What is thought to be knowledge or information can usually be divided into two separate concepts: data and interpretation. Since data is subject to alternative interpretations, researchers must carefully distinguish between the information that constitutes the collected data and the "information" derived from the data that is presented as evidence in support of an hypothesis.
Arguments that unexplained phenomena must be due to God's direct activity are called "god-of-the-gaps" arguments, and are regarded as bad arguments. However, if God is truly active in nature, we can expect to find some phenomena that truly point to God as a cause. Just because some appeals to God's direction action have been abandoned does not mean there are no such appeals that are valid. Published in Origins v. 21, n. 1.
The question of whether the six days of creation were actual 24-hour periods of time or only symbolic representations of millions of years has been debated for centuries. During the past century and a half, with recognition of the theory of evolution and its vast eons of time, the matter has been under more serious scrutiny. Published in Origins v. 21, n. 1.
A collection of short commentaries on scientific papers published in 1993, covering topics such as evolution of the eye, phylogeny, "junk" DNA, giant fossil mammal, and creationists and radiocarbon dating. Published in Origins v. 21, n. 1.
A review of the book, The Book of Life- An Illustrated History of the Evolution of Life on Earth. Published in Origins v. 21, n. 1.
A review of the book, New Concepts in Plate Tectonics. The theogy of plate tectonics is questioned on geological grounds. Published in Origins v. 21, n. 1.
The fact that animals need plants poses a problem for the evolutionary model, since the record of past life sometimes reveals non-viable ecosystems. Published in Origins v. 21, n. 1.
This paper focuses on how values integration can be done in a mathematics classroom. Specifically, it aims to answer the following questions: 1) What are the moral, social, and spiritual values that can be integrated in mathematics teaching from an Adventist perspective? 2) How can mathematics be made interesting and relevant?
The philosophical context in which biology is presented can make an important difference in its meaning for the student. The philosophical worldview of the biblical Christian is quite different from that of the non-Christian; thus, the biology teacher may have a profound influence on the development of worldview by the student.
The effort by secular humanists to eliminate religion, particularly Christianity, from education, the media and the culture in general threaten to impoverish our future and jeopardize human freedom. Published in Origins v. 20, n. 2.
The basic question of the relationship between the mind and brain has intrigued scientists and psychologists for many years. Beyond these considerations are philosophical questions revolving around the mind-brain relationship which challenge the Christian to consider the human brain from the standpoint of the human person, and the person from the standpoint of God's purposes.
A comment on the article, Did Life Begin in an RNA World? Published in Origins v. 20, n. 2.
This paper proposes that mutation and natural selection can produce biological change, but are not sufficient to explain the origins of biodiversity and complexity. Instead, the authors argue that genetic complexity is the result of intelligent design, and was at a maximum when life on Earth first came into being. Published in Origins v. 20, n. 2.
Survival on earth seems bleak as the environmental crisis worsens. Amidst the destruction, how should Adventists respond to the environmental crisis? Creation and incarnation dominate Christian understandings of ecology. However, I think that a third theological theme, the Resurrection, best illuminates the relationship of Christianity to the environment.
If we take the view that we are transients in an alien community, then our interest in the long-term welfare of the community will tend to be limited. If we see ourselves as fully embedded in a complex web of life, as an integral part of God's creation, and as responsible stewards of that creation, then our response to challenges such as the environmental issue will take on a distinctly different character.
The Tasaday was claimed to be a stone age tribe still living in the southern Philippines and recently discovered by anthropologists. Much attention was given to this story, but suspicions were soon aroused that the story was fake, and this indeed turned out to be the case. The lesson is that there is so much pressure for scholars to publish that fraudulent reporting has entered the profession. Published in Origins v. 20, n.1.
The oceanic patterns of magnetic anomalies are thought to be one significant evidence supporting the general notions of plate tectonics. Arguments are presented suggesting that important characteristics of the anomaly patterns could be due to the measurement process itself rather than being a direct reflection of geomagnetic reversals and plate movement. Published in Origins v. 20, n. 1.
A collection of short commentaries on scientific papers published in 1992-1993, covering topics such as biogeography of southern trees, Permo-Triassic stratigraphy, dendrochronology, endothermy in fish, genetics of cranes, genetic code variants, gene conversion, bivalve extinctions, magma mixing, extraterrestrial impacts, tillites, flood basalts, effect of transposon in floral development, convergence, hybridization in fish, molecular systematics, origin of life, soft-tissue preservation, banded iron formations, graptolites, fossil whales, dwarf mammoths, Archaeopteryx, and dinosaurs.
A review of the book, Blueprints: Solving the Mystery of Evolution. The book presents a rather uninformed critical response to creationism. Published in Origins v. 20, n. 1.
A review of the book, Moondust and the Age of the Solar System. Published in Origins v. 20, n. 1.
