ray, Brand, Fred proposed a role for ASA in educating the Christian public- It is important to 'be realistic"; Le., to focus on the interaction of ecological concerns with economic concerns.

Another plenary speaker emphasizing that interaction was Laurence C Walker, forestry professor at East Texas State. Larry, who has served as a consultant in several developing countries, reported on the timber resources of the world and the "economic facts of life." Developing countries have been selling to richer nations the logs taken out of their forests. They ought to be selling finished "forest products" to provide employment for their citizens. Sadly, they may not be selling either to their benefit, for both economic and political reasons.

Our 1987 meeting began in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs. In place of a regular Sunday evening worship service, a panel of present and former ASA council members  answered questions on "Science and Refigion" posed by one of the pastors. The questions were excellent and so were the responses of ecologist J. Frank Cassell, biochemist Robert L Hermann, chemical engineer Charles Hummel, and sociologist David Moberg. A lively discussion ranged over the history and philosophy of science, responsible technology, public education, and biblical interpretation, plus the meeting's focus on Christian stewardship of natural resources. The receptive congregation seemed glad to learn that a group of scientifically trained Christians is tackling such problems.

Morning devotions brought us together as an intimate worshiping community, united in Christ despite a diversity of expressions. Although Colorado College severed its religious ties in 1907 to become a fully secular school (as we learned from its president, Dr. Gresham Riley, in his welcoming remarks), its campus boasts a remarkable cathedral-like chapel. On Monday morning no one knew where to find the light switch, giving the liturgical service led by Lutheran pastor George Murphy an almost medieval feel in that dark gothic structure. A period of open prayer seemed to bind us not only to each other but also to the great body of Christians who preceded us - stretching far back before the rise of science.

By Tuesday the fights were on, giving a feeling of Reformational newness to a biblical exposition of the glory of God by Howard Van Till of the Christian Reformed tradition. Wednesday morning's gathering had a sort of Baptist feel to it. After a few comments on "bearing one another's burdens" from Galatians 6, Waft Heam led a session of free-style conversational prayer. Many of us were aware of burdens borne by others and sought to share their burdens and our own with each other, broadening our experience of the caring Christ.

We were especially conscious of the pain of Kenneth V. Olson of Greeley, Colorado, whose wife Esther was at that moment fighting a desperate battle against cancer. What had once been diagnosed as a middle-ear infection had become a brain tumor and metastasized beyond that. Ken bravely attended the Annual Meeting and even led a discussion group on ASA's role in science education. Esther was losing the battle, however, and passed on to be with the Lord shortly after the meeting.

Old-timers were also concerned about Harold Hartzler, ASA' s first executive secretary, whose faithful participation in Annual Meetings we've come to expect. He didn't make it to Colorado Springs, although we knew he had planned to attend after leading a Mennonite history tour to Europe. After the meeting we learned that congestive heart failure had put him in the hospital, canceling all his summer plans. Harold and Dorothy sold their house in Mankato this summer and moved "back home" to Goshen, Indiana - Harold being transported in an ambulance.

We called Goshen recently to inquire about Harold Hartzler's  health and tell him we missed him at the Annual Meeting. He's in pretty good shape, he said, having gained back some of the 40 pounds he lost this summer. Naturally' he's 'writing a paper on peacemaking, maybe a couple of papers for the 1988 ANNUAL MEETING in MALIBU, CALIFORNIA. Now that he's 79, though, his doctor may not let him go surfing.

PEACEMAKING PAPERS SOUGHT FOR 1988

Somebody else in pursuit of papers is Stanley W. Moore, political science professor at PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY in MALIBU, CALIFORNIA. That's where, next AUGUST 5-8, the 1988 ASA ANNUAL MEETING will be held. As program chair, Stan hopes to build much of the program around the theme chosen by ASA!s Arms Control Commission: "Science, Weapons, and Hope: Christian Perspectives." The keynote speaker will soon be announced. 

Contributed papers on any topic relating science and faith are welcome, as always, but this will be an opportunity to focus attention on the science, art, and Christian obligation of living in peace and nta)dng peace between enemies. Here's a list of topics brainstormed by the commission, to get you thinking early about preparing a paper for the 1988 ASA ANNUAL MEETING:

How do we deal with conflict? Conflict within the church? Within the family? Proposals for conflict resolution. Developing a science of mediation. How do domestic and international conflict differ? Aggregate and individual behavior? Does being kind to one's neighbor have anything to do with peace? Can a foreign policy be based on justice and equity? What does God think of nuclear weapons? Finite resources and future war. Resolving conflict through communication. Is unleashing the atom evil? Ethics of underground testing. Should the U.S. trust the Russians? Science and self-interest or self-aggrandizement. Stewardship and limited resources. Can we afford S.D.I.? Ethics and practicality of S.D.I. Progress from fear. How to "wage peace." Does reliance on nuclear weapons serve God? Does it serve our own interests?

