Volume 36 Number 6                                                                         NOV/DEC 1994

Caring Research Award Given Internationally

James N. Behnke's 1994 ASA Annual Meeting paper, "Teaching `Ethical Issues in Science' at Asbury College" was considered the best entry in the Caring for Science category of the three 1994 ASA Caring Research Awards. Jim combined practical case studies with biblical foundations. In his letter to Behnke informing him of the award, Walter R. Hearn, speaking on behalf of ASA's Committee for Integrity in Science Education, said, "We hope you will continue to experiment with the new course and to seek ways of validating its effectiveness." In view of secular pressure to fragment Christian beliefs from scholarship (see "Christians in Academe take Offensive" p.-3) Walt notes:

Secular journals may not allow you to be explicit about your Christian motivations, but we acknowledge them, and honor them. Leaders of the AAAS, Sigma Xi, and the National Academy of Sciences would question the propriety of basing your course on biblical precepts ó but their approaches to improving ethical standards among young scientists have not been particularly impressive to me.

Each award recipient receives $100 as a token of appreciation for his work and the care he shows through it.

In the Caring for Creation category, Marvin W. Meyer, impressed the judges with his paper, "The Moss Scopelophila and Heavy Metal Contamination: Analysis of Genetic Variation." This moss is a prospect for cleaning contaminated ground, as tested at a defunct mining operation in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Kenneth J. Dormer presented AISRED's (African Institute for Scientific Research and Development) winning paper, "Naturally Occurring Plant Pesticides for Tick and Mosquito Control" by Kenyan Christian professor of zoology, George Kinoti. The Award committee recognized that scientific work in East Africa is done with more difficulty than in the U.S. and though this work on the acaricidal properties of extracts of various Commiphora species is in an early stage, the committee wanted to encourage such investigations done by Christians to meet human needs.

AISRED conducts agricultural research to raise production in East Africa, develops new or improved methods of combating tropical diseases, catalyzes multidisciplinary studies of Africa's underdevelopment, and strengthens East Africa's basic research capacity. George Kinoti, Director of AISRED, chaired a Dec. 1992 symposium of twenty scientists and church organizations on "The African Crisis." Participants asked the then newly formed AISRED to carry forward the work started by the symposium.

AISRED gratefully accepts applications for international scientific and Christian inter-relationships and seeks AISRED Associates. Contact: Dr. George K. Kinoti, Prof. of Zoology, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197, Nairobi, KENYA; tel. & fax: 254 (2) 446141;

E-Mail: g-kinoti@ken.healthnet. org

AISRED's address is: P.O. Box 14872, Nairobi, KENYA. Ken Dormer and Robert L. Herrmann are members of the AISRED Board of Governors. Ken is helping AISRED establish an electronic technician training course in Nairobi, possibly using the home video course by Howard Malmstadt published through the American Chemical Society.

News releases were sent to each winner for distribution to local media. The Caring Research Awards are in their second year, and were partly motivated by the inspiring empirical work of amateur scientist Forrest M. Mims III. Forrest won the 1993 Rolex Award for his measurement of atmospheric ozone and the discovery that NASA satellite measurements had drifted out of calibration. He very much hopes "to see the ASA develop programs -to encourage a return to serious scholarship in Christian schools," adding that, "Today too many Christian schools and even some colleges have become stagnant intellectual backwaters."

Forrest was the focus of attention when Scientific American rejected him as the "Amateur Scientist" columnist because of his beliefs about origins. He has been interacting with the scientific media, such as this quip from Nature about its recommendation to involve "all of Darwin" to defend evolution against California creationists:

I suggest that Darwin's The Origin of Species and Journal of Researches be made compulsory reading for the students of California. The risk, of course, is that the former may put many students to sleep while the latter, which was Darwin's favorite, is much more lively and better written. Moreover, it contains inspirational passages about Christian principles and an essay-which reads in part:

There can be no doubt that this predacious larva belongs to the same genus with the European kind, though to a different species. Now what would the skeptic say to this? Would any two workmen have hit upon so beautiful, so simple, and yet so artificial a contrivance? It cannot be thought so: one Hand has surely worked throughout the universe. (Voyage of the Beagle, 325; Penguin 1989).

