NEWSLETTER
of the

AMERICAN SCIENTIFIC AFFILIATION - CANADIAN SCIENTIFIC & CHRISTIAN AFFILIATION

Volume 21 Number 6                                                                December 1979/January 1980

TIME FLIES LIKE THE WIND-FRUIT FLIES LIKE BANANAS

Another year blows by. You'd think we could mark its passage with something more philosophical than a bumper sticker message, especially since 1979 ends a calendar decade-and a decade of our editing the ASA/CSCA Newsletter.

Somehow that bumper sticker's ambiguity fits the times, though, with the whole world going bananas. We're used to politics being a mess, but today even science seems messier than usual. A decade ago we understood what a condon was and could name a few baryons. Nowadays, who knows whether "gluons" belong to the geneticists or the nuclear physicists? (I also thought then that Drosophila meant "fruit lover;" nope, it's a "dew-lover," from the Greek drosos, dew. Dew tell.)

Etymology vs. entomology. Genetics vs. physics. Creationists vs. evolutionists. Calvinists vs. Arminians. Shiites vs. Sunnites. Nolo contendere! Pax vabiscum!

We do wish you true peace in 1980 and in the decade it ushers in, "the peace of God, which passes all understanding," which "will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." In a crazy world, even a zany bumper sticker can remind us of God's truth: "The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit."

As we celebrate the birth of the Savior who spoke those words, we thank you for your patience and support throughout 1979-and for a whole decade of working together as servants of Christ in our Affiliations.

Next year we may be even harder to keep track of. The elves in Elgin who print this thing plan to experiment with format changes and schedule changes as ASA's new office set-up rises from the ashes. Integrating printing and mailing schedules for quarterly Journal, a bimonthly Newsletter, and an Annual Meeting has occasionally run the frustration meter off-scale. But we promise you six "action packed" issues in 1980. (Let's see, that's one whole hand and one finger, right?)

Any organization in our culture dominated by white males is bound to look racist and sexist to outsiders. It may take us a long time to turn things around to a positive witness to the impartiality of the gospel, but the way to get there is to begin. For years women scientists were included in American Men of Science. Why didn't anybody thing of changing it to Men and Women of Science long before that was done? By itself, that may not have produced much of a change in the circumstances under which women scientists work, but it was such a simple, sensible thing to do! As Christians we shouldn't shy away even from hard things when they're the right thing to do. We certainly don't want to overlook any simple, sensible actions that would show the world that in the Christian family brothers and sisters are valued equally.

We've made a start. More and more women show up on the councils of local sections (and not always as the secretary, to do the scut-work of taking minutes). The 1979 Annual Meeting at Stanford had the usual field trips for spouses and families not interested in the program, but we noticed more women than usual in the technical sessions. MaryJane Mills of Galveston, Texas, gave a paper on "Population Control in the Classical Age"; Virginia Johnson of Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, California, led group devotions on Sunday morning; Penni Compton and husband Tom of LeTourneau College in Longview, Texas, described their "Science Camp of the Rockies" in one of the Sunday night discussion groups; and Elaine Boespflug of the Sandia Labs in Albuquerque, New Mexico, stepped in to chair the session on "Christians as Scientists" Monday night when Charlie Hummel had to leave early.

A handful of women have become "Fellows" in the ASA (no doubt bringing up the question of whether that designation should be changed) and now we even have a woman candidate for the ASA executive council, Marie H. Berg of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Marie is a Ph.D. in chemistry who has become a "fire scientist" and one of the country's experts on flammability of materials. (At press time we don't know whether Marie or Edwin Yamauchi, the other nominee, will actually serve on the council, but we'll let you know next issue.)

To raise our consciousness still more and to encourage younger women scientists among us, how about a symposium on "Women in Science" for the next ASA Annual Meeting, August 8-11, 1980, at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana? Virginia Johnson has offered to give a paper on "Women in Mathematics" to start it off. How about other papers on women in science, or in your specialty in science, and on present opportunities and problems women face in science and technology today? If you're interested, write to Virginia Johnson, 260 West "H" St., Benicia, CA 94510.

