Volume 36, Number 2                           Mar./Apr. 1994


News Flash

Munro To Be ASA's New Director

Don Munro, a long  time ASA member, former Executive Council member, 1984 ASA President, and current President of the Affiliation of Christian Biologists, has, been chosen to be ASA's new Executive Director He will take over from retiring Director Bob Herrmann, who is stepping down this summer after 13 years of service as Executive Director.

Don joined ASA in the early '60s.  He began to learn about ASA when he did his undergraduate work at Wheaton and  took classes from Russ Mixter who has been very active in ASA for many years. Don says he found ASA very helpful to him while he was a graduate student and fighting the, spiritual, battles. of graduate school. Because of this experience, he is concerned that ASA continue to reach out in ministry to graduate students.

Don is currently the chair of the Biology Department at Houghton College in Houghton, New York, where he has taught for 28 Years. He is also the program  chair of the ASA's 1994 Annual Meeting, which will focus on the theme of  "Bioethics: Promise and Peril."

Don and his wife, Joyce, plan to move to the Ipswich area in early summer, and begin work in the office in July. (Pray for God's, hand on them as they are in the process of selling their house in Houghton.)

Watch for more next issue.

Russians Start "ASAs"

New societies relating science and Christianity are forming in Russia. The Christian Foundation of V. Soloviev, founded in St. Petersburg in 1992, is named after an early twentieth-century inspirer of Russian culture. While in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, the Foundation is "open to all the best ideas" of Western religious and philosophical thought and is wider in scope than science and religion.

The founding president happens to be ASA member Sergei A. Grib, with vice-president Rev. I. Veniamin Novik (through whom Sergei can be reached) at the Orthodox Theological Academy in St. Petersburg (fax: (812) 277 8607). Highlights of Foundation activity to date include several local meetings, Sergei's attendance at the European Society for the Study of Science and Theology (ESSSAT) in 1992, and an international conference, held at the Academy, which included a session on science and theology. Conference participants did not only talk but participated in a demonstration of priests, professors and students advocating the return to the Church of an Academy building seized by the Communists.

These Russian Christians in science are asking for assistance in their organizational efforts, as salaries for intellectuals decrease and prices rise. Bob Herrmann expects to meet Sergei again at the upcoming ESSSAT meeting (see Jan./Feb. 94 ASAN) in Munich, and describes Sergei as enthusiastic and evangelistic. The conference proceedings, as well as a religious-philosophical magazine, Measure, are available from the publisher: GLAGOL, FOLIKOM, 4th Line, 13, Saint-Petersburg, 199053, RUSSIA. Sergei's official address is: Pres. S. A. Grib, Academy of Sciences, Central Astronomical Observatory, Pulkovo, St. Petersburg, 196140, RUSSIA; tel: 812/394-5288; fax: (812) 315 1701; e-mail: grib@gao.spb.su or VICABAL@gao.spb.su. Sergei's address is: S.A. Grib, 15/223, SEREBRISTII BD., St. Petersburg, 197227, RUSSIA.

Another society, called the "International Fund for the Investigation of Science and Theology named after P.A. Florensky," has announced its sixth international seminar, held 23-25 Nov. 93 in St. Petersburg, on "Epistemological Aspects of [the] Interrelation Between Science and Theology." Also sponsoring the seminar, to be held in Russian and English, are the Russian Interdisciplinary Center for Philosophy and History of Science, Orthodox Theological Academy and Seminary of St. Petersburg, and the College of Human and Social Sciences at the U. of Ocean Technology of St. Petersburg. The Program Committee includes scholars from Bulgaria, Poland, Canada, Germany, Russia and China. The problems to be discussed include the epistemological and psychological natures of science and faith, correlations between scientific and religious pictures of the world, and historical interactions of science and religion, or "faith and knowledge."