Yes, let "all of Darwin" be used to defend evolution from California creationists. (Nature, Vol. 366, 11 Nov. 1993)

Forrest has authored a cartoon booklet, "Science Fair: Ticket to Your Future" that Radio Shack is selling. His daughter, who is interested in science, is featured in it, and her enthusiasm for research leads the science advisor in the cartoon to point out that "Just because Vicki enjoys science projects doesn't mean she's a nerd!" She is shown in the next frame in outdoor activities: "she's a cheerleader-she runs in track-and she sings in a church youth choir!" The cheerleader megaphone has an "LCS" on it with footnote: Lifegate Christian School. Walt Hearn, Ken Dormer, Forrest Mims

The

Executive

Director's Corner

What a surprise I received in the office recently! I finally saw the ASA logo in the proper light. Up to that time, I saw two white arrows on a black or colored background and wondered what it meant. I was told that the two white arrows representing science and theology merge into one colored arrow that depicts a synthesis of the two. Suddenly it popped out at me and now I cannot look at the logo without seeing this. Is there anyone else out there who will admit to having missed this? Well ' some have already admitted it. The colored arrow, of course, is not the same shape as the other two. Enjoy!

The fall season in Ipswich is a thing of beauty with multicolored leaves and clear blue sky. I am also getting to see what some other fall weather is like around the country. It has been my privilege to travel to one presentation of each of the Templeton/ASA Lecture Series in some nine cities. What a joy to meet many of you and be energized by your enthusiasm for ASA!

The Colorado Springs meeting at First Methodist Church was a test of endurance. We went through three scintillating speakers in 24 hours and most of the audience stayed for the entire time. That was the place where 1 "slept" at 9,000 feet above sea level instead of the 100 feet in Ipswich. Then, we were invited to John Vayhinger's great Sunday School class at 9,800 feet. It was a real high!

Next I traveled to Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City where among others attending were Ralph Ellenberger, section president, and Joyce Farrell, who did the publicity for the presentations around the country. It was especially delightful to fellowship with Janis Neidhardt at the dinner and meeting. If these thoughtful presentations are coming to your area, do not miss them. In my next letter, I will tell you about more experiences.

It was bittersweet in the office when Patsy Ames left to have her second child and stay home more. Carol, Frances, Jack, Patsy, and I went to lunch at a neat place along the causeway leading to Essex, MA where we experienced raucous laughter and good food. We gave Patsy a silver plated picture frame to remember us by. On the final day, we shared a beautiful cake made by Carol along with hugs and tears. Patsy is an excellent editor, proficient with computers, (good at soliciting advertisements, and a good friend. We will miss her.

We are so pleased that God sent us Lyn Berg to fill the position. She benefited from 30-40 hours of training by Patsy but Lyn also has a natural sense of editing and finding her way on the computer. Lyn is married with three children. She will be here at least 20 hours per week (9-2, Monday - Thursday) if any of you need to reach her. Please pray for all the staff continually.

I am hard at work on my college, university, and industrial network. If you signed up to participate and have not heard anything, I am working on one group at a time so I will get to you eventually. I also hope to network with Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship and the Christian College Coalition on this project. It is a big task but God is able. Eventually, we hope to offer Christian students a mentor whether they go into science graduate work or industry and, at the same time, excite them about ASA. If you are interested in joining such a network for your university, college, or company, please let me know. We still have many places to cover.

The Canadian Scientific and Christian Affiliation and I are working together to begin to plan the 1996 meeting in Canada. I was invited to their business meeting to talk about it. It was good to head north of the border again to interact with our brothers and sisters there.

Martin Price and others are hard at work on our 1995 program at MontreatAnderson. In November I am meeting in Montreat with Mike Sonnenberg, local arrangements chair, to go over this summer's meeting. Sometime after the Council meeting (December 2-4), 1 hope to be able to tell you more about the Annual Meetings between 1997 and 2000.

Fred Hickernell, David Wilcox, and I attended the excellently run New Era (not New Age) Philanthropy Conference in Radnor, PA along with several other Christian and secular nonprofit organizations. It has given us a lot to think about for our Council meeting. It also gave me a chance to touch bases with my roots-old friends, the church I grew up in, and even a nostalgic visit to a restaurant where I met two waitresses who used to serve my parents and me back in the late forties and through the fifties. Wow!

