Back to the Beginning - with Christine Amanpour - ABC
Noah's Ark: Dutchman launches scale replica of Biblical ship
Dec. 10, 2012 - A full-scale replica of Noah's Ark is now open to the public in the Netherlands. The project is the culmination of
a 20-year dream by Johan Huibers.
- The ark comes in at a whopping 130 metres (427 feet) long, 29 metres (95 feet) across and 23 metres (75 feet) high. It features
life-sized displays of animals - including posed sculptures of tigers, giraffe, an elephant and bison
Source: Telegraph - UK
'Junk DNA' has a purpose, new map of human genome reveals
Sept. 7, 2012 - Only 2 percent of the human genome consists of genes. The other 98 percent was once thought to be "Junk DNA,"
fragments of the string that were previously thought to have no useful function. However, a new Encyclopedia of DNA Elements, or ENCODE
project, has shown that this data is also involved in key biochemical processes.
- The results of their efforts, published Wednesday in a series of papers in the journals Nature, Genome Research and Genome Biology, are
being widely seen as the most significant contribution to understanding the human genome since the last sequence was completed in 2003.
Hundreds of scientists, working at at dozens of institutions in the U.S., U.K., Japan, Singapore and Spain were involved in the project. They
have found that about 80 per cent of the human genome has at least one biochemical activity associated with it. One major function is to
tell the genes when and where in the body they should turn on and off.
Source: CBC
ENCODE Project: Encyclopedia of DNA Codes
Gregory Koukl Interviews I.D. Leader, Stephen Meyer - Audio - MRCTV
Junk DNA: “The Darwinist bloggers are defending a ragged flag on a rapidly shrinking ice floe” - Uncommon Descent Blog
Has Francis Collins Changed His Mind On "Junk DNA"? - Evolution News (pro Intelligent Design)
A Tale of Two Scientists: What Really Happened 'In the Beginning'
July 6, 2012 - Two evangelical scientists, one a young-earth creationist, the other an evolutionary creationist, illustrate the latest
debate about the theories of creation and evolution.
Darrell Falk was brought up in the Nazarene Church and accepted Christ when he was 4 years old. He considered Jesus his best friend, but starting
with his junior high school textbooks showing evolutionary charts, he gradually drifted away from his biblical roots and was enamoured with the
beauty and complexity of biology.
- He and his wife attended a church that attracted young people in rebellion against their fundamentalist backgrounds. "Evolution was a
side issue. They were questioning everything. Eventually there wasn't much left of the classical Christianity of my youth."
When his children were young he was drawn back into the Nazarene church, and eventually became a professor at their Point Loma Nazarene
University in San Diego. His teaching was opoposed at one point by Dr. James Dobson, a graduate of the university, who accused him of
destroying the faith of his students. Feedback from the students convinced the administration that this was an over-reaction.
Falk was influenced greatly by another Christian evolutionist, Francis Collins, the world-famous geneticist who headed the human genome project,
and wrote the bestselling book, The Language of God. Collins founded BioLogos, an organization that espouses teaches "evolutionary
creationism." Falk now serves as president of BioLogos.
The other scientist, Todd Wood, came from a Baptist background. He graduated at the top of his high-school class and went on to Liberty University
in Virginia. He ready many books on creationism and became an expert in the field. He adopted the young-earth creation science theory espoused
by John Whitcomb and Henry Morris in their 1961 book, The Genesis Flood.
Eventually Wood and a small group of biology grad students started work on "baraminology," an effort to identify the "created kinds" of Genesis 1.
He has been heavily involved in the growing Internet phenomenon of creation science sites and discussion forums. He ia a professor at Bryan University.
Both men agree that there needs to be love and respect for the competing viewpoints of creation.
Source: Tim Stafford - Christianity Today
Evolution of the Debate: Divided on Origins - Christianity Today
Infographic: America's View on Evolution and Creationism - Christianity Today
The Origins Debate - Book from Christianity Today
The Creation Debate is "Evolving" - Ron's Blog
What Galileo's Telescope Can't See - Christianity Today
Scientist: Evolution debate will soon be history
May 27, 2012 - Paleoanthropologist Richard Leakey predicts that in another 15 to 30 years skepticism over evolution will be history.
Leakey is a professor at Stony Brook University on Long Island, but spends most of his time at the Turkana Basin Institute in Kenya where
he welcomes researchers and scientists from around the world.
- Now 67, Leakey is the son of the late Louis and Mary Leakey and conducts research with his wife, Meave, and daughter, Louise. The
family claims to have unearthed "much of the existing fossil evidence for human evolution."
Source: USA Today
There is no new evidence cited in the article to validate Leakey's opinion.