The "Regulations" of the Fund strongly emphasize freedom in the investigation of issues. The society limits theological argumentation to "natural religion," commonly accepted in "all great historical religious traditions," an approach following the long-standing European tradition in discussing such problems. Among the purposes of the society is that of establishing cooperation between scientists and theologians in carrying out research on fundamental problems of being and origins. Annual personal membership is $150 US and $300 for institutions. The Fund is also appreciative of donations toward its goals. Payment of membership fees must be in US dollars, transferred to the following account: 07070090 325 Bankers Trust Company, New York; the account of commercial bank "Petrovsky," St. Petersburg N 04-096-265 in favor of FSTF (Florensky Fund). The seminar organizer and Executive Director is Prof. Alexander V. Soldatov, Department of Philosophy, College of Human and Social Sciences, State University of Ocean Technology, Leninsky Avenue, 101, 198262, St. Petersburg, Russia; phone 812/157-05-55; e-mail: FLOREN@REGPOL.SPB.SU. Richard Ruble, Bob Herrmann

Wall St. Windup

Since Stephen C. Meyer's article, "A Scopes Trial for the '90s" was published in the 6 Dec. 93 Wall Street Journal as a commentary (see Jan./Feb. ASAN) on the treatment-or rather, mistreatment-of chemical evolutionist Dean Kenyon of San Francisco State U., letters in the 15 Dec. WSJ appeared in response. In the lead-off spot, National Center for Science Education (NSCE) Executive Director Eugenie Scott of Berkeley made her now-familiar lament that "Meyer exhibits serious misunderstandings of science, academic freedom and the creation/evolution controversy" and that "Prof. Kenyon's teaching of `intelligent design' is indeed religion, not science" because "either life originated naturally or supernaturally." Kenyon, an author of the biology textbook Of Pandas and People, presents an intelligent design alternative to Darwinism. To Scott, this is "a mutation, so to speak, of scientific creationism that reflects the same religiously inspired caricature of evolutionary theory and bad biology as its ancestor."

Second to bat was Lehigh U. (Bethlehem, PA) chemistry professor Michael J. Behe, who participated in the Intelligent Design Symposium at last year's ASA Annual Meeting. He noted the Kenyon affair as "a chilling example of intellectual intolerance in the scientific community." But worse "is the dishonest treatment of the topic of chemical evolution in the most widely used textbooks for college biochemistry and molecular biology." Behe then gave examples of bad textbook coverage, as did Scott of Kenyon's book. While for Scott, "Students deserve better" than Kenyon's book, for Behe, "The disservice that textbook publishers do to students seeking a true understanding of the world is scandalous."

Power-hitter U.C. Berkeley biologist Thomas H. Jukes said Kenyon's credentials in evolutionary theory are out of date, since his last publication was 16 years old, and that the "intolerance" protested by Meyer resulted from student complaints about not getting what the published course description offered, based on a prior faculty vote to keep creationism out of the course description. Jukes also stated, as did Scott, that "arguments for `intelligent design' presuppose the existence of a Creator and are therefore religiously biased."

Batting clean-up was Forest M. Mims III, also familiar to ASAers from the Hawaii Meeting of 1992, who is "angry that the careers of men with unquestioned qualifications have been interrupted by ... blatant anti-religious bigotry." Mims recounted his own affair with Scientific American-a called strike, though he was supported by the AAAS and virtually all of the more than 100 journalists who interviewed him. (See Feb./Mar. 93 ASAN.) Mims swings hard with: "Dr. Kenyon's case raises the troubling secondary issue of institutionalized pathological science practiced by scientists whose faith in what they have failed to prove is as dogmatic as that of the staunchest religious fundamentalist." And with Scientific American's call still in mind, connects with: "Any so-called institution or publication that reassigns a distinguished professor or fires a columnist solely because of a scientific view that leaves room for God is neither scientific nor American."