1 really do appreciate all of you who financially donate to this organization, whether the amount is large or small. I was unaware, until now, how much ASA depends on donations each year for the payment of publications, correspondence, salaries, rent, telephone, travel, and so many more necessities. Now I know why dues are so high in organizations. You cannot run a competent office otherwise. Your response to Fred Hickernell's letter has begun to make a dent in the deficit. I hope that more of you can respond soon.

Each Tuesday morning that I am here, Carol, Frances, Jack, Lyn, and I meet for a brief devotional, prayer, and time of reflection about what we need to do. We keep a running prayer list and take turns on the various items. If you have things that you would like us to put on that list, please let us know. I will be glad to keep your needs anonymous if you desire. We want to be of service to you. Let us know how we can do that.

Don

Tipton Chases Top Quark

One-time ASAer Paul Tipton, a prof. of physics at the U. of Rochester, is in pursuit of the top quark, the last of the 12 fundamental building blocks of matter to be found. Paul led the construction of the Silicon Vertex Detector that allowed the team to measure about 20,000 proton collisions with the short-lived decay products characteristic of the top quark. The team then narrowed those down to 12 good signs of a top quark. The paper reporting this "prediscovery"-for nobody is claiming with certainty that the top quark has been found-was published in Physical Review D (as reported in The Chronicle of Higher Education, 4 May 94, A9) Paul said, "Some things make you confident it's top; other things really make you wonder."

Discovery of the top quark would provide strong evidence for the two decade-old Standard Model of elementary matter. "This is a great triumph. It is a landmark experiment," said Stephen Weinberg, Nobel Laureate at the U. of Texas at Austin. The bottom quark was discovered at Fermilab in 1977, only a fortieth the mass of the top quark. The top quark's mass is nearly 200 times that of a proton and about the same as a gold atom, making it a source of wonder for physicists attempting to understand the nature and origin of mass.

Ruth and Keith Miller are friends of Paul from their grad-student days at the U. of Rochester, where they spent many hours discussing Christian responsibility in research, the Christian world view in society, women's roles in the Church and other wide-ranging topics. Ruth & Keith Miller

1995 Annual Meeting

Martin Price will be the program chair of next year's Annual Meeting, at Montreat-Anderson College in Montreat, North Carolina, from Saturday, July 22 to Tuesday, July 25. Montreat is located near Asheville, in the western part of the state. Mike Sonnenberg announced the theme, "Internationalizing Science," at this year's Annual Meeting. Third-world concerns will be the main focus. The Affiliation of Christian Biologists is asking all ASA members to encourage students to come to this meeting. There will be special activities and seminars applicable to students. Please make it a goal of yours to invite students to this meeting now. For those associated with a college or ASA local section, these organizations may even be able to offer small scholarships to help defray student expenses.

If you have any suggestions or would like to chair a discussion group designed for students, please contact Marilyne Flora (708) 879-6355 or Mike Sonnenberg (704) 669-5599. Marilyne Flora

ASAers in Action

Christians in Academe take Offensive

An article in The Chronicle of Higher Education (4 May 94, A18, by Carolyn J. Mooney) was introduced with Notre Dame historian George Marsden asking, "Why should it be taken for granted that religious perspectives should be out of bounds?" For such Christian scholars, "They want to know why, in this era of pluralism and identity politics, academics feel free to label themselves as feminists or Marxists or gay scholars or minority group members-but not as religious people," the article explains. Some academics willing to acknowledge the role of religion in their scholarship include Ohio State Univ. biochemist David H. Ives who, along with other scholars, have gone on the offensive by signing a local full-page newspaper advertisement last fall that called for open discussion of Christian truth-claims. When these scholars sent a mailing to the entire faculty, some were angered by it.

Several other incidents of hostility to religion on college campuses are cited in the article. It ends with Duke U. prof. of theological ethics Stanley Hauerwas, known for his provocative statements, talking about "pathetic" liberals, such as Vanderbilt U.'s chaplain Beverly A. Asbury. Asbury wanted the chapel cross removed and granted a homosexual couple permission to marry there. Hauerwas implores, "Liberals like to say, `You can't impose your views on me.' I say, `Take people on theologically.'" That also applies in the classroom: "I don't teach in a way that lets students make up their own minds, because I don't think they have minds worth making up. When they're finished I want them to think just like me." He intends, however, to achieve this by winning them over with arguments rather than coercion. Ruth & Keith Miller

Books In Print Abounding

A burst of publications has occurred, from ASAers and others dealing with sci/rel themes. Out of reading material? Try a few of these!