And sisters, how about letting Newsletter readers know what you're up to in 1980?

There was some excellent teamwork to organize the meeting under the capable leadership of Dan Osmond, CSCA president. Ian Taylor was much in evidence covering local arrangements and registration. A strong contingent from Guelph included CSCA Council member Steve Scadding and CSCA executive secretary, Doug Morrison. Much of the real glue that holds CSCA together is provided by Doug's wife Barbara. She handles much of the everyday financial and mail details in cooperation with the Elgin office.

The meeting was graciously hosted by the Yorkminster Park Church near downtown Toronto. Rev. Charles Jackson from the church staff represented the church in the program and welcomed the participants to their facilities.

One of the announcements at the business meeting was that the complete revision of the much-used tape/slide production on evolution is nearly finished. The shortened new version will include many new slides and be available again through the CSCA office. As soon as it is ready it will be announced so anyone can make use of it. An extra copy will be given to the ASA office in Elgin.

Significant to his role in the 1980 Annual Meeting is Walter Thorson's lively interest in philosophy, theology, and Christian apologetics, "seeking as a practicing Christian to unify and clarify perceptions of God and His creation." He has been active in IVCF and other university ministries, and has lectured and taught summer courses in science and Christian faith at Regent College in Vancouver.

(To start doing your homework for the 1980 Taylor University Annual Meeting, read Walter Thorson's fine chapter, "The Spiritual Dimensions of Science," in Horizons of Science: Christian Scholars Speak Out (Harper & Row, 1978. Paper, $6.95), edited by Carl F. H. Henry. Order it at a discount price of $6.25 from ASA, P.O. Box 862, Elgin, IL60120. -Ed.)

Radix, published in Berkeley, California, sends copies of each issue to a few people suggested by authors of articles in that issue, to stir up some feedback for its "letters" section. The "science" issue drew comments not only from Walter Thorson of the University of Alberta, who will be featured speaker at the 1980 ASA Annual Meeting, but also from Arno Penzias of the Bell Telephone Labs in Holmdel, New Jersey. Penzias and Robert W. Wilson shared the 1978 Nobel prize in physics for discovering the background radiation regarded by many as convincing proof of the "big bang" theory of the universe's origin. Penzias's letter to Radix said:

"Your July/August 1979 issue is the first I have seen. It clearly shows a great deal of concern and sincerity about fundamental moral and religious issues. While I have no specific quarrel with "God and the Scientists," you might wish to balance Robert Jastrow's account with the analysis of my friend and colleague, Stanley Jaki, whose works on the subject should, in my judgment, be made available to a wider audience. He is professor of history and science at Seton Hall University. His books include The Relevance of Physics. His combined training as a physicist and as a Benedictine priest, together with a lifetime of work on the subject, has yielded a level of insight whose conclusions ought to be made available to your readers."

Some Newsletter readers will remember Stanley Jaki's stimulating invited paper given at the Bethel College meeting in 1970, not long after The Relevance of Physics was published in 1967. A nice, recent work try Jaki is Science and Creation: From Eternal Cycles to an Oscillating Universe (1974).

We can't review Teaching About the Creationl-Evolution Controversy here, but we certainly recommend it as a thoughtful discussion of the philosophical and educational aspects of the controversy. Jerry argues for teaching alternative concepts of origins, concluding: "The schools should be forums for debate and discussion of all topics. To exclude discussion of life's origins because they involve religious views does not do justice to the educational enterprise. Some feel that anything related to religion and politics should not be discussed because it arouses emotions and feelings and cannot always be discussed rationally. I would argue that these are the important matters of life and they should indeed be studied, discussed, and debated in the neutral forum of a classroom and under the guidance of a teacher who can remain objective." Jerry is an assistant professor in the Dept. of Educational Foundations & Inquiry at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. He says he has a hard time with the dogmatism on both sides of the creationists/evolutionist controversy, "although I find many people on both sides are clearly reasonable and open and in essence trying to find out what is 'reality,' instead of proving their own personal 'reality.' "

Fastbacks can be ordered from Phi Delta Kappa, Eighth and Union, Box 789, Bloomington, IN 47402. For non-members of PDK single copies are 750 but discounts increase with the quantity ordered (10-24 copies are 480 per copy). A $1 handling fee is charged on ordered under $5 if payment is not enclosed (Indiana residents also add 4% sales tax). Order Fastback No. 134, Teaching About the Creation/Evolution Controversy.