Fraud and Forgery in Paleontology
- Leakey's questionable practices are mentioned in this 2009 article by Jerry Bergman- Answers in Genesis
Evangelical Evolutionists Meet in New York
Mar. 31, 2012 - Biologos, founded by Francis Collins, director of the Human Genome Project, and author of the book The Language of
God, convened a group of pastors and scientists to consider the scientific evidence for evolution. Forty-one pastors and parachurch leaders
participated. They were not pleased with the news from the Barna Research group on what U.S. Protestant pastors believe about creation.
- More than half profess a 6-day, 24-hour creation of life. Fewer than one in five, on the other hand, follow Biologos in affirming
an evolutionary process as God's method of creation.
Some of the evangelicals who do evidently agree with Biologos are N. T. Wright, Alister McGrath, John Ortberg, Tim Keller, Scot McKnight,
Os Guinness, Joel Hunter, and Andy Crouch.
Source: Christianity Today
The Non-Mythical Adam and Eve - Refuting errors by Francis Collins and BioLogos -
Robert W. Carter - Creation Ministries International
Christianity Today's "Origins" Section
Ed. note: In our view, the Biologos position cannot be reconciled with belief in the inerrancy of Scripture.
Adam and Eve: Clarifying Again What is at Stake
Sept. 3, 2011 - Some postmodern teachers, like Brian McLaren, deny the literal interpretation of the creation
story. Albert Mohler explains that this view is a rejection of a clear biblical teaching and the denial of
the biblical doctrine of the Fall, leading to a very different way of telling the story of the Bible and the
meaning of the Gospel. It also misses the essential point made by Paul in Romans, chapter 5.
- Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men
because all sinned—for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is
no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam,
who was a type of the one who was to come.
But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace
of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not
like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the
free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned
through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness
reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. [Romans 5:12-17]
Source: Albert Mohler - Crosswalk
False Start? Controversy Over Adam & Eve - Albert Mohler - Crosswalk
The Search for the Historical Adam
Jun. 3, 2011 - A new debate in evangelical circles revolves around the views of prominent
atheist-turned-Christian Francis S. Collins. Having led the historic project of mapping the complete sequence of
several billion DNA subunits in human genes, Collins was appointed director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
- Collins, one of the most eminent scientists ever to identify as an evangelical Christian, staunchly defends
Darwinian evolution even as he insists on God as the Creator. And he now stands at the epicenter of a dispute
that increasingly agitates fellow believers.
Collins believes that the genetic evidence suggest that modern humans emerged from primate ancestors
as far back as 100,000 years ago, long before the apparent Genesis time frame. This goes against the biblical
account that God directly created adam and Eve. It also questions the human species's unique status as
made in the "image of God." In addition, it casts doubt on the Christian doctrine on original sin and the Fall, the genealogy of
Jesus in the Gospel of Luke, and Paul's teaching that links the historical Adam with redemption through Christ
(Rom. 5:12-19; 1 Cor. 15:20-23, 42-49; and his speech in Acts 17).
In his 2006 bestseller, The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief, Collins asked
if Genesis might be presenting "a poetic and powerful allegory" about God endowing humanity with a spiritual and
moral nature? He said, "Both options are intellectually tenable."
At the end of the article there is an appeal for leading evangelical thinkers in science and Scripture
to jointly work out an accord. If not, this problem "could produce a huge split right through the heart of conservative,
orthodox, historic Christianity."
Source: Richard N. Ostling - Christianity Today
No Adam, No Eve, No Gospel
A position paper from Christianity Today
Feedback: “The Search for the Historical Adam” and Population Genomics- Dr.Elizabeth Mitchell - Answers in Genesis
Sin in the Double Helix
Mar. 18, 2011 - Prospective parents can now have their children's genetic structure tested to determine
certain traits. One is the gene ACTN3, known as the "speed gene," which influences production of a protein involved
in certain muscle activity. The test shows the child's predisposition for certain athletic qualities (or lack
thereof). Thus a parent will be able to direct the child into the appropriate activities in life. Other genes give
an indication of the child's predisposition to moral issues.
- Lady Gaga sums it up best in her newest hit, "Born This Way": Whether you are alcoholic, gay, fat,
liberal, promiscuous, or athletic, you can blame—or credit—your genes.
To some, genetic weaknesses lead us to an attitude of fatalism. But the Bible teaches that in a sin-corrupted
world, all of us are born with a propensity to sin. Even the great Apostle Paul lamented "I do not understand what I
do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate, I do. … As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it,
but it is sin living in me" (Rom. 7:15-17).
The Bible teaches how to experience freedom from these weaknesses.
Source: Karen Swallow Prior - Christianity Today
Top scientists tell Scottish pupils: the Bible is true
Oct. 10, 2010 - A new creationist group in Scotland, called The Centre for Intelligent Design, is directed
by Dr Alastair Noble, a Northern Irish professor of genetics, a vice-president of the Royal College of Physicians
and a former school inspector. The group teaches the “scientific” theory of intelligent design, and holds to fundamentalist
Christian beliefs, including a literal interpretation of the creation of Adam and Eve.