"Pacifism " does it prevent war or make war more likely? Just-war theory in the nuclear age. National security. how do we achieve it? Bread vs. weapons. Military industrial complex. The "nation-at-war" concept. The meaning of "total war." Private industry's obligation to national security. The church in the real world. How can science speak to the church? Controlling ideas through the media. U.S. support of the Nicaraguan contras. South Africa and the church. Misconceptions of science by the church. Science, weapons, and hope. False hope and real hope. Is nationalism a false god? Is patriotism a false god? Going beyond nationalism. Going beyond "us" vs. "them." The community of scholars as a model for peace? Christian perspective on the U.S. Peace Academy. Learning to be peacemakers. What do we mean by "peace"? Is war a social disease for which scientists can find a cure? Do we have a psychological need for enemies? Etc. Etc.

To offer a paper on a specific subject, or to suggest a theme for a session or discussion group, contact: Dr. Stanley W. Moore, Dept. of Political Science, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA 90265.

We may be coming into our own, however. For example, the 1987 edition of the Otbridge Dictionary of Newsletters gives a thumbnail sketch of 13,5W U.S. and Canadian newsletters, classified in 168 categories (101 on science; 405 on computers & automation; 615 on investing). Gale Research Co. of Minneapolis also publishes a Newsletter Directory. Here's the way Gale's thumbnails us: "Reports on activities of the organization, which promotes the use of science and technology while preserving the Christian faith. Recurring features include profiles of members, listings of job opportunities, editorials, and a calendar of events."

The newsletter is a hybrid genre, combining the personal quality of correspondence with a newspaper's efficiency for spreading news. Our "run of the mail" includes always-welcome news items, postcards updating PERSONALS, corrections of our goofs, plus lots of affirming little notes. We don't have time to answer personally, but we appreciate them all. Sometimes a letter tells how we made a difference in a reader's life, stimulating some kind of thought or action. A few recent examples come to mind:

James G. Osborn wrote as a fellow editor and relatively new member of ASA. He edits the Natural Science section of 77ze World & I, an "encyclopedic magazine" published since 1986 by The Washington Times corporation (2850 New York Ave., N.E., Washington, DC 20002). Jim was stimulated by the obituary of the late Donald MacKay in our Apr/May 1987 issue to reprint an essay by MacKay as a memorial to him. He chose an essay on "Objectivity in Science" appearing in Objective Knowledge (Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 1987), skillfully editing it to length. The article appears in the October 1987 issue of 7he World & I (pp. 196-200) in a subsection called "Science & Spirit" which aims to "inform the public about the impact of science on belief in God and the existence of a nonmaterial reality."

The same obituary also led Bruce Rowat of Toronto to write, suggesting that a full bibiligraphy of MacKay's writings, now scattered in many books and journals, should be published in Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith. An excellent idea! Who will do it? Also, Tom Hoshiko of Case Western Reserve informed us of a fund set up to further Professor MacKay's interests in "neuroscience, philosophy, and religion." Contributions may be sent to: The Donald MacKay Memorial Trust, c/o Dept. of Communication & Neuroscience, University of Keele, Keele, Staffordshire, England ST5 5BG.

David Bruce of Wheaton, on leave at St. Andrews in Scotland, sent us the tribute to MacKay in Nature (vol. 326, p. 446, 2 April 1987) written by experimental psychologist H. C. Longuet-Higgins of the U. of Sussex. Its final paragraph read: Donald MacKay was an active churchman and a vigorous Christian apologist, but he never allowed his religious convictions to short-circuit his scientific thinking. His high standards of critical rigour will be sadly missed in the debate on science and religion."

Joseph H. Lechner, professor of chemistry at Mount Vernon Nazarene College in Mount Vernon, Ohio, read in our Aug/Sep 1987 issue about the three science professors under investigation at Calvin College for their views on evolution and exegesis (Clarence Menninga, Howard Van Till, and Davis Young). Joe and his physics colleague John L. Smith wrote to Gordon L. Van Harn, provost at Calvin, in support of Van Till and Young on the basis of their valuable writings about science and the Bible. Deserving "our gratitude and respect," those two authors should "certainly not be rewarded with suspicion of heresy," they said. After stating their high regard for Calvin College, they expressed hope that "this investigation will be concluded as quickly, and as amicably, as possible."