For students, Duane Thurman's paperback How to Think About Evolution and Other Bible-Science Controversies (IVP, 1978. $3.50. Also available from ASA for $3.25) offers more scientific background, but Jerry Bergman's Fastback No. 134 is just right for teachers perplexed by what to teach and in what spirit to teach it. Besides, Jerry's booklet is cheap enough to give away in quantity.

(And think of all those coaches who teach high school biology. Where else for one buck could they get both a fastback and a quarterback?-Ed.)

Harold sent us copies of some of Chappell's writings, including the remarks he made at the Einstein Centenary sessions at the 1979 AAAS meetings in Houston and a Basic Bibliography Leading to Post-Einsteinian Physics." Chappell does not argue against general relativity, which he thinks may even be inconsistent with special relativity, nor does he quarrel with Einstein's work on the photon theory or Brownian movement, or "with any of his social or political views."

Chappell says that the AAAS hierarchy has for three years refused his application to arrange a session of papers critical of special relativity. In February 1978 he wrote, "I will once again ask for space on the program for the 1980 meeting in San Francisco next January." Meanwhile he was revising a letter rejected by the editor of the American Journal of Physics and hoping to submit a paper to a new journal, Speculations in Science and Technology, edited in Western Australia. He is waiting for the right time to finish editing a book of collected anti-relativistic ideas for publication.

Harold Hartzler thinks John Chappell may have some problems getting along with people, but sort of likes him because he's different, "just as many of us in the ASA are different." Harold adds that "this is another reason why I like the Creation Research people. They're different, even more different than ASA members."

(Physicists have their quarks, I guess, and just have to get used to it.-Ed.)

. . . who-knows-whato? Brooks Alexander, co-founder and director of the Spiritual Counterfeits Project (SCP) of the Berkeley Christian Coalition, gave an invited paper on "The Marriage of Science and Religion" at the 1979 ASA Annual Meeting. Brooks, who keeps a clear eye on the inroads of cults, occultism, and monism into the "new consciousness" of Americans, expressed alarm over the courtship (or seduction) of western science by ancient philosophies, often in new guises. He illustrated the kind of cohabitation already occurring in the areas of medicine, psychology and physics.

For documentation of such dalliance, write for a free copy of the August 1978 SCP Journal (the "Holistic Health" issue) from Spiritual Counterfeits Project, P.O. Box4308, Berkeley, CA 94704. The current issue, "A Hard Look at a New Religion" (September 1979), exposes "Eckankar" as a pseudoreligious swindle. You might ask for a copy of that issue, too, even if you've yet to encounter Eckists. When you discover what a sham Eck is, you'll be amazed to learn that some 50,000 people have been initiated into "The Ancient Science of Soul Travel" in the fifteen years since Paul Twitchell invented it.

In his Stanford talk, Brooks mentioned a significant book attempting to link modern physics with monistic religious philosophy, Fritjof Capra's The Tao of Physics (Berkeley: Shambala, 1975). Capra's credentials as a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Vienna (1966) and some work he has done in the theory of elementary particles have made his book almost a best-seller among those trying to hitch the power of modern science to the wagon of mystical experience.

Brooks has since called to our attention a review of the Capra book by Jeremy Bernstein, who takes The Tao of Physics seriously but also takes it apart. The review, entitled "A Cosmic Flow," appears in the "Out of My Mind" section of American Scholar 48, 6-9 (Winter, 1978-79). Bernstein is a professor of physics at Stevens Institute of Technology, a staff writer for The New Yorker, and author of Experiencing Science.