Roy Clouser has written The Myth of Religious Neutrality: An Essay on the Hidden Role of Religious Belief in Theories. This 384-page book is available for $18.95 (paperback) plus $3.00 P&H from University of Notre Dame Press, P.O. Box 635, South Bend, IN 46624; tel. (219) 631-6346. Roy's study offers a view of the relationships between religion, philosophy and science, and "examines key elements in all theorizing, and distinguishes some major types of theories. The book reviews the more popular ideas of how religious belief and theories are thought to relate, and then clarifies how religious belief in fact exercises its influence over theories." Clouser also takes on the question: "How should theories differ if controlled by belief in God?" His answer expounds upon and defends the idea of biblical theories developed by Herman Dooyeweerd. Walt Hearn

Another recently published book is Russell Maatman's The Impact of Evolutionary Theory: A Christian View. This 318-page book presents an analysis of the foundations of evolutionary theory and the influence of an evolutionistic world view on a wide range of subjects. Russ traces the history of ideas leading to modern science, describes the evolutionary scenario, outlines principles by which Christians must carry out scientific activity, and uses these principles to examine questions of origins. Finally, he considers the impact of evolutionary thought on the social sciences and its assumptions implicit in contemporary social movements, such as the animal rights and unisex movements. This book is available for $12.95 in paperback, plus $1.50 P&H, from Dordt College Press, 498 4th Avenue NE, Sioux Center, IA 51250-1697. Two of Russell's previous books are also available: The Bible, Natural Science, and Evolution ($4.95), emphasizing the biblical and scientific evidence concerning the age of the earth, and The Unity in Creation ($4.95), explaining the idea of unity in the physical sciences and how this unity is consistent with the Christian faith. (This book is recommended for science educators.) Walt Hearn

Jon Buell, of the Foundation for Thought and Ethics, and Virginia Hearn (that's Ginny, wife of previous ASAN Editor Walt ["WOE no mo'!"] Hearn) have edited Darwinism: Science or Philosophy? This work is also the proceedings of a symposium entitled "Darwinism: Scientific Inference or Philosophical Preference?" held at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, March 26-28, 1992. Keynote presentations were given, by Phillip Johnson, Michael Ruse, and Stephen Meyer. Then Ruse and Johnson mixed it up in a debate, followed by general discussion, responses and replies from Michael Behe, William Dembski, David Wilcox and others. Information on availability and cost of this 229-page hardbound book (ISBN 0-9642104-0-1) is available from: Foundation for Thought and Ethics, P.O. Box 830721, Richardson, TX 75083-0721.

Attending the 1994 ASA Meeting was intelligent-design advocate Walter ReMine, who has written The Biotic Message: Evolution Versus Message Theory. Walter addresses the question, "Why would a creator have designed life to look like evolution?" He argues that life shows the marks of having been designed as a system and that evolutionary theory is not science. This book was partly motivated by frustration with creationist authors' inability to present scientific arguments as forcefully as he felt could be made. This 538-page hardbound book is available for $44.95 (MN residents add sales tax) plus $3 handling, from: St. Paul Science, P.O. Box 19600, Saint Paul, MN 55119. Walter ReMine

Following this year's Annual Meeting theme, Eerdmans has published On the New Frontiers of Genetics and Religion by J. Robert Nelson. In 1990 and 1992, meetings under the auspices of the Human Genome Project assembled 260 scientific, medical, and religious professionals from whose work this book is based. Nelson is an adjunct prof. of medicine and medical ethics at Baylor C. of Medicine in Texas. This 224-page paperback is priced at $12.99 with ISBN number 0-8028-0741. Eerdmans's telephone number is: (800) 253-7521.

German theologian Wolfhart Pannenberg has a history of engaging science/faith issues, and does so in Volume 2 of his Systematic Theology, translated by Geoffrey W. Bromiley and published by Eerdmans (ISBN 0-8028-3707-7). Of particular interest is its first chapter (7), "The Creation of the World." Though a theologian, Pannenberg is conversant with modern science, including cosmology and philosophy of science literature; consequently, his theology does not appear so distant from the familiar thoughts of the scientific community and, in this respect, is more digestible to scientifically-minded readers. (See previous item for access to Eerdmans's for ordering.)