We received copies of both the Lechner/Smith letter and a reply from Dr. Van Harn. With regard to Van Till and Young, the provost said, "I share your estimate of their work and value them as colleagues, teachers, and Christian friends at Calvin College." He then corrected some misinformation stemming from "media distortion" of the case, stating that the Calvin Board of Trustees "has always been very supportive of the faculty," that "the current study is not considered an investigation," and that "censure or dismissal has not been discussed." The Board is simply studying certain writings about which they have received critical letters, in order to know how to respond. "Although some of the critics have been unkind, thus far the study has been done amicably and in good spirit."

We're glad to hear that. We hope we made it clear that we used sensationalist terms like "battle of the Bible," "inquisition," and "unholy trinity" only to show how Michigan newspapers were treating the story. (That's why we put them in quotes.-Ed.) We're glad our story galvanized Joe Lechner to write in support of fellow ASA members. And we appreciate his gentle admonition about whatever journalistic distortion we passed on: "Since ASA is favorably known for its moderation in these matters, I think it is important that you follow up the story, perhaps giving more of the Calvin College side. I think the case is important, but I'm not sure about the magnitude of the threat to our colleagues. Presently my feeling is that the danger is less than what the Newsletter led me to believe."

(Sometimes a reader even writes the story for us. Thanks, Joe.-Ed)

Regrettably, that book wasn't available at the otherwise well-stocked book table run by Logos Bookstore of Boulder. Through an administrative slip-up, booksellers David Hess and Randall Phillips didn't get word in time about publication of Origin Science or about its being featured on the program. (We never received a promised review copy of the book, either, but in the Apr/May issue we gave it a nod on the basis of advance publicity.-Ed.)

At the end of 1987 we're "closing the book' on BOOKENDS & NODS, directing readers to Richard Ruble' s book review section in Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith. The "leftovers" below, on paperbacks received at the Newsletter office, are brief notes that never made it into print. We hope the books are still in print. (As we understand it, a change in the tax laws a few years ago has made it too expensive for most publishers to keep slow-moving books in inventory. Hence when sales drop down to a few hundred copies a year many books are closed out via "remainder" outlets or simply shredded. Few books on science by evangelical authors sell enough copies to stay alive over the years. Get 'em while you can.-Ed)

1. Scientists "o Believe (Moody Press, 1984) is a lowpriced collection of testimonies broadcast through the iron curtain by the Radio Academy of Science; editors are RADAS dean Eric Barrett and RADAS director David Fisher. Astrophysicist Bob Newman and biochemist Bob Herrmann are two of the 21 scientists interviewed.

2. Ordinary Christians in a High-Tech World (Word, 1986) is by Robert E. Slocum, a scientist, engineer, and high-technology manager. It contains his program, based on biblical reflection, for Christian growth and lay ministry in today's world.

3. Philosophy of Science. 77ze Natural Sciences in Christian Perspective (IVP, 1986) is one of the "short, introductory-level textbooks" in IVP's "Contours of Christian Philosophy" series edited by C. Stephen Evans. This one, by Del Ratuch, professor of philosophy at Calvin College, is on "what natural science is, what it can do, how and why it works, and what it cannot do."

4. God and Nature. Historical Essays on the Encounter Between Christianity and Science (U. of California Press, 1986) grew out of a 1981 conference of church historians and historians of science at the U. of Wisconsin. The organizers, historians David C. Lindberg and Ronald L. Numbers, have now edited this substantial scholarly volume, to the delight of many ASA readers. It contains a longer version of Ron Numbers's fine paper on "Creationism in 20th-Century America!' originally published in Science, Vol. 218, pp. 538-544 (1982).

The Newsletter will of course continue to call attention to books on science and Christian faith. Some may show up in PERSONALS items, others in BULLETIN BOARD or news stories. Scholarly works are an important part of our service and witness, but more of us need to be writing outstanding books to inform the general Christian public.

The Newsletter editor had a chance to vote in the 1987 Etemity magazine Book-of-the-Year poll. Of about 200 new "trade book" titles listed, almost all from Christian publishers, only a handful related in any major way to the interaction of faith with science or technology. We picked up one of those rarities at the Colorado Springs book table: Responsible T echnology (Eerdmans 1986; Stephen V. Monsma, ed.), latest volume from the Calvin Center for Christian Scholarship.