Jeremy Bernstein says that Capra's contact with elementary particle research must have stopped some years ago, because already to a practicing elementary particle theorist the book "has a sort of antique charm." His main complaint is with Capra's methodology: Capra uses what seem to be "accidental similarities of language" as if they were somehow "evidence of deeply rooted connections." Bernstein points out that the four-dimensional space-time formalism of the theory of relativity, eagerly linked to mystical experience by Capra, is a "mathematical artifact." "Relativity is a beautiful theory, and, in my view, Mr. Capra's mystic befuddling of it is nothing but a travesty and a disservice."

Bernstein not only dislikes Capra's book, he dislikes the tradition of which it is "only a recent example." He points out that visionaries have often been certain "beyond any doubt" that the science of their day was intimately linked with some religious, philosophical, or political ideal, citing the church's view of cosmology in Galileo's century and Soviet and Nazi views of relativity in ours. "To hitch a religious philosophy to a contemporary science is a sure route to its obsolescence." Bernstein takes Capra's statement that Eastern mysticism is "a consistent and beautiful framework which can accommodate our most advanced theories of the physical world" as meaning either that "this framework is so vague that it can accommodate anything" or that "the validity of Eastern mystic philosophy will stand or fall with that of modern physics. I do not see how one can have it both ways."

Agreeing with Capra's statement that "Science does not need mysticism and mysticism does not need science but man needs both," Bernstein adds that "What no one needs, in my opinion, is this superficial and profoundly misleading book."

(In our opinion, in order to make his main point Bernstein seems to have overstated the changeable character of scientific understanding. It is one thing to say strongly, "The most valuable commodity that we have in science is doubt," but another to say that "In modern physics we have learned to doubt nearly everything that our predecessors believed only a few decades ago"-at least to a mystically inclined, scientifically illiterate audience. What Bernstein means by "nearly everything" one can bet is not what "new consciousness" people will take it to mean. He opens wide the doors to charlatans and crackpots as well as to "fringe" scientists by appearing to erase all distinctions between science and pseucloscience. "After all," a Berkeley "space case" will argue, "if yesterday's science is today's garbage, how d'ya know that today's psychic magic won't be tomorrow's science?"-Ed.)

At a recent conference of evangelical Christians who do what the Spiritual Counterfeits Project does (namely, investigate cultism and occultism), I went to a session on psychic phenomena. I was amazed that when specific cases were described, the only question considered was whether the strange experiences were "of God" or "of Satan."

I expressed concern that no one questioned the validity of the events reported, even though all I heard was the flimsiest kind of testimonial evidence. It was not only my scientific training that made me skeptical of such experiences, I explained, but also the fact that my brother had at one time been a professional magician, so that I had examined commercial catalogs of such things as ectoplasm generators, table lifters, packaged rooms rigged for producing "spirit effects" during sÈances, and so on. I said I thought no "psychic phenomenon" should be accepted as such until diligent effort had been made to rule out natural explanations and, yes, deliberate fraud.

A few participants tried to straighten me out, citing the most incredible kinds of "scientific evidence" for the validity of phenomena such as "psychic surgery" (Why, "a distinguished psychiatrist has actually seen it and written a book about it"). Having seen a documentary film made by a team of journalists who investigated the lucrative practice of the best-known psychic surgeons in the Philippines, I knew of some counter-evidence. The camera, this time faster than the sleight-of-hand artist, caught him palming the chicken guts before the surgery was underway. After the patient's "diseased organs" mysteriously disappeared, a clever reporter checked the wastebaskets and recovered them for analysis.

"But don't you believe in Satan?" I was asked. I said I didn't see what a swindler's trick had to do with the existence of spirits good or evil, and I wouldn't want to base my theological position on that kind of evidence. Some Christians seem to have a strong "will to believe" in the realityof mystics tapping into powerful nonphysical "forces." Most of the conference participants were from conservative theological circles where evidence for the age of the earth in billions of years, painstakingly piled up by thousands of scientists in thousands of carefully refereed reports, would probably be accepted reluctantly, if at all. Yet some were uncritically accepting the weirdest kind of "scientific evidence" for supernatural phenomena!

