ASA NewsLetter

Volume 39, Number 1                                                                                                                    JAN/FEB 1997

Olson, Hollman, and Mann Elected

Kenneth C. Olson is the new president of the ASA Council. As a biochemist for Genentech, Inc. in San Francisco, CA, Ken develops processes to purify therapeutic proteins.

The ASA ballots for a new Executive Council member have been counted and Jay Hollman has been elected. Jay is a physician who has addressed medical ethics issues in PSCF and at the St. Paul, MN Annual Meeting in 1994.

Esther Martin, CSCA Secretary, reports that Physicist Robert Mann of the U. of Waterloo (mann@avatar.uwaterloo. ca) has been elected the new CSCA President She thinks that he "is an energetic person who acts."

Green ASAers

Christianity Today carried an article, "Greening of the Gospel?" (11 Nov. 96, pp. 82-86, by Randy Frame), showing Cal DeWitt out of focus in the background and a chained cougar from the Columbus, Ohio zoo up front. The article covered the efforts of evangelical environmentalists to emphasize the care of creation as a mission of the Church. Quoted in the article were Joseph Sheldon, a member of ASA's Council and Global Resources and Environment Commission, environmental scientist Ray Grizzle of Taylor U., Terry Morrison, IVCF's director of faculty ministries, and Fred Van Dyke, one of the authors of Redeeming Creation, a book project of the Environment Commission.

One dimension of environmental stewardship that bodes controversial among Christians is its politics. Several ASAers have supported the renewal of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for creation stewardship reasons. The Act, however, also impacts owners of land, whose property rights are challenged by overzealous or inflexible bureaucrats, sometimes adding to the degradation of land that the ESA is intended to protect. The extent of environmental problems is also called into question by some. In the same article, Whitworth C. geochemist Edwin Olson comments:

 People figure if they can tick off a dozen problems, you've got a crisis. But when you begin to look at each one separately, you find that some aren't as big as we thought, and some may not be problems at all.

For instance, an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide might contribute to global warming, but that also increases crop yields, feeding more people at lower prices.

Lee Ann Welch argues, in "Property Rights Conflicts Under the Endangered Species Act: Protection of the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker," (in Land Rights, Bruce Yandle, Ed., Rowman & Littlefield, 1995; ch. 5, pp. 151-197) that

By taking land rights from private parties, the government has alienated and angered the one group that could help the most in providing species protection. Instead of strengthening conservation tendencies, the ESA gives incentives for landowners to destroy potential habitat rather than preserve it.º A return to taxpayer-funded habitat acquisition would go a long way toward resolving the problem for all parties.

In other words, regulatory takings of land gives land-owners an incentive to ensure that their land has no endangered speciesóeffecting the opposite result intended by the legislation. Christian land-owners are caught between exercise of godly stewardship and loss of their land or their ability to make a living on it. Ranchers in the West have felt this dilemma acutely, as manifested in the Sagebrush Rebellion.

In the article, Grizzle notes that an anti-science mood of some Christians motivates their anti-environmentalist attitudes, though "some scientists have a vested interest in inflating dangers in order to get a paper published or to obtain funding." Ray also argues that the evidence for possible environmental disaster is too serious to ignore even though conclusive proof of it is unable to be offered: "The experiment is with the earth, and it's a one-time experiment."

Sheldon adds:

We don't need to give up all our comforts. The standard of living in the United States is not that much different from Canada and Europe, and yet the negative impact on the environment in the U.S. is much higher.

Such mild sacrifices as recycling and conscientious use of water and energy resources can go a long way toward practicing Christian stewardship of God's created blessings.

For further reading on this multidimensional issue, start with the ASA Global Resources and Environment Commission's excellent book, Redeeming Creation: The Biblical Basis for Environmental Stewardship (IVP, 1996), and The Environment and the Christian, Calvin B. DeWitt, Ed. (Baker, 1991). For a fuller perspective, read Land Rights and take a look at Trashing the Planet, by Dixie Lee Ray, a former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (Regnery Gateway, 1990); or check out No Turning Back: Dismantling the Fantasies of Environmental Thinking, by Wallace Kaufman, an environmentalist and science writer who is not of the Sierra Club persuasion (Basic Books, Harper-Collins, 1994). Perhaps ASA's political and environmental scientists will need to get together to sort out all of the issues surrounding our surroundings.

The executive Director's Corner

There are only four more years left in this millennium and there is so much to do. What a hysterical way to start the new year! Seriously, time is moving fast and sometimes I feel like it is impossible to accomplish all that we want done in ASA. Then God speaks and says that my life and my time are his and there are many members of the body who can help. Yes, thank you for all the help you provided in 1996-in prayer, finances, ideas, or encouragement. The Lord saw us through even when the way looked dark. Praise God!