-
Source: Herald - Scotland
Centre for Intelligent Design
Meyer: Believing Life's 'Signature in the Cell'
Jun. 18, 2010 - Science philosopher Stephen Meyer has written a new book, "Signature in the Cell." It refutes the arguments that the theory of intelligent design is just religion and not true science. He shows that scientists now know that DNA is an incredibly complex code, far beyond what even the most brilliant computer programmers have devised.
- Secular scientists often mock the simple faith of those who believe in an unseen God. But statisticians say the odds are impossible that this incredibly intricate, elegant code could ever just evolve.
Because of these odds, it takes much more faith to believe in chance than to believe in an intelligent designer behind this DNA code.
Source: CBN
In Seach of the 'God Particle'
Apr. 26, 2010 - Since last month the Large Hadron Collider, a huge magnetic accelerator underneath the Swiss-French border, has been succesfully operating. Scientists are analyzing the collision of billions of protons in hopes of discovering what might have happened during the "Big Bang" that they believe started our physical universe.
- And a key part of the adventure in all this includes the search for the Higgs Boson, a theoretical particle that scientists believe is crucial to understanding how the universe functions. The Higgs has also been called the 'God Particle'.
Dr. Tara Shears, a particle physicist who is working on the Large Hadron Collider, says that if the tests do not find this particle it could be a serious blow to modern science.
Source: CBN
Ancient Primate Fossil Roils Scientific Community
Mar. 5, 2010 - Last spring, when Norwegian paleontologist Jorn Hurum unveiled "Ida," an unusually complete prehistoric primate fossil. He claimed that it was the missing link of human evolution, "a revolutionary scientific find that will change everything." The find was given the name "Ida" and the new genus and species name Darwinius masillae.
However, Blythe Williams, a visiting professor of paleontology at Duke University, and three colleagues, writing in a paper published this week in the Journal of Human Evolution, found no evidence that Ida represents a missing link.
Source: David Knowles - AOL News
The Link - Info about the book and the film
Why Ida fossil is not the missing link - New Scientist
“‘Missing Link’ Fossil Was Not Human Ancestor as Claimed, Anthropologists Say” - OneNewsNow
Molecular Machines Use Moving Parts
Jan. 19, 2010 - The latest research continues to describe molecular machines with moving parts: "'fingers' that open and close, ratchets that lock into place, and feet that move along tracks." The article is very technical, but this summary statement gives an idea of these amazing discoveries:
- [L]arge structural molecules form machines with moving parts. These parts experience the same kinds of forces and motions that we experience at the macro level: stretching, bending, leverage, spring tension, ratcheting, rotation and translocation.
Source: Creation-Evolution Headlines
Why are young people leaving the church?
June 15, 2009 - Groundbreaking study says Sunday School makes exit more likely
Two-thirds of young people in evangelical churches will leave when they move into their 20s. But a new major study shows that these kids are "lost" in their hearts and minds in elementary, middle and high school – not in college as many assume.
According to Ken Ham, of the Genesis creation-science ministry, the problem stems from the fact that too many churches teach their kids, "The age of the Earth is not an issue as long as you trust in Jesus and believe in the resurrection and the Gospel accounts."
- "Because of the way in which they've been educated," Ham said, teens come to believe "that what they are taught in school is reality, but the church teaches stories and morality and relationship. Bible teaching is not real in the sense of real history."
Ham and researcher Britt Beemer have written a a book on the subject, "Already Gone: Why your kids will quit church and what you can do to stop it."
Source: WorldNetDaily
Media blitz: 'We found missing link'
May 20, 2009 - Scientists have revealed a fossil called "Ida," a lemur-like fossil ," which they claim is the missing link in man's evolution. However, there is much debate about the find and what it really means. Ken Ham, president of Answers in Genesis, points to a line in the scientific report that shows there is uncertainty about the fossil.
- "[The species] could represent a stem group from which later anthropoid primates evolved [the line leading to humans]," states the report, "but we are not advocating this here."
Jonathan Wells, author and biologist at the Seattle-based Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture, said this about the find, "There are many primatologists who already disagree with that interpretation and see this as a lemur."
Source: WorldNetDaily
Why Ida fossil is not the missing link - Opinion by Chris Beard - New Scientist
Secularist group posts 'Praise Darwin' billboards
Feb. 10, 2009 - The Freedom From Religion Foundation decided to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin with billboards that say "Praise Darwin - Evolve Beyond Belief." Darwin was born on Feb. 12, 1809. The billboards went up in Grand Junction, Colorado; Dayton, Tennessee; Dover, Pennsylvania; and Whitehall, Ohio.
Source: USA Today
'Praise Darwin' billboards spark counter-campaign - WorldNetDaily
