re: link request

John W. Burgeson (burgy@compuserve.com)
Mon, 28 Apr 1997 19:05:12 -0400

A couple weeks ago I mentioned that there were a number of web sites who
"ought to" offer the ASA web site as a "hot link." So far, I've heard from
only one, RTB. Here is my reply to them.

Burgy

TO: "Eyon Karnoff", INTERNET:ekarnoff@reasons.org

Re: re: link request

>>Thank you for your email to Reasons To Believe. We appreciate your
support
and your feedback. Thank you emailing me with your link request. I'm
unfamiliar with "ASA".
Please supply me with the URL and I'll review the site. If ASA's focus
directly corresponds to Reasons To Believe's ministry and purpose, then
we'll add ASA to our links page.>>

Eyon:

Here is the information you requested. I think Dr. Ross is an ASA mamber,
but I'm not sure.

Burgy

-----------------------------------------

The American Scientific Affiliation web site is:

http://www.calvin.edu/chemistry/ASA/

The ASA LISTSERV is operational. To subscribe:

Send email to majordomo@calvin.edu with the
words "subscribe asa" (no quotes) in the body of the message.

To stop the subscription send email to majordomo@calvin.edu with
the words "unsubscribe asa" (no quotes) in the body of the message.

A help document can be obtained by sending email to majordomo@calvin.edu
with the word "help" (no quotes) in the body of the message.

Posts to the list should be sent to asa@calvin.edu.

An archive is available at::

http://www.calvin.edu/~grayt/mailasa/

Terry Gray in the Chemistry Department at Calvin Collegemanages the
list. His e-mail address is grayt@calvin.edu

What is the American Scientific Affiliation?
----------------------------------------------------
The American Scientific Affiliation (ASA) is a fellowship of men and women
of science and disciplines that can relate to science who share a common
fidelity to the Word of God and a commitment to integrity in the practice
of
science. ASA was founded in 1941. Current membership is about 2500.

The purpose of the ASA is "to investigate any area relating Christian faith
and science" and "to make known the results of such investigations for
comment and criticism by the Christian community and by the scientific
community."

How do I join the ASA?
----------------------

Anyone interested in the objectives of the Affiliation may have a part in
the ASA. Full, voting membership is open to all persons with at least a
bachelor's degree in science who can give assent to our statement of faith.
Science is interpreted broadly to include anthropology, archeology,
economics, engineering, history, medicine, psychology, and sociology as
well as the general recognized science disciplines. Philosophers and
theologians, who are interested in science, are very welcome. Full member
dues are $55/year.

Associate membership is available to interested non-scientists who can give

assent to our statement of faith. Associates receive all member benefits
and publications
and take part in all the affairs of the ASA except voting and holding
office. Associate member dues are $45/year.

Full-time students may join as Student Members (science majors) with voting

privileges or as Student Associates (non-science majors) for discounted
dues
of $20/year. Full-time overseas missionaries are entitled to a
complimentary
Associate membership.

An individual wishing to participate in the ASA without joining as a member
or giving assent to our statement of faith, may become a Friend of the ASA.
Payment of a yearly fee of $55 entitles "Friends" to receive all member
benefits and publications and take part in all the affairs of the ASA.

Subscriptions to our journal, *Perspectives on Science & Christian Faith*,
are available at $30/year (individuals), $45/year (institutions) and
$20/year
(students). The journal comes automatically with your membership.

What does the ASA believe?
--------------------------
As an organization, the ASA does not take a position when there is honest
disagreement between Christians on an issue. We are committed to providing
an open forum where controversies can be discussed without fear of unjust
condemnation. Legitimate differences of opinion among Christians who have
studied both the Bible and science are freely expressed within the
Affiliation in a context of Christian love and concern for truth.

Our platform of faith has four important planks:

1. We accept the divine inspiration, trustworthiness and authority of the
Bible in matters of faith and conduct.

2. We confess the Triune God affirmed in the Nicene and Apostle's creeds
which we accept as brief, faithful statements of Christian doctrine based
upon Scripture.

3. We believe that in creating and preserving the universe God has endowed
it with contingent order and intelligibility, the basis of scientific
investigation.

4. We recognize our responsibility, as stewards of God's creation, to use
science and technology for the good of humanity and the whole world.

These four statements of faith spell out the distinctive character of the
ASA, and we uphold them in every activity and publication of the
Affiliation.

Why must there be an ASA?
-------------------------

Science has brought about enormous changes in our world. Christians have
often reacted as though science threatened the very foundations of
Christian faith. ASA's unique mission is to integrate, communicate, and
facilitate properly researched science and biblical theology in service to
the Church and the scientific community.

ASA members have confidence that such integration is not only possible but
necessary to an adequate understanding of God and His creation. Our total
allegiance is to our Creator. We acknowledge our debt to Him for the whole
natural order and for the development of science as a way of knowing that
order in detail. We also acknowledge our debt to Him for the Scriptures,
which give us "the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Jesus
Christ."

We believe that honest and open study of God's dual revelation, in nature
and in the Bible, must eventually lead to understanding of its inherent
harmony.

The ASA is also committed to the equally important task of providing advice
and direction to the Church and society in how best to use the results of
science and technology while preserving the integrity of God's creation.