Since the last Corner, I have had two wonderful environmental privileges. The first was as a participant in the round table discussion at the Global Stewardship Project Conference in Gloucester, MA. (That is pronounced Glosster and a good New England accent.) Among the 80 guests and faculty from the Coalition for Christian Colleges and Universities, there were some 17 ASA members. Papers or reports were given by ASAers Cal DeWitt, Mark Lassiter, Jeff Schloss, Harry Spaling, John Wood, and Uko Zylstra. Papers and reports given at the conference as well as the statement on "Global Stewardship: The Christian Mandate" (which many participants signed) can be accessed at: http://cesc. montreat.edu/ This web page, which was set up by Mark Lassiter and several of his students, was sponsored by the ASA through our grant from the Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN). The ASA web page can also be accessed through Mark's page at Montreat C. We were meeting right on the ocean front when a northeaster blew in. God's mighty waves were vividly demonstrated.

The second trip was to Monteagle, TN for the EEN meeting. Again it was my privilege to see many ASA members including ASA Council member Joe Shelton (he was at Gloucester too), and Jeff Greenberg, who is our program chair for the ASA annual meeting this summer. Cal DeWitt gave yet another presentation. I am in awe of how he finds the time for all the preparation. We visited a Baptist church in downtown Chattanooga, which is active in protecting the environment and we toured some of the new landscaping on the waterfront. Then we went to another part of town which had not fared as well and saw a vivid contrast. If you get to Chattanooga, be sure to tour the beautiful aquarium but do not go on a weekend when daylight saving time is changing. Chattanooga is on eastern time; Monteagle is on central time. I should have left my watch home.

Council met just before Thanksgiving to conduct its business. We spent all the hours available trying to get through the agenda. These are very busy people and they need commendation and thanks for their work for ASA and their desire to find ways to serve Christians in science in even better ways. Council is recruiting members for a new committee on membership. (In recruiting new members, my advice to you-after many discouraging experiences-is to have the potential new member fill out the form and dues check while you are with them and then you send it to the ASA office. I have found that this is the only sure way to get a new member.) Council appointed a finance committee, which will serve as both our audit and investment committees. Council also wants the office to be on the Web so that we can connect with our own pages and check out some others. That should happen soon. You will be hearing about more items as time goes along.

The Templeton/ASA talks are going well with usually large audiences and good response. We hope that you can attend one or more and take some others along. Below is a continuation of the list of talks started in my last letter. My next letter will include the information for the April and May meetings. Call the number to confirm the location and ask about any other talks that might be given by the speaker. The details of the speaker and the various institutions are only given once in the list. Observe the fascinating topics!

Feb. 20, 4:30 p.m. ó Carnegie-Mellon U., Pittsburgh, PA ó Howard Van Till, Ph.D. (Calvin C.), "The Universe: No Place for a Small God." Call (412) 268-2765, ask for Robert Griffiths.

Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m. ó Creighton U., Omaha, NB-Ronald Numbers, Ph.D. (U. Wisconsin at Madison), Topic not set. Call (402) 280-2154, ask for Charles Austerberry.

Mar. 11, 8 p.m. U. Wisconsin at Oshkosh-Howard Van Till, "The Universe: No Place for a Small God." (414)-424-7097, ask for Allen Utke.

Mar. 13, 4:30 p.m. ó Carnegie-Mellon U. ó Owen Gingerich, Ph.D. (Harvard U.), "Dare a Scientist Believe in Design?"

Mar. 13, 8 p.m. ó Western Kentucky U., Bowling Green ó Mary Stewart Van Leeuven, Ph.D. (Eastern C., PA), "A Social Psychological Analysis of the Promise Keepers Movement from a Christian Feminist Perspective." Call (502)<|>745-3137, ask for Edward Schoen.

Mar. 17, 7 p.m. ó Grand Canyon U., Phoenix, AZ ó Howard Van Till, "The Universe: No Place for a Small God." Call (602)<|>589-2450, ask for Robin Baker.

Mar. 20, 7:30 p.m. ó Gordon C., Wenham, MA ó Nancey Murphy (Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA), "Theology, Cosmology, and Ethics." Call (508)927-2300 x4387, ask for Jack Haas.

Mar. 24, 7:30 p.m. ó Messiah C., Grantham, PA ó Edward Larson, Ph.D. (U. Georgia), "The History of Eugenics Confronts the Promise of Genetics." Call (717) 766-2511, ask for Rhonda Jacobsen or Ted Davis.

Mar. 25, 7 p.m. ó Carroll C., Helena, MT ó Robert John Russell, Ph.D. (Center for Theology and Natural Sciences, Berkeley, CA), "Cosmology from Alpha to Omega." Call (406) 447-4335, ask for John Hart.

My life is Christmas, birthday, and New Years all within eight days. Each year it is important for me to think about whether I am ready to meet my Savior and if I have things in order. We do not like to think that way but we all will go home someday. Are our wills in order? Have you remembered the ASA and its needs in that will? That can be a lasting legacy for endowment, equipment, or other purposes. Also, we need your gifts as we begin this new year. Thank you in advance.

Apr. 8, 8 p.m. ó Luther C., Decorah, IA ó Peter Hodgson, Ph.D. (Oxford U., England), "The Philosophical Implications of Quantum Physics." (319) 387-1138, ask for Royal Rue.