Relieving the tension somewhat was Christopher C. Iliff's "10 Rules of Scientific Fundamentalism": 1. Science holds the answers to all the questions of life; 2. Anyone who does not believe rule 1 is not scientific; 3. Any evidence for intelligent design of the universe is not scientific evidence; 4. Any person who teaches that there is evidence for intelligent design of the universe is not a scientist; 5. Scientists know for a fact that matter is all there is; 6. Anything which is not matter does not matter; 7. Religion ... is the result of undesirable mutations in biological matter; 8. Whatever is not science is religion; 9. Only science may be taught; and 10. Stuff happens, but only by coincidence.

At the bottom of the order was U.C. Berkeley law professor Phillip Johnson's response, praising Meyer's fine essay and giving a news update of how the SFSU Senate voted 25 to 8 (3 abstentions) to ask for Kenyon's reinstatement. Of those opposing Kenyon, Johnson noted that "like many science educators, they insist that academic freedom does not extend to those who would question the philosophical materialism that rules evolutionary biology." Johnson finished with the suggestion that perhaps the National Academy of Sciences should address the question: "Is a scientist allowed to criticize the reigning materialist theories of chemical and biological evolution, even to the point of suggesting that something other than purposeless material processes may have been at work?"

In a later WSJ letter, Harry Rubin, Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology at U. C. Berkeley, wonders about all the fuss over natural selection as the mechanism, credited to Darwin, though Alfred Russell Wallace beat him to it and "continued to be the most consistent advocate of natural selection" while Darwin,

" was flirting with Lamarck's inheritance of acquired characteristics. The point of all this is that Wallace, after much deliberation, rejected natural selection for the origin of man, and concluded that humans could have arisen only through the intervention of what he called a Higher Intelligence. On this score, I suppose Wallace would not have been allowed to teach a basic course on evolution at San Francisco State."

The 5 Feb. 94 issue of World magazine carried a full-page article entitled "Truly Scientific Method" by Meyer in which he reports that at the most recent department meeting, Kenyon challenged members to read his supporting documentation. This "caught many members off-balance" and the motion to ratify the current biology department resolution banning discussion of design in introductory biology classes was tabled "to give Hafernik and his supporters a chance to reply." At press time, the latest word was that the resolution against Kenyon had passed.Walter Hearn, John Wiester, David Swift, David Price

Kenyon Not Alone

Dean Kenyon is not posing the only academic freedom issue at San Francisco State U. According to World (20 Nov. 93, p. 15), John P. DeCecco, a psychology professor and noted "sexologist" is on the board of the Amsterdam-based PAIDIKA: The Journal of Paedophilia, which advertises in the NAMBLA Bulletin. Joseph Julian, dean of SFSU's School of Behavioral and Social Sciences, in a letter written to address public concerns toward university work, wrote that he had reviewed PAIDIKA and concluded that DeCecco's involvement with it "is in keeping with the academic enterprise." He further noted that, although scholarship on sex is controversial, "There is, however, one point that the overwhelming majority of educators agree upon. That is, that the principle of academic freedom must be preserved." Asked whether DeCecco's job was in jeopardy, SFSU spokeswoman Janet Wade replied: "Oh, heavens no. There isn't any movement in that direction whatsoever."

Dembski Heads CIS

The newly established Center for Interdisciplinary Studies (CIS) in Princeton, NJ will be directed by Bill Dembski, as a branch of the Trinity Institute, directed by James Parker III, a "non-profit educational foundation dedicated to the support and advancement of the Christian world-view to the thinking community with intellectual integrity and personal sensitivity." Bill was introduced to readers of the Trinity Institute newsletter, noting his five degrees (including Ph.D.s in math and philosophy) with a sixth on the way (a seminary degree from Princeton), and Bill's contribution to the forthcoming IVP book Twentieth Century Science and the Theory of Creation, an article entitled, "On the Very Possibility of Intelligent Design." (See "Squibs" for more detail; note differing titles.)

