Via my Pastor, I received the following request from a denominational
Bible College in Papua New Guinea (PNG). I have drawn a blank to
this point. Is there anyone on this list that can help me with this
request?
The students at this college are primarily PNG nationals that are
training for various ministries. English is usually a second
language. According to my Pastor who just returned from a Sabbatical
at this college, the educational level would probably be "the U.S.
academic equivalent of seniors in high school and 1st and 2nd year
college students. So they can't handle highly technical material."
You can reply to me either privately or on_list. If you choose to
reply on_list, please Cc a copy to me since I am currently
subscribing only to the digest version of this list.
Thanks,
Steve Smith
----- begin forwarded request -----
You mentioned a fellow in your church that might be able to help me
find a book that we could use as a text for our "Science" class.
I've read a few blurbs in the catalogues about some books but can't
really find anything that would be suitable. What I'm looking for is
a look at what information science has discovered and how that
"scientific" information can inform us theologically, or how that
"scientific" information can potentially increase our understanding
of God.
A couple of examples:
Light - The scripture says God is light. Our scientific understanding
of light is that it is pure energy. That energy is useful in a
multiple of ways. It makes visible, purifies, warms, ...... Therefore
the understanding that God is light is that he is pure energy which
makes visible, purifies, warms etc.
Chemical reactions - Science teaches us that whenever there is a
chemical change energy is produced and spent. The process of leven in
dough is a chemical reaction which changes the original ingredients,
produces energy which is immediately spent. That chemical change also
is a process of destruction of molecules - God forbode the use of
leven at special times for the sake of purity, perhaps to help us
understand that God is not a God of destruction.????
I am not a scientist and so my quick thoughts are obviously not well
researched and it's been 20 something years since I formally had a
science class. But hopefully that gives you the idea.
The Usborne Book of Science as an introduction to Biology, Physics
and Chemistry provides a good explanation of science but no
theological help. It's also written for children.
Lawrence O. Richards book "It Couldn't Just Happen" is also a
children's book that comes close to what I'm looking for except that
it is only trying to give some handles to answer the "law" of
evolution.
"Intelligent Design: The Bridge between Science and Theology" by
William A. Dembski, (IVP, 1999 ISBN# 0-8308-1581-3) might be the
ticket. But there might be other books that might better suit our
purposes.
Could you or your friend check out a few possibilities? I believe
you have Brian and Carol's email address while they are in the
states? If so you or your friend could also talk with Brian. He will
be teaching the class. If we find out soon enough we can get it
ordered and possibly Brian bring it back with him or if we determine
the title for the text quickly enough we can order it and ship it and
it should arrive in time.
Thank you for your help on this.
I'll also keep trying to do some research on this end and if I have
other ideas I'll let you know.
----- end forwarded request -----
[Opinions expressed herein are my own
and are not to be attributed to my employer]
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Steven M. Smith, Geologist Office: (303)236-1192
U.S. Geological Survey Fax: (303)236-3200
Box 25046, M.S. 973, DFC smsmith@helios.cr.usgs.gov
Denver, CO 80225
--The USGS National Geochemical Database NURE HSSR Data Web Site--
http://greenwood.cr.usgs.gov/pub/open-file-reports/ofr-97-0492/
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