Apr. 10, 7:30 p.m. ó Gordon C. ó Howard Van Till, "The Universe: No Place for a Small God."

Apr. 10, 7:30 p.m. ó U. of the Ozarks, Clarkesville, AR ó Peter Hodgson, Ph.D., "The Christian Origin of Science." (501) 979-1360, ask for Gordon Beavers.

Apr. 15, 7 p.m. ó Carroll C. ó Peter Hodgson, "Creation and Science."

Apr. 17, 10 a.m. ó Augustana C., Sioux Falls, SD ó Nancey Murphy, "Theology, Cosmology, and Ethics" (605) 336-5489, ask for Ann Pederson.

Apr. 29, 7.p.m. ó Carroll C. ó Ronald Numbers, Ph.D. (U. Wisconsin at Madison), "The Evolution of Scientific Creationism."

May 6, 7:30 p.m. ó Luther C. ó Owen Gingerich, "Galileo and the Church: A Contemporary Perspective."

May 8, 7:30 p.m. ó Cornell C., Mount Vernon, IA ó Owen Gingerich, "Dare a Scientist Believe in Design?" (319) 895-4492, ask for William Carroll

Don

 Women in Science Conference

ASA and the Center for Christian Women in Leadership are co-sponsoring a conference for women in science to be held at Eastern College from June 19-21. Sara Miles is encouraging all women in science, but especially women in the early stages of their careers, to participate. For more information, contact: Sara Miles, Assoc. Prof. of History & Biology, Eastern College, 10 Fairview Lane, St. Davids, PA 19087; tel. (610) 341-5893; fax. (610) 341-1460; e-mail: smiles@eastern.edu

Rocky Mtn. ASA to Hear Intelligent Design Theorist

The highly active Rocky Mountain ASA local section has put out its announcement of a Feb. 1, 1997 meeting at Meyer Hall, Colorado School of Mines, in Golden, CO. The keynote speaker will be Paul A. Nelson, a leading contributor to the Intelligent Design effort and editor of the new publication (Access Research Network), Origins & Design. His talk title is: "Is Intelligent Design Scientific?"

Also contributing a talk is local spark plug John M. Vayhinger. He and Karl Evans are co-chairing the meeting. Several talks are scheduled. The meeting runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with lunch. Luncheon reservations ($7) and registrations ($10) are due by Jan 25. Contact Frank Mathews, 492 Mt. Evans Rd., Golden, CO 80401; tel. (303) 526-2123.

ACG Meets

ASA's Affil. of Christian Geologists held its annual gathering on Oct. 29, 1996 in conjunction with the Geological Society of America meeting in Denver. About 35 earth scientists attended a lecture by Stephen O. Moshier, assoc. prof. of geology at Wheaton C. Steve's talk, "Geologists in the Pulpit: How to Improve the Scientific Literacy of Your Congregation," was well received, and a stimulating discussion ensued. The transcript of Steve's talk will appear in the ACG's newsletter.

In addition, new ACG members were recruited. One from the UK found ACG through the Internet Web page.

ACG officers are: Paul Ribbe (Virginia Tech), President; Steve Moshier (Wheaton), vice-president; Keith Miller (Kansas State U.), treas.; Steve Salyards (Cal Tech), editor of The News. Paul is at: ribbe@mail.vt.edu Paul Ribbe

Communications Commission News

The ASA Communications Commission 2?) is headed by Don DeGraaf. The ASA CC now has three overall objectives: to help in integrating scientific discoveries with the message of Scripture, to help the Church understand science, and to help scientists integrate science with a personal Christian faith. The CC intends to encourage production of resources that will meet these objectives.

One product of the commission's work is a list of Internet resources for science/ Christianity interaction. (See inset.) They are expanding the material available from ASA's home-page Web site (http://www.calvin.edu/chemistry/ASA/), including selected articles from PSCF, a database of PSCF book reviews, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and crosslinks in and to other resources, so that searchers anywhere in the world can readily find ASA resources.

Also envisioned is an on-line continuing education system to aid Christians overseas, such as missionaries, and a second e-mail discussion group, to discuss "inside ASA" matters.

For the print media, listed needs are educational materials for:

Also listed was a brochure to aid ASA members in publication of their ASA-related books and ASA member recruitment posters for church bulletin boards and elsewhere.

The ASA CC also hopes to establish contact with key people in other evangelical groups concerned with science to work toward common goals. Don is at e-mail address: degraafd@umich.edu Don DeGraaf

More ASAers Reaching Churches

Others reaching churches with ways to relate science and Christianity are ASAers J. Merlyn Bilhorn and Keith B. Miller. Merlyn is a long-time ASAer, retired from both electromechanical engineering and church pastoring tasks. His last pastoral work was at the Road Church in Stonington, CT, founded by the Pilgrims in the 1650s. The church has held triennial science/faith conferences with four other participating churches; some ASAers were speakers.