CSCA Meeting in Press

The 1993 CSCA Annual Meeting in Toronto was reported in two Canadian newspapers, Christian Courier (5 Nov. 93), a Reformed weekly formerly called Calvinist Contact, and Christian Week (16 Nov. 93), a "window on Christian faith and life in Canada." Both articles were written by Robert Vander Vennen in Toronto, each showing a picture of keynoter and ASA Executive Director Bob Herrmann in action, describing how we now have a third way of looking at science, beyond both Newtonian and modern physics, in which matter has lost its tangibility and the clockwork image within a closed system is out. Science today presents us with mystery and describes physical effects by way of metaphor and models. For Herrmann, "Science's grip on reality seems to be loosening, but so is religion's." Nowadays, more scientists are studying theology than theologians studying science. Herrmann sketched the origin of the world as "the dynamic and intimate involvement of the Creator in the processes of the world" and that spontaneous and chaotic processes are key factors in the third model. Bob's lecture was one in a series of Templeton Foundation lectures. (See Jan./Feb. 94 ASAN front-cover stories for more on the CSCA Meeting.)

New CSCA Executive Council

Neuroanatomist Gary Partlow of Guelph, Ontario is the new Canadian Scientific and Christian Affiliation president, taking over from Norman Macleod, a mathematician from Toronto. The secretary is chemical engineer Charles Chaffey, also of Toronto. The seven additional Council members are: Robert Mann (Waterloo), Esther Martin (Waterloo), Don McNally (Hamilton), Eric Moore, Dan Osmond, Robert E. Vander Vennen (Toronto), and out West, Lawrence J. Walker (Vancouver). CSCA Executive Director is W. Douglas Morrison, at P.O. Box 386, Fergus, Ontario, N1M 3E2.

Wheaton Goes Environmental

Wheaton College's 1994-95 school year will be devoted to "the Distinctives of Environmental Responsibility" through its Center for Applied Christian Ethics (CACE), which is planning workshops, public presentations, debates, courses and practical internships. Topics include: eschatology's influence on environmental attitudes, outreach (missions) and the environment, political and media subjectivity, influencing environmental attitudes of other cultures, theological education and the environment, and environmental education in the church. In addition, Wheaton's Geological and Environmental Science Department will host a symposium on global change and earth systems science during March 1995. Department Professor Jeffrey K. Greenberg is soliciting ideas for topics and potential participants, favoring "new ground" rather than the well-explored, and practical applications over theoretical. CACE publishes a widely distributed newsletter, Discernment, and if there is enough interest, might also seek book publishers for a collection of papers. Jeff can be reached at Wheaton C., in Wheaton, IL 60187-5593.

"Dread Scott" Again?

Dred Scott was a Negro slave whose name became attached to a controversial Supreme Court case in 1857. Eugenie Scott is an anthropologist who directs NCSE, the National Center for Science Education, in Berkeley, California. She and husband Thomas C. Sager together wrote a review of Phillip Johnson's Darwin on Trial, published in the NCSE journal Creation/Evolution (Winter 1992). The "I" in the 10-page article seemed to be scientist Scott, though Sager, a lawyer, evidently contributed to a section on differences between scientific and legal arguments.

Although evolution was not defined, one could easily conclude that in the review it meant only "change." In science, readers were told, the occurrence of evolution is no more controversial than "that the earth goes around the sun"; even so, there are "marvelous controversies" about "exactly what happened in evolution." Scott chided Johnson for inappropriately using his forensic skills; yet her own complaint about his "profound misunderstanding of how science works" seemed as much forensic as scientific.

The C/E editor added a note that the published piece was excerpted from a longer review in which the authors also dealt with "Johnson's shaky biology and his critique of philosophical materialism"; C/E hoped to publish those installments in a future issue.

The following issue (Summer 1993) instead contained a response by none other than Cornell biologist William Provine, "appalled" by Scott & Sager's argument that a respected legal scholar could have nothing of value to say about evolution by descent or natural selection. Provine said that assigning Darwin on Trial and having Johnson give a guest lecture in his evolution course had provided an intellectual stimulus that lasted throughout the course. Calling the Scott/Sager review "self-defeating and elitist," Provine also said:

" Surely the decent response to Johnson by evolutionists is to refute his arguments about design in evolution with evidence and carefully reasoned arguments based upon that evidence. What kind of debate can we have in this country about evolution if those who believe in purpose are automatically excluded?"