Tired of arguments and counter- arguments? Ready for a book with a personal air, a detailed example of what it means to be a Christian in science? Richard Bube has written his autobiography, One Whole Life: The Personal Memoirs of Richard H. Bube. After hearing Dick's talks for years (including the "keynote addresses" at the ASA Annual Meeting at Stanford U. in 1979), the Editor was unprepared for the selected writings: short stories, a play and even poetry! Bube traces his beginnings (1927) in Rhode Island, through Brown and Princeton Universities, to his wife, Betty Jane; then, on to industry (RCA) and back to academes - this time, at Stanford U., becoming Chairman of the Materials Science Dept. (its fourth) in 1975. Dick becomes husband, father, "on to emeritus" (1987), grandfather, "and then -  well, it is best told by the author himself. ASA interests have been a major factor in his life, having been ASA President (1968) and editor of the Journal of the ASA (forerunner of the present PSCF). He has written books on science and Christian faith (The Human Quest, The Encounter Between Christianity and Science), published numerous articles, many in JASA/PSCF and has given talks on science and Christianity at many universities and colleges. Because of the extensive influence Dick Bube has had on the development of the ASA, his autobiography is also source material for ASA history.

Copies of this 530-page "GBC-bound" illustrated book can be obtained from the author for $25 each. Write to: Prof. Richard H. Bube, 753 Mayfield Avenue, Stanford, CA 94305; fax: (415) 725-4034;

E-Mail: bube@leland.Stanford.edu

"Wild" Debate at Stanford

On the West Coast, a debate at Stanford U. entitled "Darwinism: Science or Naturalistic Philosophy" (though originally titled "Evolution: Science or Dogma") pitted Phillip Johnson, U. C. Berkeley law professor and author of Darwin on Trial, against ardent atheist and professor of the history of science at Cornell U., William ("Will") Provine. John Wiester attended the debate, using such expressions as "really wild" to describe it. John also showed a video tape of the debate at this year's ASA Annual Meeting. The debate did not languish from overqualification of statements; Provine made it clear that for him, evolution necessarily implies atheism, and that we are determined (no free will). Johnson's rhetorical skills were momentarily eclipsed by a questioner in a comeback to Provine. Provine had argued against an absolute basis for ethics, leaving it dependent upon one's background. The questioner began, "My background is murder and rape." His belief in God gave him a basis for living morally, he said. Provine also had little to say when asked by the moderator, in view of Provine's belief in hard determinism, whether there was any point in his effort to convince the audience of it. Art Battson was in on the professional production of the videotape, which is available for $19.95 each plus $2 S&H from the Access Research Network, P.O. Box 38069, Colorado Springs, CO 80937-8069. John Wiester, Dennis Wagner

Stories from the 1994 Annual Meeting

Though the program literature of the Annual Meeting denotes its planned events, some of the "local color" contributes to its fullness. For example, at about 6:30 am on Sunday morning, an electrical distribution transformer failed, but the Bethel C. backup supply kicked in. However, a squirrel met its doom causing that supply to also fail, leaving ASAers arising from their nocturnal slumbers like Old Order Amish, without electricity. This posed no real problem for the Annual Meeting, but led Dave Wilcox to remark in a darkened restroom that "There'll be some fuzzy chins this morning!"

Electricity was soon restored and meeting attenders appeared adequately groomed, including PSCF Editor Jack Haas, who received some good-natured ribbing about his shorts from George Brushaber, an old friend of Jack's and President of Bethel College and Seminary. George is also an editor of Christianity Today, and he offered the Annual Meeting's introductory remarks, telling stories of Bethel College's formative years and its colorful founding president. Of Swedish origins, Bethel C. was originally in Chicago and had one professor and one student, who were separated in the Chicago Fire. Later, the college was moved to St. Paul. John Edgrin, its first president, was an astronomer, spoke 30 languages, and witnessed the battle of the Monitor and Merrimack in the War Between the States. He was subsequently offered a Union admiralty. Intellectually active, he received doctorates in math and theology while tending to his administrative duties. He was also part of a movement that was both orthodox Christian and held to theories of an ancient earth and Darwin.

Not appearing anywhere on the Annual Meeting schedule is one of its most important aspects: long, stimulating discussions. A car, perhaps belonging to local resident Walter ReMine (author of The Biotic Message), was full of Intelligent Design theorists, out till the wee hours of Monday morning. Denis Lamoureaux, one of the group, commented the next day, "We had a lot to talk about!" (See ASAN Oct/Nov 94 issue, "Creation Symposium.")