At 70 years, Merlyn is now living near a previous pastorate, in Edgerton, WI. Last summer he was asked to teach on themes related to science and the Bible. He presented a 5-session course, explaining special and natural revelation, principles of interpretation of biblical and scientific data, what is inspiration, and apologetic systems and evidences in some of the sciences.

The reaction of the 45 attendees was mixed. Merlyn said:

Some appreciated it and want more. Some (Pastor and wife particularly) wrote nasty letters of response accusing me of not accepting firmly enough the canon they do, of not interpreting science through Scripture, and of not holding to the Scoffield system of interpretation in Genesis 1 (gap) or even his dispensationalism.

In checking groups to which the presentations were made in Connecticut and Wisconsin, Merlyn found that the fraction of college-trained attendees were, respectively, 75% and 30%. He is not discouraged, however, by a kind of educational in-breeding of young-earth, Bible-school-trained people who "discourage youth from attending secular colleges and universities in favor of their alma maters." Instead, "It is a challenge to help people in our churches [out of] 17th century Christianity [to make] Christianity relevant to the 21st century."

He is now engaged in "many" ongoing discussions and correspondence, with numerous referrals to books and PSCF and other papers. Hang in there, Merlyn!

Keith Miller, at Kansas State U. in Manhattan, put together a class entitled "Life and Stewardship" for an adult Sunday school class. The material he sent the Editor dealt with environmental stewardship: its biblical basis (God declares his creation good, is revealed in it, and takes pleasure in creating for its own sake. Creation is his possession; it praises him [Ps. 148]; he sustains, provides, and cares for it; and his creative power is continually at work.

Creation is also a part of God's redemptive plan, to the point of his loving the cosmos enough to become incarnate [John1:1-18; 3:16,17]. The universe "groans" in anticipation of redemption and rejoices at the promise of God's judgment [Ps. 96:11-13]).

Keith continues by developing what our given stewardship responsibility over creation entails. Our example of godly rule is sacrificial service. In the biblical view, the good and the prosperity of the land were intimately connected. The captivity of God's OT people was in part due to their failure to heed the sabbatical year command to let the land rest (Lev. 25:1-7; 26:32-36; 2Chron. 36:20-21). We have been given of God's resources to be trustworthy stewards. Keith reflects, "Are we worthy of that trust?"

So what does this have to do with science? Keith relates it nicely in part 2 of the course outline, raising the question of how we can rule rightly. Some answers are discussed: get to know God's creation (Adam's first task was to name [identify the essential characteristics of] what God had made); think holistically (acting for the good of all creation, not humanity alone); think sacrificially (conserve what is renewable, manage resources for future sustainability, preserve what is irreplaceable, and seek replacements for non-renewable resources). Keith adds that "Wild pristine environmental ecosystems are irreplaceable."  Merlyn Bilhorn,  Keith Miller

Thaxton & Ruse Correspond

Charles Thaxton has been interacting with philosopher of science Michael Ruse, best known for his key expert-witness role in the Louisiana trial over the teaching of young-earth creationism in government schools. Years later, Ruse momentarily stunned an AAAS audience when he acknowledged philosophical assumptions in science. At the Templeton conference in Toronto this summer, Thaxton had an opportunity to ask Ruse a question from the floor, and re-asked the question in correspondence to him:

Is there an authentic core of science called evolution embedded within Darwinism that may be effectively disconnected from Darwinism and attached to another, say theistic, metaphysics? Or is Darwinism inherently tied to naturalism?

Ruse replied:

 I would say that Darwinism is attached to naturalism, although given this, that there is lots of room for freedom with respect to other metaphysical views, like progressionism. But as you will have realized, I do not see naturalism and theism as contradictories. Indeed, I would say (with Barth, etc.) that the beginning of true faith is the realization that you don't get at God through miracles or design, etc. The whole point of the fall is that there is no rational way to God. It is faithóreal faithóor nothing. Of course the experience of life itself can lead to a sense of wonder and awe, which is what I have, if no formal belief. I cannot believe that God's existence or our belief in him depends on a handful of conjuring tricksówhat kind of wine was it at Cana? A good Bordeaux? Really, that is so trivial.

While ASAers might spot Ruse's separation of faith and reason and the incompatibility of naturalism and Christianity, Charles spotted an insufficiency in answer to his question, and tried again:

If you hold that there is no separable core of evolutionary science in Darwinism that can be linked to theism, then whom do you judge as more misguided, the creation-science folks or the theistic Darwinists?

And if you hold that there is a core of science called evolution that can be disconnected from Darwinism and reattached to some other metaphysics, then wouldn't it be methodologically worthwhile for you to write a joint statement with ASA's Teaching Science folks to promote "good science" and thus leave metaphysics outside the classroom?

I wonder, in light of what we now know about Darwin, don't you really think [Daniel] Dennett is right, that any pretense of accord between Darwin and religious belief is window-dressing and self-delusion?

Ruse replied:

I think Dennett is as wrong as the creationists in opposing science and theologyóand although I am not a Catholic, that is surely the position of 2000 years of its theology.