The attempt to declare Johnson out of court on the issues surrounding purpose in evolution strengthens one of his primary arguments: that a small band of hard-core evolutionists is trying to shut off substantive discussion of the issues that most people find fascinating about evolution.

Last fall, Phil Johnson once again gave an invited lecture in William Provine's evolution course at Cornell. Walt Hearn

Squibs

ASAers in Action

Kenneth J. Van Dellen has organized assistance for Kabba Jalloh, an agriculture student from Sierra Leone who graduated from Dordt C. and spent time at Martin Price's ECHO. Though graduated and ready to return home to fulfill his mission to help his people in Africa through a three-year agricultural plan he has devised, Kabba has fallen ill, is being treated at the U. of Iowa Hospital, and is now recovering and working to pay off the balance of his account at Dordt and buy a plane ticket home. Ken is helping to raise money for him through the Third World Fund. A 60-page booklet on Kabba's very interesting life will be given out by Ken to contributors of $25 or more. Requests are being made more widely than just from Kabba's previous generous contributors. Checks to support Kabba should be made out to Dort College Third World Students Assistance Fund, and be sent to Ken at: 1018 Nottingham Road, Grosse Pointe Park, MI 48230-1332.

Last summer, Thomas E. Woodward, director of the C.S. Lewis Fellowship, mailed to 3200 faculty members at 30 selected colleges and universities a packet containing the essay "The Religion of the Blind Watchmaker" by Phillip Johnson (published in Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, March 1993) The packet mailed with a cover letter from the Ad Hoc Origins Committee, 45 professors (17 of whom are ASA members) introducing Johnson and offering a free videotape of one of his lectures. Over 80 professors requested the tape and Christian professors were encouraged while non-Christians were intrigued. For one Christian professor, the mailing opened an avenue of witness to his entire department. Tom has also been giving "equipping seminars" at churches in Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas and Ohio on evolution and other apologetics and ethics issues. Walter Bradley of Texas A&M spoke on "Scientific Evidence for the Existence of God" at the Fellowship's Spring Dinner last year.

Timothy Chen, besides leading Bible studies for three groups, preaching in a Chinese church in northern Virginia, starting a Christian book club that meets monthly, and acting as Superintendent of the Sunday School in his new church, continues his research at the National Cancer Institute and organizes regular seminars for Chinese statisticians in the local D.C. area. Tim also writes book reviews for PSCF and does what many of us only dream of-getting back to regular exercises. For him, it's table tennis and swimming. Tim also sent the Editor a copy of letters on "Evolution and religion" from Nature (vol. 366, 25 Nov. 93). The first, from R.H. Good of the Cal State U. physics department sniped: "...in mankind the evolutionary mechanism ...is largely guided and powered by religion," and was followed by two others supportive of Christianity. Cambridge scientists Robert S. White and Colin Humphreys see "no inconsistency between holding the Christian faith and being a scientist" and believe "that science can never address the problem of evil which is a universal feature of the human condition. Only religion claims to do that."

Rocky Mtn Local Section Active

Martin L. Price, executive director of ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) of North Fort Meyers, FL spoke to the Rocky Mountain section of the ASA at the United States Air Force Academy on "A Scientist's Response to World Hunger" on 5 Feb. 94. This was the eighth meeting of the section, co-chaired by Karl V. Evans and John M. Vayhinger. A variety of topics were presented by other speakers on earth science, biology, psychology, physics, and their relationship to scripture. The Local Section is located in the Denver area, and the mailing address of secretary-treasurer Kenneth V. Olson (distinct from the new Executive Council member) is: 1001 43rd Avenue #46, Greeley, CO Kenneth V. Olson, Ruth Albu via Dottie Feucht