"Out of body experiences" or "OBE" phenomena were taken quite seriously, and everybody seemed familiar with the evidence for life after death presented by psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. Not long after the conference, Time magazine (12 November 1979) carried a full-page story on her delving into spiritism and being clearly hoodwinked by one Jay Barham, founder of the Church of the Facet of Divinity. Barham conducts sÈances in which "spirit entities" materialize and sometimes engage in sexual intercourse with the living participants. A skeptic friend of Kubler-Ross tried to save her from such folly by flipping on a taped-down light switch in the middle of a blacked-out seance, catching Jay Barham "wearing only a turban." Yet Kubler-Ross refused to disbelieve in Barham's psychic power or his noble intentions.

I felt sad about that dismal story, partly because I knew that Joe Bayly, now director of the Christian Medical Society, has been in contact with her in the past and has shown concern for her spiritual welfare. But I also felt somewhat vindicated for my outburst at the conference.

I wonder how much theology has been built by evangelical Christians on Elisabeth Kubler-Ross's accounts of psychic experiences?

NOTES FROM THE ELGIN OFFICE

After a year of crisis and disorder coming out of the office fire in May, it was with relief and great expectation that the Executive Council gathered on Friday, December 7 to lay plans for 1980. The Executive Director, Bill Sisterson, reported that the recovery from the fire is almost complete. In fact, the fire created a number of opportunities for our office to function more efficiently in the future. This was visibly expressed in the 1980 budget which calls for expenses more than 10% less than in 1979 despite an increase in general activity.

There will be two major efforts to gain new members and subscribers. One of these is a direct marketing effort for new subscribers that will be handled by a Christian agency for us. The Affiliation will have some start-up costs but the effort will be self-funding and thus not be a drain on our resources. It is too early to predict the outcome, but a moderately successful program will produce about 1,500 new subscribers in 1980. Pray with us that God will bring the right increase to the ASA that will both broaden the ministry of the Affiliation and attract new people that will significantly contribute to our purposes.

While the direct marketing effort will require little work or money by our members, the other major recruiting program will. The Council set a goal for 1980 of 1,000 new members to be recruited in our student scholarship program. While this is a big jump from the 400-500 student scholarship levels of the past two years, it is a reasonable goal in the light of some new policies set by the Council. In 1980 the major fund raising effort will switch from general appeals like in the past, to requests for support for specific projects. The main project for 1980 will be the scholarship program.

There are several advantages to focusing financial appeals to such a specific program. One of the most important is that each member will have a direct and clear voice in the project. The success of any project will depend on the direct support of the members. In the case of the scholarship program, gifts that might ordinarily go to a general budget deficit will now be able to go into real and positive growth by sponsoring new student members. Resources in our office will focus on recruiting these new members rather than fighting off the effects of budget deficits.

There will be a small increase in the cost of student scholarships to $10 per year to cover the extra administrative cost. This increase will go to contacting members involved with students to insure that we can recruit all the new members we receive funding for. We will make major efforts in both the spring and fall and will look for your help in either funding or recruiting (or both). If you are ready to get started right away write in to Bill Sisterson in Elgin (P. 0. Box 862, Elgin, IL 60120) and he will be happy to send you information.

Robert Herrmann reported to the Council that the second major reprint collection (the first, "Origins and Change" is still available for $2.75 from the Elgin office) is complete and just about ready for the printer. The new collection will be titled "Making Persons Whole" and will draw together articles from the JASA over the last few years on the subject of ethical issues in biology and medicine. The price and date of publication are not set yet, but we expect to have it ready for sale in the spring.

There are a number of other changes and new additions that will come out in 1980. The Newsletter will have a new format that will save paper, postage, and office time. The  changes will come in stages early in the year. We plan to produce a member directory during the year as a result of new office procedures and efficiencies. These and other additions will be announced as they come out. We are looking forward to a fruitful year in 1980, perhaps the best ever in the 38 year history of the Affiliation.

POSITIONS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE

Epiphanes K. Balian of Maine still needs another psychiatrist with a comprehensive orientation to join him in private practice., Commitment to Christian values as a way of life is essential. For details write or call: E. K. Balian, M.D., 45 Hogan Rd., Bangor, ME 04401. Tel. 207-947-7186. (Received 8 October 1979.)