That is as far as the conversation went, as of late August 1996. (The above e-mail posts were edited slightly for grammatical correctness.)

Charles Thaxton could use our prayers for healing. He is at present fighting cancer, while his wife and others fill in, teaching his courses in Eastern Europe.

STS in Education: Projects & Issues

Government education has become attuned in recent years to "science, technology and society" (STS) as a school curriculum topic. While a wider perspective on science can lead to a greater awareness and understanding of the consequences of science and technology, STS classes also offer opportunities for advancing positions over which there is significant controversy. In Pennsylvania, for example, proposed STS classes in one school district amounted to little more than training in environmental activism with neo-pagan leanings.

The National Assoc. for Science, Technology and Society (NASTS) wants to advance "technological literacy" in elementary and secondary schools. It asserts that "Formal technology study is imperative for all" (STS Today, Oct. 1995, Vol. 9, No. 1, p. 1, "Technology for All Americans").

NSF and NASA have been funding efforts preliminary to K-12 standards. National education standards are in vogue and, according to NASTS, "have broad public and professional support throughout the country." Standards "will define what every child should know" and are intended as a "framework from which local school systems can develop the curriculum best suited to their students."

The International Technology Education Assoc. (ITEA) is driving the effort for STS standards through a project called "Technology for All Americans." ITEA promotes the study of technology as a "core subject" and the project has been "seeking input from all interested parents, students, teachers, education professionals, engineers and non-education professionals."

Here is an opportunity for ASAers to get in at the early phase of STS in government-education and influence what could be a potentially explosive education issue. The language used to describe the project is characteristic of outcome-based education (OBE) ("all students," "core subject"), an approach to schooling that opts for attitudinal and behavioral conditioning over academic study. STS is written, for instance, into Pennsylvania's OBE mandate (Ch. 5 of PDE regulations). The project can be found at http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/TAA/TAA.html or the ITEA home page: http://www.tmn. com/organizations//ris/TTRA.html

For more information on this project, contact Dr. William E. Dugger, Jr., Director, 1997 South Main Street, Suite 701, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0353; tel. (504)953-0203; fax: (504) 953-0014; e-mail: T.Ed.Stan.Proj@bev.net.

Exodus Scenario at Red Sea Explained

Science historian and new ASA History of Science Commission chairman Edward B. "Ted" Davis has reported some recent discussion about scientists finding a scenario that might match the biblical description of the drowning of the Egyptian Pharaoh's chariots in the Red Sea. The original article is, "Are There Oceanographic Explanations for the Israelite Crossing of the Red Sea?" by Doron Nof and Nathan Paldor (Bull. Am. Meteorological Society 73, (1992), pp.305-314). They suggest "two relatively simple physical oceanographic processes" as "plausible explanations for the biblical description" of the event. Briefly, Ted recounts these as:

1. a moderate storm, producing winds of about 20 m/s, blowing across a long and narrow body of water, causes the shoreline to recede for a period of time. When the wind relaxes, the water returns in a "fast gravity wave that floods the entire receding zone within minutes."

2. "a tsunami (i.e., a flood resulting from an earthquake under the sea) that arrived in the Gulf of Suez from the main body of the Red Sea," involving a "fast gravity wave."

The second has been suggested before as a volcanic explosion in the Mediterranean.

Davis found the reaction of his students to the article interesting. Some were gleeful that it confirmed the Exodus account, while others responded with consternation, believing that the Exodus had to be "miraculous" and beyond any natural processes. He noted the two horns of a dilemma, of taking the biblical reports seriously and of trusting the Bible when it says that "God did it." "They are impaled," Ted comments, "because they believe in truth and they like to think." Ted would like any references to similar science/Bible issues of this kind from any of you. He is at: tdavis@messiah.edu Ted Davis

Let's Be Clear

John Wiester offers some advise in talking about the E-word (evolution). One of his students, Laurie Furlong, found some helpful quotes of Ernst Mayr, from his 1991 work, One Long Argument, that helped refine the following words:

  microevolution: evolution at or below the species level (Mayr, 1991); generally refers to relatively minor variations that occur in populations over time.

  macroevolution: evolution above the species level. The evolution of higher taxa and the production of evolutionary novelties such as new structures (Mayr, 1991); generally refers to major innovations such as new organs, structures or body plans.

In the Argument, Mayr also made the further clarification:

The mixing of the genetic factors of both parents produces an almost unlimited supply of genetically new individuals in every generation, but this process consists only in the intermingling of already existing variations. The origin of entirely new genetic factors remains unexplained (p.124).

Wiester also reminds us that "we ought to take a vow not to use the unmodified E-word at all." After all, "evolution" means "change over time," doesn't it? John Wiester

Dawkins & ASAers

Paul Arveson attended a talk by British biologist and evangelist of Darwinism, Richard Dawkins, on Oct. 8, 1996 in the Washington, DC area. The subject was the title of Dawkins' new book, Climbing Mount Improbable. The 500-person auditorium was nearly full.

