BIO: Dale K. Stalnaker

From: Dale K Stalnaker (Dale.K.Stalnaker@grc.nasa.gov)
Date: Fri Aug 09 2002 - 15:22:29 EDT

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    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

    ----------------------------------------------
    Dale K. Stalnaker
    NASA/Glenn Research Center
    Power & Propulsion Office
    dale.k.stalnaker@grc.nasa.gov
    PHONE: (216) 433-5399
    FAX: (216) 433-2995



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