Roberts Wesleyan College in New York will have an opening in September 1980 for a Ph.D. ecologist. Considerable breadth is desired, including qualification to teach general biology and a few other biology courses in addition to the ecology courses. "We expect this to be a permanent position." Contact: Prof. Philip M. Ogden, Chair, Division of Natural Science & Mathematics, Roberts Wesleyan College, 2301 Westside Drive, Rochester, NY 14624. (Received 9 October 1979.)

Wheaton College in Illinois invites applications for a tenure track position of assistant professor of physics (because Howard Claassen wants to retire). Ideal candidate should have credentials as a competent experimental physicist with some publications, plus a strong interest in liberal arts education in the context of Biblical Christianity and in the relationship of science to other aspects of culture. Primary interest in undergraduate teaching should include direction of experimental projects and desire to do publishable research on a part-time basis. Some preference for a person with experience in low-energy or high-energy nuclear or in solid-state. Contact: Prof. James H. Kraakevik, Dept . of Physics, Wheaton College, Wheaton, I L 60187. (Received 11 October 1979.)

Emory & Henry College in Virginia, a small (825) church related liberal arts college, has a tenure-track position in sociology. Requires flexible blend or broad disciplinary competence and willingness to offer humanistically oriented interdisciplinary general studies courses. Participation in total life of the college is expected. Candidates must be able to articulate their philosophy of education and willing to struggle with the college in understanding the educational implications of Christian faith. Besides introduction to sociology, courses can include sociological theory and research, applied social analysis, organizational behavior, marriage & family, criminology, and social institutions. Ph.D. or A.B.D. near completion. Begin late August 1980. Vita and names of references to: Prof. Douglas W. Boyce, Dept. of Sociology, Emory & Henry College, Emory, VA 24327. (Received 15 October 1979.)

Hope College has an opening in their Biology Department for an animal physiologist beginning fall, 1980. Applicants should have a strong interest in undergraduate education and plan to maintain an active research program that will involve undergraduates. Teaching includes mammalian physiology, a second advanced course and part of the introductory course. Hope is a liberal arts college affiliated with the Reformed Church in America and has an established reputation for excellence in undergraduate science education. Qualified applicants should arrange to have a resume, transcripts, a statement of teaching competencies and interests, an outline of proposed research, and three letters of recommendation forwarded as soon as possible to: Search Committee, Department of Biology, Hope College, Holland, Michigan 49423. (Received 7 December 1979.)

Malone College in Ohio has an opening for September 1980 in chemistry in its Division of Science & Mathematics. Candidates should have a Ph.D. with expertise in inorganic, analytical, and physical chemistry; evidence of successful teaching experience; strong commitment to undergraduate liberal arts education and to the goals of Malone College as an evangelical Christian institution. Teach classes and labs in general and analytical, plus inorganic and physical offered on alternate year basis, and advise students and serve on faculty committees. Rank and salary commensurate with qualifications of applicants. Contact: Robert A. Oetjen, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Malone College, 515 - 25th St. N.W., Canton, OH 44709. (Received 23 October 1979 via Dale Thomson, professor of biology at Malone.)

University of Maine at Orono seeks an assistant professor of biochemistry with a Ph.D. in the biochemical sciences, preferably with postdoctoral experience. The position, beginning September 1980, is half-time teaching plus halftime Experiment Station research. Desirable research interests are enzymology, membrane biochemistry, metabolic control, or molecular biology. Department offers a B.S. and M.S. in biochemistry and participates in interdisciplinary Ph.D. programs. Initial teaching assignment includes elementary organic chemistry plus a course in protein chemistry and enzymology. Salary commensurate with experience and training. Deadline for application: 1 March 1980. Send curriculum vitae and names and addresses of three professional references to: Prof. Herman De Haas, Chair of Search Committee, Dept. of Biochemistry, 202 Hitchner Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469. Tel. 207-5817149. (Received 19 November 1979 from Herman De Haas, who would love to have another Christian on the staff for fellowship. He adds that wood chopping and splitting isn't a requirement-but they're doing their bit to diminish the need for imported oil this winter.)