The metaphor of Mt. Improbable is that it is very steep and high, and looks impossible to climb. But on the other side it has a gradual slope, and can be readily climbed in time.

Dawkins opposes the idea that life was designed, and is keen to refute evidence of design. The eye is of particular interest because of its structural complexity. Intelligent design theorist Michael Behe, a biochemist, argues that such biological structures do not function at all without all of their essential components and are irreducibly complex. No incremental development has been proposed, much less demonstrated, at the biochemical level. (See Behe's Darwin's Black Box, Free Press, Simon & Schuster, 1996) To a biochemist, arguments from gross morphology are but exercises in hand-waving.

But Dawkins' new book has a chapter on eyes, claiming that they apparently evolved over 40 times, with many intermediate forms. Dawkins quoted Darwin's magnum opus where he concludes that the eye could have evolved.

To Dawkins, all of us are like viruses; they are for the good of themselves and have no other purpose than to write gene-preserving programs. Paul adds: "This is nothing more than the old saying that a hen is an egg's way of making more hens." Paul's account of the talk includes:

Dawkins call[ed] this a less human-centered viewpoint of life. Everything was not made for us to dominate and exploit. We are not the center of the universe.

Some complained to Dawkins that this view makes the world a very bleak, pointless, pessimistic place to live. Dawkins gave two responses to this:

1. If the truth is disagreeable, tough. You can't live in a fantasy world. Grow up!

2. How pathetic that you need a cosmic purpose just to get out of bed in the morning. Stop moping around and make your own life purpose. Write a sonata, get a life! Humans are uniquely equipped to do this.

Paul noted that Dawkins offered a kind of optimism, considering how fortunate we are to exist: "We are very lucky to be here." It is a noble thing to be a scientist, Dawkins said, trying to understand the universe: "In fact I'm tempted to say that science is the only supportable occupation." At least accident is not Dawkins' only bias.

Paul, a research physicist, welcomes comments on Dawkins' ideas. He is at: arveson@oasys.dt.navy.mil, or (301)816- 9459 (home); fax: (301) 227-1914.

Dawkins also appeared Oct. 1, 1996, on the opposite coast of North America, spotted by Jonathan Wells, Phillip Johnson and their wives, in Berkeley, CA. Dawkins was at Cody's to sign books but had laryngitis, so his actress wife Lalla Ward read from the "scriptures" (Climbing Mt. Improbable and The Blind Watchmaker) while Richard gave brief introductions. She did great, says Phil. He elaborates:

 Then I asked Dawkins if he had read Behe's [Darwin's Black Box]. Would he review it, and would he comment? He said he had first heard about DBB a week ago from his publisher, who said he might be asked about it. He has read the book, and he explained the concept of irreducible complexity pretty accurately. He said this book is doing at the molecular level the same thing many others have done about the eye, and so on, and Dawkins has always shown them wrong. He feels he cannot address the biochemical argumentsº He said Behe himself should be doing that, but Behe is obviously too lazy and throws up his hands and attributes it all to God. I thought Dawkins handled the question well, and gave as good an answer as he could.

Then Jonathan asked Dawkins if he knew of any papers demonstrating the advantageous steps between the reptilian jaw and mammalian ear. Dawkins, who had alluded to this subject earlier, said that the advantage would be better hearing, but he could cite no papers. Shortly afterwards Dawkins stopped the session, pleading his loss of voice (which was genuine). I gave him an inscribed copy of [Darwin on Trial], which he accepted graciously and promised to read (thus implying that he has not previously read it).

Johnson sums up the event with an anglo air: "Jonathan, Lucy, Kathy and I went out for dessert. A jolly good evening. Wish you were all there to enjoy it with us."  Paul Arveson, Phil Johnson

Philosophy of Science Conference

An Interdisciplinary Conference on Naturalism, Theism and the Scientific Enterprise will be held Feb. 21-23 on the U. of Texas, Austin campus. Invited speakers include Michael Ruse, Alvin Plantinga, and Phillip Johnson. The purpose of the conference is to encourage dialogue between naturalists and theists on the impact of social and philosophical predispositions on science. For more information, contact: Prof. Robert Koons at: koons@phil.utexas.edu

Abstracts, papers and conference information are posted on the Web site:

http://www.utexas.edu/staff/fscf/ntse/

Resources

One of this year's featured Annual Meeting speakers, Hugh Ross, is on the Internet. His Reasons to Believe newsletter (Feb. `96) appeals to "industry professionals" who "have acknowledged our home page, (http://www. reasons.org/ reasons) as among the best sites on the World Wide Web." RTB has also established a contact point for e-mail at: ReasonsTS@aol.com

Religion Watch (Vol. 11, No. 7, p. 1) reports that the fast pace of progress in genetics might become the next major conflict between theologians and scientists. A concrete area of controversy might be over gene patenting. In First Things (May 1996), Southern Baptist ethicists Richard Land and C. Ben Mitchell argue that the patenting of human beings and their genetic parts "attempts to wrest ownership from God and commodifies human biological materials and, potentially, human beings themselves." Lutheran theologian Ted Peters is quoted as saying that the philosophy behind the condemnation of gene patenting "artificially separates divine creation from human creativity" and that religious leaders should address other more substantive issues, such as discrimination based on new genetic information available to the public and how newly discovered genetic influences on behavior relate to personal responsibility. Religion Watch covers a wide range of religious news and can be reached at P.O. Box 652, North Bellmore, NY 11710.