The Editor had a long talk with Robert Kaita of the Plasma Physics Laboratory at Princeton U., whose group's research in nuclear fusion has been making national news. (See, for example, "Probing nuclear fusion at high powers" in Science News, Vol. 145, 28 May 94, p. 341.) While energy breakeven (energy in equals energy out) is no longer the big challenge, difficult engineering problems remain for commercially competitive fusion as an energy source. Robert has been contributing novel ideas on how to solve these problems.

Velvet bean researcher Rolf Myhrman of Judson C., Elgin, IL, chatted over a meal about life in his small college. His house, next to the school, conveniently allows him to do some domestic work while equipment in his analytical chemistry lab is processing samples. While a gram of velvet bean flour is plenty for analysis, he receives bags full of different flours from Africa -enough to try some culinary experiments! Word of Rolf's work is spreading and may become an institution in itself.

Bioethicist and medical doctor William B. Hurlbut reflected about how the course he teaches at Stanford U. on ethics prepares students for the gospel. Sunday morning, with guitar in hand, Bill sang about "when the lion lies down with the lamb," a song with a visionary theme befitting a visionary ASAer.

Retired mechanical engineer Dallas Cain worked many years for General Electric in Schenectady, NY, where Steinmetz unraveled the mystery of induction motors, a major theoretical advance in electrical engineering. Dallas is retired and builds step-motor-driven clocks for church towers. Unlike mechanical timepieces, their accuracy is locked to the power-line frequency (traceable to NIST) and his design can be easily reset for daylight time changes. Tower clocks, anyone?

Finally, newly-weds David and Marlys Moberg, both having been widowed, were married for one week at the time of their attendance of the Annual Meeting. (What a great honeymoon idea!) David gave an encouraging Sunday morning sermon about how the last part of the Great Commission of Christ is usually omitted, the part about teaching others to observe Christ's commandments. It isn't only ministers and missionaries who are told to do "full-time Christian service." As both Christians and scientists, with many of us involved professionally in teaching, who could be better placed to respond to this Commission? Dave also gave some biblical bases for research and encouraged scientists to view their labs as places of worship of God as much as the sanctuaries of church buildings, with no fragmentation between life as a scientist and as a Christian. "Science is a vocation, versus a profession or job." Thanks, Dave, for encouraging us to live whole lives. And God bless your new marriage!

Institute of Science and Christian Faith Seminar

The mission of Rick Parker and Nate Olson's new Institute of Science and Christian Faith (see ASAN, Dec 93, p. 2) is "to equip Christians to take leadership in the 21st Century in communicating the common ground of authentic science and authentic Christian faith." To this end, their Sept. 22 evening seminar in the Portland, OR area featured speakers John L. Wiester ("The Hard Facts Wall") and lawyer Phillip Johnson ("The Established Religious Philosophy of America"). The meeting attendance exceeded expectations and appeared to be mainly motivated Christians. The Institute is affiliated with Western Evangelical Seminary. Dottie Feucht, John Wiester

Squibs

The ASA received generous coverage last May in the FASE Notices, a publication of the Center for Faith and Science Exchange, a program of the Boston Theological Institute. Front-cover news of ASA's new Executive Director, Don Munro, was followed on page 2 by a reprint from the ASAN of the boxed section announcing the Symposium which occurred at this year's Annual Meeting. Also, the "Russian ASAs" front-cover article in the Mar/Apr 94 ASAN, about the two science/faith organizations in Russia, was summarized. FASE is at 210 Herrick Road, Newton Centre, MA 02159, and Barbara Smith-Morgan is Notices' editor. The masthead (vol. 5, no. 7) contains a quote from Jeremiah (1:17): "Brace yourself, Jeremiah; stand up and speak to them. When you confront them, do not let your spirit break."