Samford University in Alabama is looking for an assistant professor of physiology for its Biology Department for September 1980. Full-time appointment teaching anatomy and physiology to nursing, pharmacy, and undergraduate students, plus participation in graduate program. Samford is associated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Contact: Prof. Ellen W. McLaughlin, Biology Dept., Samford University, Birmingham, AL 35209. (Received 20, November 1979.)

Chemistry position: Calvin College seeks a physical or analytical chemist to teach undergraduate courses and to carry out research with undergraduate students majoring in chemistry. Ph.D. required. Two year appointment, 1980-1982. Calvin College is the college of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. It bases its whole faith and life on the sacred Scriptures, and thus takes its stand with the churches which have their roots in the Protestant Reformation. Interested individuals should write to the Chairman, Dept. of Chemistry, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI 49506. Calvin College is an equal opportunity employer. (Received 14 December 1979.)

Greenville College: Assistant or Associate Professor and Chairman of Department of Psychology. Responsibilities in clinical psychology; teaching areas include personality, psychopathology, developmental and general psychology, and counseling. Candidate should support the college's evangelical orientation to Christian liberal arts education. Submit resume or nominations to: Dr. Richard L. Holemon, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Greenville College, Greenville, IL 62246. Phone: 618-664-1840. (Received 16 December 1979.)

Trinity College in Illinois needs a full-time faculty member in its Department of Biology for fall 1980. Position requires 1) Christian commitment and personal lifestyle within an evangelical Protestant framework; 2) doctorate in physiology or zoology preferred; 3) agreement with the school's doctrinal statement and mission statement; 4) teaching experience preferred; 5) competence to teach general biology, human anatomy & physiology, animal physiology, developmental biology, genetics, and a course in area of specialty; 6) no other restriction on age, race, sex, or church affiliation. "The campus is on a 105-acre tract 25 miles north of Chicago. Fall enrollment in current school year is 780. A biology major is offered." Send letters of application and resumes to: Prof. J. Edward Hakes, Dean, Trinity College, Deerfield, IL 60015. (Received 30 November 1979 from Simon L. Chung, chair of Trinity's Dept. of Biological Sciences.)

Bill Lucas, who has a modern computer (or at least access to one) challenged the section to take on the project of putting together an ASA directory. Using a computer, Bill argued, should make it possible to add useful information on members' occupations and interests to the usual vital statistics.

The Annual Fall Meeting of the section was held November 16-17 at the Houghton College Science Center in Houghton. The Friday-evening-Saturday-morning conference focused on the theme, "The Bible as a Source Book in Creation Theory." Two addresses by S. Hugh Paine, emeritus professor of physics and earth sciences at Houghton College, highlighted the theme. Hugh outlined "Six Classes of Creation Theory" on Friday evening and continued with "Creation Theory and the History of the Spiritual Realm" the next morning. A panel discussion and audience participation followed. Inexpensive overnight lodging in college accommodations was provided for those who needed it. The Saturday session opened with group devotions and closed with a brief business meeting and lunch.

The Berkeley end of the section hopes to get its axis together when it hosts ASA visitors to the San Francisco meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science on January 5. The open house from 8 to 10 p.m. at Walt Hearn's home, the Troll House, 762 Arlington Ave., Berkeley, should provide some local fellowship as well. Access is easy via A-C Transit buses, the F from San Francisco or the No. 7 from the downtown Berkeley BART station; or call Walt at 527-3056 for more specific directions.

Richard H . Bube of Stanford University in California recently had an opportunity to lead an all-day Saturday seminar on "Ethical Dilemmas and the Christian" hosted by Sunnyvale Community Christian Church in Sunnyvale,

California. Dick's four topics were "Ethical Guidelines," "The Significance of Being Human," "Abortion and Euthanasia," and "Responsible Stewardship." Recognizing that one seminar couldn't present all sides of the important issues, the sponsors stated their hope that "this seminar might be a starting place for an ongoing dialogue among Christians." Recognizing that Christians are divided on certain issues (such as abortion and war, they added, "We do not endorse every viewpoint of our guest speaker; but, rather, we endorse him as a Christian who serves Jesus Christ from the heart."