Osmond, U. of Toronto physiologist. Dan reported on Canadian campus research (Vol.7, Issue 1, p. 17) that included the isolation by fellow Canadian scientists of genes for seven important diseases and the mutation that causes Huntingdon's disease. The result? A dramatic increase in the range of available genetic screening tools. Bioethicist David Roy at the U. of Montreal is concerned about society making simplistic connections between genes and disease. "One concern" of Roy's "is that screening for mere genetic predisposition for disease-without looking at other information-could create a body of second-class individuals who are unemployable and uninsurable."

Dan also reports on the campus Christian scene:

Today's university offers many opportunities for reform and witness but I meet Christian professors who are withdrawn, resigned, apathetic, or too busy scrambling for research grants and publicationsº Too often, the scenario is one of students on campus struggling along to "keep their faith" without much encouragement.º We need bolder, more open witnessing to challenge the implicit, deep-seated secularism around us. Each of us has only a few years on campus to speak of our Creator and Redeemer. We must grasp the opportunities while it is still day: "night is coming when no one can work" (John 9:4).

AAAS has a science and religion program, under Audrey Chapman of the the Directorate for Science and Social Policy. Contact her c/o AAAS, 1333 H St. NW, Washington, DC 20005; tel. (202) 326-6440.

The Marketplace Directory, included in Inside Marketplace, a bimonthly update from IVCF, listed both ASA Affiliations under "Academic Groups Serving Christians" (May/Jun 1996, Series 1, No. 2). Also listed was the NeuroScience Christian Fellowship (Kenneth J. Dormer), the ASA, and the Assoc. of Christians Teaching Sociology (ACTS) (Russell Heddendorf). For more information, contact InterVarsity Marketplace at P.O. Box 7895, Madison, WI 53707-7895; tel. (608) 274-9001.

Gary Colwell is a professor of philosophy at Concordia U. College of Alberta in the Edmonton area. Gary has written some articles recently on how to think straight. "Why-Questions, Determinism and Circular Reasoning" is published in Argumentation, a Dutch journal, (Feb. 1996). "Slippery Slopes, Moral Slides and Human Nature" is in Informal Logic, a Canadian journal (Vol. 17, No. 1, Winter 1996). And "Socrates Meets Darwin: A Study in Question Begging" is in the Creation Research Society Quarterly (Sep. `96). Not content just to write articles on logic, Gary has written a book on (he says) the unbelievable topic of Responding to Student Complaints and Excuses. Get a copy from: Temeron Books, 210, 1220 Kensington Rd NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 3P5 or in the States, P.O. Box 896, Bellingham, WA 98227. Gary is at: jcolwell@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca

If you want to use the Phillip Johnson-William Provine debate at Stanford U. for a class, Access Research Network now has a 12-page condensed-format study guide for it. Tape counts are given and the main points made at them are listed. Appendices contain argumentation notes on diversionary tactics, fallacies and forms of invalid reasoning, and definitions of key words. A full study guide, with a transcript of this lively debate, and the videotape are also available from: ARN, P.O. Box 38069, Colorado Springs, CO 80937-8069; tel. (719) 633-1772; e-mail: arn@arn.org

A new video program, "The Hidden Heart of the Cosmos," with mathematical cosmologist Brian Swimme, is recommended by its advertisement for "personal growth, group study, in courses." It is "an exploration into the wisdom of science and its lessons integral to our well-being." Each of the three parts of this pantheistically oriented series is about 26 minutes in duration. It can be obtained for $59.95 by calling: 800 273-3720.

ASAers Active

Bill Dembski, Steven C. Meyer, and Paul Nelson were cited under "IBRI Members in Action" in the IBRI Newsletter (Spring 1996). "Tenured student" Dembski has finished an MDiv at Princeton U. to add to his doctorates in math and philosophy. He helped organize a conference on the design argument at Biola U. last November. (Report on the "Biola Conference" to come later.)

Another IBRI member, Robert C. Newman, spoke at the Christian Educators Assoc. on teaching origins in government and private schools, at Jesus Week at the U. of Penn., and at many other schools and churches.

Bob is also leading the ASA Creation Commission. Vol. 1, No. 1 of Creationews appeared last summer (July 1996). The commission brainstormed at the Annual Meeting about possible projects, their priorities and how to achieve them. Some members have suggested: an ASA book on creation/evolution, ASA-sponsored church and Sunday-school materials "with a more aggressive stance against young earth/universe claims," building unity with young-earth creationists along the lines suggested by Hugh Ross in his book, Creation and Time, and assessing the major models of origins. Another member suggested an Evangelical Creation Network modeled on the Evangelical Environmental Network. Other board members are Tony Gerard, Mark Hardwig, George Murphy, and Dave Wilcox.

