From: by way of Dale K Stalnaker (dks@en.com)
Date: Fri Aug 09 2002 - 11:21:25 EDT
<Dale.K.Stalnaker@grc.nasa.gov>)
Subject: BIO: Dale Stalnaker
Sender: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu
Precedence: bulk
NAME: Dale Stalnaker
AGE: 45
VOCATION:
Engineer at Glenn Research Center (GRC) in Cleveland, OH. I currently work
in the GRC Power and Propulsion Office.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:
I received my Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering from Cleveland
State University (CSU) in 1979 and my Masters Degree in Mechanical
Engineering from University of Toledo in 1985. I was active in Intervarsity
Christian Fellowship during my undergraduate years at CSU.
CHRISTIAN/SPIRITUAL BACKGROUND:
I had attended a Lutheran church in grade school and joined a
fundamentalist Baptist church while in high school. During the 20 years
since then, I attended several conservative Baptist churches and a C&M A
church. During that time, I had to resolve conflicts between their literal
(YEC) interpretation of Genesis and the science I learned in public
school. My interest in science compelled me to do much reading on my own
and I became convinced that the YEC interpretation of Genesis is flawed.
I have been a "lurker" on the ASA list for over two years and have found it
useful to read perspectives of other believers who have a strong science
background. I am still intrigued by the origins controversy but now I am
comfortable with the idea that all life on earth (including mankind)
evolved from a common ancestor. I don't believe that the beginning of
Genesis was intended to teach us science or literal history. The Genesis
story is still a relevant message, however, that is, that the human race
chose to disobey God at the very beginning, as soon as humans were able to
make moral choices. Perhaps it tells of Man's fallen state in an
allegorical or symbolic way rather than a literal fashion. The most
important message in the Bible is that God loves Mankind and seeks to
redeem us through His Son, Jesus Christ. On the other hand, if someone at
ASA claims that Adam or Noah are historical figures, I'll keep an open
mind. I personally don't see how they fit in to history.
I have been happily married since October 2000. My wife, Maggie, had
immigrated from Greece as a child. I attend a local Orthodox church with
her. Their tradition is different from the Protestant/Evangelical churches
I am accustomed to, but they emphasize the Nicene Creed, which summarizes
the Christian beliefs which I also profess. The Orthodox church doesn't
take a doctrinal position regarding the evolution controversy.
INTERESTS:
Photography, skiing and bicycling.
Books I have read recently include:
"Contact" by Carl Sagan
"Mars Crossing" by Geoffrey Landis (a scientist at Glenn Research
Center)
"Finding Darwin's God" by Kenneth Miller
"Darwin's Black Box" by Michael Behe
"THE BIBLICAL FLOOD: A Case Study of the Church's Response to
Extrabiblical Evidence" by Davis A. Young.
"The Orthodox Church" by Timothy Ware
"Lord of the Rings" by JRR Tolkien
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