Earlier this year, in the American J. of Physics (Vol. 62, No. 2, Feb 94), a letter on physics and theology from Allen C. Dotson, Dept. of Chemistry and Physics, St. Andrews Presbyterian C. in Laurinburg, NC cited Ian Barbour, a well-known sci/rel contributor who attended the 1994 ASA Annual Meeting. Dotson was rebutting the argument that it is certain that the electron exists but no such verifiable evidence for God exists; therefore, no meaningful analogy between "Electrons exist" and "God exists" can be drawn, the argument goes. Dotson clarifies the issue with "the following comparison suggested by Barbour," in his book, Religion in an Age of Science (Harper Collins, New York, 1990, pp. 121-122). Quoting from Dotson's letter:

Just as quantum mechanics stresses that electrons, for example, can only be studied in interaction with other entities, so it is in religious studies: "We can ask how God is related to us, but we can say little about the intrinsic nature of God."

Dotson distinguishes between "an analogy between methods of investigation of entities presumed to exist" and the "amount of scientific data which supports the premises of those investigations."  Donald DeGraaf

Next year's Annual Meeting program chair, Martin Price, continues to develop plants and seeds, and provide agricultural knowledge to developing countries through his Educational Concerns for Hunger (ECHO) organization in North Fort Myers, Florida. Sometimes the serious business of subsistence farming benefits from a little humor. The ECHO News reported (via Chemical & Engineering News, 23 Aug. 93, p. 72) an Ethiopian method for keeping animals out of fields and gardens. The farmers trap a monkey and paint it a distinctive color. When released, it returns to its group, only to find them fleeing the strange apparition chasing them, and they travel far from the scene before sorting matters out. Walt Hearn

 In a Christianity Today article by John Zipperer titled, "Christians Sidelined in UN Debate" (20 Jun. 94, pp. 60-61) about the global agenda to limit population growth, the biggest obstacle for conservative Christians' participation in governmental decision-making, the article says, "may lie simply in acquiring credibility in a highly secular atmosphere." One voice speaking in the article is that of Calvin DeWitt: "The Christian world view, if it's really well-founded biblically, is one that looks at the creation [as a] whole and not in pieces." Cal was one of three-dozen scientists, journalists and activists who examined population and the role of Christians as stewards of the planet in a mid-April Christianity Today Institute.

Another CT Institute participant, Calvin Beisner of Covenant College, expressed his fear that concern about overpopulation was neglecting sound biblical research, relating the separation of Abraham and Lot. Lot feared the land would not support their families, Beisner said, while Abraham trusted God to provide and was subsequently blessed with many descendants. Beisner sees population-control activists as reflecting more of Lot's attitude than Abraham's: "They don't trust in God's ability to provide."

Swiss astrophysicist Hans R. Brugger spotted an article, "Falsche Fronten," in idea-Magazin, an evangelical Swiss-German periodical, by author Hanspeter Schmutz, a Swiss "IVCF" (or VBG in Switzerland) worker. The Editor's rusty German seemed to suggest that the article cited American beliefs about creation/evolution and the ASA, with its publication, Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, and was mentioned as a "Langzeit-Kreationisten" organization. Hans thinks that the author heard about the ASA from either himself or the other Swiss ASA member, Peter Rüst. Hans writes that young-earth creationism is less prevalent in Switzerland and Germany and is found mostly among the evangelical and fundamentalist free churches. The state churches (Reformed and Catholic) "are not so much influenced by the creationists," he wrote

With the Lord

Boris Kuharetz, a native Yugoslavian, died in late Sept. at age 73. He was an astrophysicist, with training at Columbia U. and Stevens Inst. of Technology, where he received his Ph.D. in physics. He was last at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, and heard of the ASA through the late Jim Neidhardt.

Ed Rozar of Morgantown, WV was with the WVU School of Medicine, Dept. of Surgery. A native of Athens, GA, he received a chemistry degree from U. of GA and MD from the Medical C. of GA in 1973. His specialties were thoracic and cardiac surgery.

ASA Honorary member R. Hooykaas, a Dutch historian of science and author of Religion and the Rise of Modern Science, died on Jan. 4, 1994, as reported by Christians in Science in Britain. They say:

He was at his best when surrounded by a group of research students in animated discussion. He constantly stressed the need for intellectual humility before the data of both Scripture and the natural world that God has given us, urging us to `sit down before the facts like a little child.' He warned us of the danger of `a fresh idolatry of our minds. This,' he said, `is really the liberal disease, whether it takes the form of orthodoxy or not.'

Hooykaas co-taught the Regent C. summer course (Vancouver, BC) on "Christian Faith and Natural Science" with his good friend from across the Channel, the late Donald M. MacKay. Jack Haas