Stephen C. Meyers of Philadelphia (not Steven C. Meyer) is helping people better understand the Bible and science through education, research and evangelism. His Inst. for Biblical and Scientific Studies (IBRI) can be called at (215) 423-7374. The mailing address is: P.O. Box 423, Hatfield, PA 19440-0423.

Personals

Rick Lindroth, an entomologist with the U. of Wisconsin, Madison, has received a Fulbright Scholar's Award for sabbatical research in New Zealand. He will be in Palmerston North, investigating ecological consequences of high UV radiation for plant-herbivore interactions.

John Haverhals is serving as the academic ombudsman at Bradley U. in Peoria, IL for the second year. Students who have complaints about the teaching of a professor bring them to John who tries to resolve it informally. John has been a math prof. at Bradley since 1963.

Hey, Commission Chairpeople

If you head an ASA commission or affiliation, please include on your task list the reporting of significant activity and planning in your group to the ASAN Editor. Our newly-formed commissions could use some publicity to attract interested ASAers of action and to be known.

John Wiester's Science Education commission has been exemplary in keeping the Editor apprised of his commission's activities, to the point where a questionnaire given out at the Toronto Meeting this year indicated that about half the respondents would like to hear more on issues other than creation/evolution. I am looking forward to news and information from other commissions and establishing a rapport, especially now that the commissions seem to be getting off to a working start.

News need not be submitted in an elaborate or lengthy manner. A few snippets by e-mail (dduv69a@prodigy.com) or fax will be much appreciated. (Contact the Editor for fax number.)

Correction

One of the two students pictured at the Toronto Annual Meeting (NOV/DEC 1996 ASAN), Pearl Christie, is a senior at Boston U., not Toronto.  Dave Wilcox

With the Lord

Robert W. Cunningham of Bolivar, OH died June 15, 1996. Robert was a full member and had a Ph.D. in physics

ASAers in Papers

Richard H. Bube, who wrote a recent ASAN insert (SEP/OCT '96) on relating science and Christianity, has not ceased his efforts. He wrote an Aug. 17, 1996 invited article for the Salinas Californian newspaper, which ran a special feature on creation/evolution issues. Dick was one of three persons invited to respond. While the other respondents chose perspectives of fiat and progressive creation, Dick's was a general piece called "A Complementary View: Putting It All Together." (Sound familiar?)

Dick also taught (autumn 1996) an I I -week class at Union Presbyterian Church in Palo Alto, CA based on his book, Putting It All Together. He has taught sci/ Xny classes there since the late '70s; the last class was called "A Changeless Gospel in a Changing World." Not content to be limited to one church, during the winter of '96, Dick taught the same class at Palo Alto Christian Reformed Church. Students from Stanford U. (where Dick headed the Materials Science Dept. until recently) were invited to attend these classes.

UCNW physics prof. Moorad Allexanian has been exchanging comments through the Christian Science Monitor and his local paper, the Wilmington [NC] Star. What started the exchange was an article in the local paper (Apr. 29, 1996), "Creationism Makes Comeback," by Jessica Mathews, senior fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations.

She states that "creationists are winning, as more and more teachers deal with the controversy by not teaching either [side]." Getting quickly to the point, she states: "Darwinian evolution doesn't trouble creationists because there are uncertainties about its mechanisms, as they have conned us into debating." Next she quotes the concern from Beverly LaHaye that "Darwinian evolution is unacceptable because it means that human life is a cosmic accident, with no purpose..." But, Matthews concludes that creationism is a scientific failure.

While qualifying the E-word (see "Let's Be Clear") as Darwinism, the article is less clear about what constitutes creationism. However, "intelligent design" is considered "the newest creationist argument," quoting Nancy Pearcey, who favorably argues that if some things seem so clearly "to be designed for a purpose, then isn't it likely that just maybe they were?"

The familiar book, Of Pandas and People, was cited. Concluding with such clear affirmations as: "There is no theory in science more solidly grounded or more able to illuminate a large body of observed fact than the theory of evolution," the last paragraph confesses: "Science and religion are perfectly compatible..." The moral of the story? "Teach religion at home and in church..."

Moorad sensed that Ms. Mathews just didn't "get it." In a published letter (May 18), he commented that "science does not deal with unique events; such events are the purview of history. Therefore, evolutionary theory [there's that E-word again!], which purports to deal with unique past events, is purely deductive, just as cosmology, rather than inductive as is usual in science."

Moorad continues his logic: "Hence, the statement 'evolution is a fact' [made by Mathews in the article] is actually a restatement of an assumption already made and not a necessary conclusion drawn from the scientific model used to study the question of origins." He noted that, in this regard, "evolutionary theory and the notion of an Intelligent Designer are actually on equal footing." Dick Bube, Moorad Alexanian