For a BOOKENDS finale, we call your attention to a significant book not even out .   Richard Wright of Gordon College sent us a draft of his Biology Through the Eyes of Faith (working title: Creation and Dominion) to be published by Harper & Row, probably in summer 1988. Dick's excellent book is the second in a series of "supplemental textbooks" sponsored by the Christian College Coalition. Besides Wright, members of the Coalition's Biology Task Force include Susan Bratton (U. of Georgia); Calvin DeWw (U. of Wisconsin); Robert Henmann (ASA Executive Director); Martin LaBar (Central Wesleyan); Max Terman (Tabor); Duane 7hunnan (Oral Roberts); and David Wilcox (Eastern).

Many other ASA members were among the 84 faculty and speakers participating in a four-day Coalition "faculty development conference" on biology at Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington, in June 1987. They discussed teaching biology from a Christian perspective and critically evaluated Dick's manuscript. Whitworth geologist and ASA president Ed Olson led the group on a field trip and provided each member with a copy of the 1986 ASA booklet, Teaching Science in a Climate of Controversy.

Most of the biology teachers already knew of the ASA booklet; some are using it as a supplement in classes this fall. Almost all expect to use Dick Wright's more substantial book when it appears.

Bob Griffiths was asked to give the same sort of lecture on quantum mechanics for nonspecialists he gave at the 1984 ASA Annual Meeting at Miami University. George says Bob wowed Westmont faculty and students with a popular lecture in September. The Saturday ASA meeting began with coffee at 3 p.m., with the afternoon lecture at 4. Westmonters wanted to show off both the new science building, housing chemistry and biology, and newly remodeled quarters occupied by physics. As a background to his discussion of physical and philosophical issues in the interpretation of quantum mechanics, Bob Griffiths recommended J. C. Polkinghorne's 7he Quantum Worid (Princeton U. Press, 1985).

To make the meeting truly interdisciplinary, ethicist David Gilk was invited to give an after-dinner lecture on the thought of French sociologist Jacques Ellul. Gill, who has written extensively on Ellul and has studied under him for a time in France, focused on Ellul's writings on science and technology.

Ken Olson gave his talk from the Gene-Splicing Conference, "Production of Therapeutic Proteins Using Recombinant DNA Technology." After his graduate work in biochemistry at Oregon State, Ken spent twelve years at Hoffmann-La Roche pharmaceutical house in New Jersey before joining Genentech's Process Research & Development. Jim Tomas's topic was "Use of Mammalian Cells for the Production of Genetically Engineered Proteins." Jim joined Genentech's Cell Research & Development after receiving a Ph.D. in nutritional biochemistry from Purdue and doing postdoctoral research in cell culture at M.I.T.

The section council consists of Bob Miller, chair; Jack Swearengen, vice-chair; Lany Kells, secy-treasurer; Ken Olson, publicity-, John Wood, hospitality-, and Ken Lincoln. Roy Gritter is executive secretary.

Gary Colwell has resumed his teaching career in philosophy at Concordia College in Edmonton, Alberta. For the past five years he served as Director of Liberal Arts at Medicine Hat College in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Gary is interested in the philosophy of religion and the philosophy of science, and ethical relativism.

Jan De Kgning of Willowdale, Ontario, is professor of mathematics at St. Michael's College. At a meeting of the Toronto local section last winter he led a lively discussion of Thomas F. Torrance's "Theological and Scientific Inquiry' from the March 1986 issue of the ASA Joumal. Is the truth of faith different from the truth of science, or is it the method of inquiry that differs? Jan also asked about the importance of the Reformation for the rise of autonomous science, since that really derived from Descartes, who was faithful to the Roman Catholic Church.

F. Alton Everest, audio engineer and ASA's first president, lives in Whittier, California, a town formerly known primarily as Richard Nixon's birthplace. On 1 October 1987 Alton and Elva were sitting on the sofa having their morning devotions when a 6.1 Richter earthquake hit. Riding out the usual "roller" is one thing, but the epicenter of this 'Jolter" was less than two miles away, essentially destroying the downtown business district. In their neighborhood, chimneys toppled, foundations cracked, and windows shattered. The Everests escaped both structural damage and physical injury but had to clean up some mess left by Unanchored Flying Objects. Phones were out for several days but then "folks from everywhere" began checking on their welfare. When the Newsletter editor called, Alton explained that Whittier had been founded by Quakers, adding, "We're all quakers now."