Edward R . Dayton, founder and director of Missions Advanced Research & Communication Center (MARC) of World Vision International, Monrovia, California, is the best-organized guy we know. If he were any better organized, well, he might have time to write a few more books on "how to get organized." He's written quite a few as it is. We note that two of his books co-authored with Ted W. Engstrom of World Vision, The Christian Executive and Strategy for Leadership, are available from Christian Corner, 250 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101. (Each is hardcover, $8.95; add $1.25 for postage and handling; California residents add 6% for sales tax.)

Glenn /. Kirkland of Bethesda, Maryland, works at the Applied Physics Laboratory of Johns Hopkins University. Glenn keeps us informed on the comings and goings of ASAers in the Washington, D.C., area, where there's a lot of that sort of thing. Evidently Gordon E. Fish of Falls Church, Virginia, is a "goer," moving on to new employment with Allied Chemical in Moorestown, New Jersey. On the other hand John Stanford, on sabbatical leave from the Physics Department of Iowa State University in Ames, is a "comer," spending a year at NASA in Greenbelt, Maryland. Glenn himself is a "stayer," I guess, hanging in there with the ASA local section and a lot of other things. He's on the board of Nehemiah Ministries, for example, a D.C.-based resource ministry of which Blain Smith, a Presbyterian pastor (and Glenn's son-in-law) is director.

Louis T. Klauder, Jr. of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, keeps busy with his consulting engineering firm of Louis T. Klauder & Associates of Philadelphia. Recent work has included specifications for equipping locomotives to negotiate voltage and phase change breaks scheduled to be installed in the Northeast Corridor electrification system. Louis, who has a Ph.D. in physics from the U. of California in Berkeley, also serves on an IEEE committee developing a Recommended Practice for calculating safe braking distances for trains.

Wayne Linn of Southern Oregon State College in Ashland was co-chair of a committee sponsoring a three-day symposium on "Hunger: Causes and Curses" on his campus in November. Panels, workshops, and a day-and-a-half of almost continuous films complemented major addresses by such speakers as Frances Moore Lappe, author of Diet for a Small Planet and Food First: Beyond the Myth of Scarcity. We hope Wayne will send us details of how such a campus-wide program got put together for our HOW TO START SOMETHING series. In a brief conversation he told us that sometimes there were more townspeople than students at events, except at the films and Lappe's lecture. Three or four sponsoring organizations, dozens of donor firms, and about a hundred students and faculty members worked together on the project. One thing Wayne learned is that "you can't go after big speakers until you have the funding, but funding agencies don't want to commit themselves until they know who your speakers are." Maybe it's some catch like that keeps people hungry in a world of abundance.

Lindy Scott of Mexico City, Mexico, has been working for the past three years on the staff of Companerismo Estudiantil Mexicano, where he disciples students and trains them for active Christian witness. Lindy says that his masters thesis on "Economic Koinonia Within the Body of Christ" is being published (in English!) by Editorial Kyries for use in small-group Bibles studies as well as by individuals. It is an in-depth study of the Biblical passages dealing with material possessions and how believers should use them.

The price is $1.95 but Lindy offers ASA members a special discount price of $1.75 (10-24 copies at$1.50 each; 25 copies or more at $1.25 each). We don't know about postage costs from Mexico, but Lindy says orders can be placed directly with him: Senor Lindy Scott, Companerismo Estudiantil, Apdo. 10-648, Mexico 20, D.F., Mexico.

Charles Thaxton of Dallas, Texas, sends us regular newsletters about his activities with Probe Ministries International, which sponsors Christian Update Forums wherever Christian groups on university campuses invite them to come. Recently Charlie went with the Probe team to his own alma mater, Texas Tech in Lubbock. In spite of some negative advance publicity, many faculty and hundreds of students were positively influenced to take Christianity seriously. In his latest communication, Charlie, who has a Ph.D. in chemistry from Iowa State University, was looking forward to a November 6-10 Forum at Temple University and the U. of Pennsylvania.