The spontaneous organization of nonliving matter into a living organism is more than a problem of energy or thermodynamics. It requires a highly specific sequence of assembly. Thus, the central challenge for abiogenesis lies in the scarcity of plausible pathways capable of producing the complex, highly specific organization required for life, rather than in thermodynamic restrictions alone.
What is an organism? Dr. David Nelsen starts with this seemingly simple question and takes us into a deeper reflection on the structure of creation, what it means to be a living organism, and our unique role as humans within creation.
Theistic evolution cannot be reconciled with the biblical record of creation
In East Africa, we see excellent examples of the interconnectedness of our Earth’s geological and biological systems. But, like everywhere else on Earth, the reality of evil in this fallen and sinful world and the vestiges of its past are ever present. We can look forward to the day when all natural systems will again be in harmony.
This article discusses one facet of the Copernican revolution, with the goal of establishing a basic proposition: Philosophy plays a pivotal role in the dialogue between science and religion.
Luis Pasteur is perhaps mostly known for his proposal that microorganisms were responsible for certain pathologies, which resulted in increasing life expectancy for millions of people. However, he also devised experiments that were decisive in disproving the theory of spontaneous generation. Pasteur became a model of proper experimental methodology, and was a sagacious individual, thoroughly informed about the issues of his time. He understood the potential impact that a naturalistic worldview could have on our vision of reality and remained committed to Christianity.
Among biologists, cichlids fish are famous for their rapid speciation, with new species appearing within very few generations. Research partly funded by the Geoscience Research Institute led to a publication, on the journal Fishes, that points toward one possible element of the mechanism by which new species are produced with such startling speed. This commentary by co-author Dr. Tim Standish summarizes the rationale and main findings of the paper.
In Germany, the Wutach Gorge is called the "Grand Canyon of the Black Forest." Conventional geological models assume that the Wutach Gorge formed at the end of the Ice Age over a period of thousands of years. However, it is possible that the landscape-altering process of carving this large gorge could have been caused by catastrophic events, rather than occurring gradually.
Adam’s role and identity in the Genesis account, his use in the New Testament, and his theological function in major Christian doctrines have become the epicenter of the new discussion concerning human origins. The hermeneutical and theological dilemmas created by these new proposals are ground shaking when it comes to the assumed stance on origins and soteriology sustained by an increasing number of Evangelicals. Slowly but surely this paradigm shift among and within Evangelicals is affecting their understanding of Scripture, and of its authority and primacy in matters of doctrine. Article published in Reflections, n. 80, newsletter of the Biblical Research Institute.
Do modern cosmological theories provide adequate answers regarding the origins of the universe? How do they relate to the biblical picture of the origin of our world?
Refined observations in the universe have, to some extent, encouraged scientists to admit that a large number of physical conditions in our universe must coincide for the existence of life. This unexpected view opens the door to the possibility that the universe might not just be a result of pure random processes, but that it has been carefully designed with the right conditions for life.
The Bible does not treat natural explanation and divine intervention as mutually exclusive. Rather, it often blends these two kinds of explanations, portraying God as sovereign over nature and free to use His laws to accomplish His purposes.
Spectacular astronomical images recently released by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) cause Christians to ponder the question of Numbers 23:23, “What hath God wrought!” (KJV). Our unique worldview gives us a pretty clear idea of why we are, how we came to be in this condition, and where we are going, but the JWST helps us better understand our place in the universe. It’s a grand place indeed!
What are some of the ways in which astronomers seek to find an earthlike planet or one that could be inhabited?
This short article provides an outline for a small group discussion on faith and science, with the goal of fostering love and worship of the invisible God as well as admiration and study of the visible things He made.
https://adventistreview.org/commentary/the-science-in-faith-and-the-faith-in-science/
Review by Arthur G. Schwarz of the book “The DNA Question: Where Does the Information Come From?"
How are beaches originated? How long do they take to form?
At the time of the writing of this article the earth remains the only place in the universe where humans have been able to empirically detect life and its signatures. Why is it so? Is the earth special?
Laboratory abiogenesis is one of the ultimate goals of experimental biology. The most formidable barrier to create living matter in the laboratory is not the complexity of the cell, rather the absolute requirement for non-equilibrium steady state for all chemical reactions. Current synthetic biology technologies cannot yet produce cells, which harbor chemical systems in non-equilibrium steady-states.
Do science and theology undermine each other or support each other?