77teodore A. Hare is professor of pharmacology at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. A relatively new ASA member, he has a "long-standing concern about the apparently widening dichotomy between the evangelical Christian and scientific communities." He is so excited about potential applications of computers in education and communication that he runs two electronic bulletin board systems (BBSs): JETS (Jefferson Educational Telecommunication System: 215-9287503) at work and Computer Connection (609-784-9404) from his home. The JETS board serves the medical/scientific community but Computer Connection is a general interest BBS; one of its most successful features is PHILO, a conference dedicated to discussion of areas where philosophy, science, and religion interact. About a year ago Ted wrote ASA to inquire about making the text of Teaching Science in a Climate of Controversy available electronically through PHILO.

Mark Henkelman of Toronto is on the staff of the Ontario Cancer Institute and Princess Margaret Hospital. Last year he was the lead-off man for the Toronto local section's 1986-87 series of programs (which somehow the Newsletter failed to report-Ed). Mark spoke at that meeting on the importance of the physical world to God, ar * that the world is not merely a temporary backdrop against which the drama of human redemption is played out; it is more like the script of that drama Scientific research honors the Creator, Mark emphasized.

W. J. Neidhardt, physicist at New Jersey Institute of Technology, calls attention to a Fall 1986 monograph published by the Institute for Theological Encounter with Science and Technology (ITEST, pronounced 1-test' no doubt -Ed). We don't know much about ITEST beyond its address: 221 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103. But that 104-page issue contains a half dozen papers of ASA interest in addition to Jim's paper on "Faith: The Unrecognized Partner of Science and Religion' from his 1985 "theological sabbatical." Jim's wife Janet also effervesces with editorial energy. She edits Scope, newsletter of New Jersey's Multiple Sclerosis Service Organization, and is writing a bookk an understanding people with disabilities.

Kenneth D. Racke recently completed his Ph.D. work in entomology at Iowa State University on insecticide degradation in soil in the presence of adapted populations of soil microorganisms. He now has a research position in the Dept. of Soil & Water at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven. Ken will study the fate of organic pollutants in terrestrial and aquatic environments.

Johan Ramon works for the Swiss government as a consultant on an agricultural project in Sahr, Southern Chad, West Africa. He was formerly at the Albert Schweitzer Ecological Center in NeuchAtel, Switzerland. The Ramons moved to Chad in July 1987, finding much need there for creative work in appropriate technology, such as introducing animal-drawn equipment to pump water, grind food cereals, and thresh grain, and introducing improved wood-burning stoves to counteract an inevitable desertification of an area under increasing demographic pressure. The Ramons say they enjoy their long-distance fellowship with ASA members and ask us to "pray for peace in this war-torn country."

A. B. Robins of Croydon, England, didn't tell us anything about himself but filled his postcard with information about the Victoria Institute in the U.K. The "Vic!' was founded in the 1860s in the wake of the Darwinian controversy. First through its Proceedings, now through Faith & Yhought, published twice yearly, it tries to keep Christians (in particular) up-to-date about philosophical and scientific thinking. The Institute also keeps people in different disciplines in touch with each other. The readership is composed largely of scientifically trained individuals but includes members of the clergy who want to keep up with scientific thinking. The annual conference of the V.I. is held in May.

Dean-Daniel Truog is on the staff of The Navigators in Cambridge, Massachusetts, currently working toward a Master's degree in the history of science at Harvard. He is writing a thesis on the history of the "creation-science" movement under Prof. Everett Mendlesohn, a specialist in the history of modern biology and the relationship of science to society. Last year Dean's paper analyzing a survey of 8.7% of the entering freshman class at Harvard rated an "A" in a graduate course taught by Mendlesohn. Among the findings: 70% thought that "belief in the e3dstence of a supernatural force or forces in the universe is compatible with a scientific mentality." Over 53% felt that human beings are a result of some kind of divine intervention in the world. Less than 35% considered evolution to be a scientifically established fact.

Ruth Ann Weesner is an M.D. planning a career in medical missions. She is currently a 2nd-year resident in pediatrics at Oklahoma Children's Memorial Hospital in Oklahoma City, where she and several other Christian residents have recently started a Bible study.

Davis Young of Calvin's Department of Geology, Geography, & Environmental Studies has been reducing to print some of the scholarly ore mined during his work in the Calvin Center for Christian Scholarship (1984--85). The first installment of a major article, "Scripture in the Hands of Geologists," appeared in the Spring 1987 issue of Westininster Teological Journal, with the second installment scheduled for the Fall 1987 issue. Dave's fascinating paper given at the 1987 ASA Annual Meeting also deserves wide reading by today's theologians. Entitled, "The Contemporary Relevance of Augustine's View of Creation," it was based on a recent translation into English of Augustine's The Literal Meaning of Genesis. Dave urged modern Christian scholars to "follow Augustine's lead in a willingness to rethink cherished views in the light of new knowledge."