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 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.
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.
Assumptions may eventually become so widely accepted they are no longer recognized as assumptions but take the status of truth. Two examples that relate to origins are assumptions of abiogeneis and long ages. These points should not be assumed but tested if one wants to discover truth. Published in Origins v. 18, n. 1.
In this essay I have attempted to outline the world as it is, reality as it is perceived through the lens of science and scripture in terms of the concepts of order and chance.
The perceived nature of science has changed from that of an ideal system for discovering truth to more of a more ordinary human effort to discover how nature works. Published in Origins v. 17, n. 2.
The purpose of this paper to compare and contrast scientific and religious paradigms and their communities. Similarities include the fact that it is possible to analyze both in terms of the formal components of a paradigm, that a community is essential to both traditions, and that the intersubjective testing and universality, along with data and experience, are important for "rational objectivity" in both communities.
Science strives to produce models of physical phenomena. Such models are useful, but usually simplifications of reality. Published in Origins v. 16, n. 2.
Dueling has a long and tragic history. Although dueling to death is largely abandoned, we still see unnecessary quarrels, including among scientists. Calm reflection and rational dialogue are much to be preferred. Published in Origins v. 16, n. 1.
There is a need in Christian education for an integrational approach to the study of God and nature, and Christian educators should promote the integration of faith and learning.
It is fashionable in some circles to doubt everything, but experiences with reality show us that truth does actually exist. The person who searches for truth is more likely to succeed than one who doubts everything. Published in Origins v. 16, n. 2.
Disagreements among creationists can lead to better understanding and improvement in creation thinking, and should not be ignored or regarded as an embarrassment. Creationists learn the same way as everyone else, and disputations are expected in the search for truth. Published in Origins v. 15, n. 1.
Cliches may convey little knowledge yet have much influence. Careful thought and study is much better than accepting unwarranted simplifications of reality. Published in Origins v. 14, n. 2.
Science has produced many wonders of technology and is probably the best place to start in the quest for understanding the physical world. However, it is limited in its scope, and is a bad place to end the quest. There is a realm of reality beyond the reach of science, and this realm is perhaps more important than the physical realm. Published in Origins v. 14, n. 1.
Holding two mutually contradictory opinions at once is called "doublethink." This is not the way to find truth, and should be abandoned by all. Published in Origins v. 13, n. 2.
A review of the book, In the Beginning. The book attempts to explain Genesis from a naturalistic perspective, and his bias shows clearly. Published in Origins v. 13, n. 2.
Scientific inquiry may explore immediate results as in an experiment, or a historical event that cannot be replicated experimentally. Experiments offer greater confidence than attempts to study historical questions, and it is not true that evolution is as much a fact as gravity. Published in Origins v. 13, n. 1.
A collection of short commentaries on scientific articles published in 1983, covering topics such as the history of Darwinism, integrity in science, evolution and thermodynamics, North American geology, Quaternary dating methods, origin of life, and the half-life of Technetium-99.
A collection of short commentaries on scientifc papers published in 1983-1985, covering topics such as amino acid dating, problems in evolutionary theory, God and the New Physics, Scientists Confront Creationism, transgenic mammals, philosophy of science, and In the Minds of Men. Published in Origins v. 12, n. 2.
Some prominent scientists had educators have declared that creation has failed the test of science and has to be discarded. However, ideas that have been discarded are sometimes found to be true. Creation should not be discarded, because there is no better explanation for design in nature and the origin of life. Published in Origins v. 12, n. 1.
