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AVALANCHE!
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By Thomas E. Woodward December, 2011
God’s love—a vast oceanic expanse? An aggressive love, “lavished” on mankind? Coming at us like an avalanche?
These ideas came to Dr. James Gills and me as we were working on our book The Mysterious Epigenome: What Lies Beyond DNA. As we tweaked the final manuscript, we were haunted over and over by a powerful, pivotal thought. As scientists continue pulling back curtain after curtain that had previously shrouded the chemical master-codes that control our DNA system (that is, the multiple integrated layers of our epigenetic “computer codes”), they were also revealing something in the realm of spirit. They had opened up a new kind of vista on the greatness of the Creator’s overwhelming intelligence—his boundless genius--which is placed on display in this bizarre biochemical landscape. The more we thought about and discussed the latest discoveries of the genome and epigenome, the more we were confronted with this sense of the cosmic architect’s “unlimited, off-the-chart wisdom” in creating and sustaining the micro-cosmos of life. At the same time, seeing the Creator’s engineering intelligence in this new light also made us ponder the striking parallel with other “overwhelming/incalculable/infinite” qualities that the Bible attributes to the Creator, such as his power, knowledge and love.
Click here to read the full article...
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Redemption Explained
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Redemption Explained
By Thomas E. Woodward
 It took place one night in December, 1968, as snow began to swirl around the majestic gothic building known as the Princeton University Chapel (pictured at right). I was a freshman, and I was on a mission, striding down the lane that led to the chapel from my frosh dorm, Witherspoon Hall. As I looked up at the chapel’s silhouette against the winter sky on my left, I wondered, “What am I getting myself into, going to a meeting of Christian students, when I’m an agnostic, one step away from atheism? Will I have any success in meeting the Princeton alum who leads this group? Can I show him he’s wrong about his distortions of science that he’s been spreading on campus?”
Click here to read the full article...
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The Jesse Kilgore Story
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BRAVE NEW SCHOOLS
Dad links son's suicide to 'The God Delusion'
Says atheism-promoting book hidden under mattress, last page bookmarked
Note from C. S. Lewis Society Director, Dr. Tom Woodward: We are posting this story as it appeared in the fall of 2008, when WorldNetDaily carried it, and when Discovery Institute also provided some news coverage of the story. Dr. James Gills and I briefly discuss this tragic news item in our new book, The Mysterious Epigenome: What Lies Beyond DNA. The parents of Jesse Kilgore, Keith and Linda Kilgore, will be sharing their story, “Triumph over Tragedy,” at our Feb 24-25 2012 conference in Clearwater: “Shaping Your DNA Destiny: Exploring Epigenetic Keys to Improving Your Health.”
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God, Faith, and Health
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God, Faith and Health: What Have We Learned?
A Reflection on Dr. Jeff Levin’s book, “God, Faith and Health: Exploring the Spirituality-Healing Connection”
By Dr. Tom Woodward, Executive Director of the C. S. Lewis Society
 We recently passed the tenth anniversary of the release of one of the most important and controversial books ever published, linking religious belief and behavior with human health. The author, Dr. Jeff Levin (left), who holds a distinguished chair at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, as “University Professor of Epidemiology,” has justly deserved the description as a pioneering scientist in his field of religious epidemiology. This new and fast-growing field researches the existence and the nature of cause/effect linkages between two classes of phenomena which have been often considered utterly unconnected in medical science previously: faith and health.
Literally hundreds of medical and epidemiological studies have been published over the past century, and the accumulated evidence is now truly overwhelming, showing the connection between these two groups of phenomena: (1) God-belief, various other religious beliefs, and religious practices and (2) measures of human health, including prevalence and mortality from dozens of different diseases, such as coronary diseases, cancers of over twenty types, hypertension and asthma.
Click here to read the full review...
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From Design to the Designer
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From Darwin to the Designer
By Jerry Swift, Rich Akin, and Tom Woodward
 For centuries scientists, philosophers and theologians have been debating issues surrounding the origins of life and mankind. In 1802, theologian William Paley, in his work titled Natural Theology spoke of the amazingly complex systems found in biological life. He likened what he observed to the intricate parts of a watch and logically inferred a “watchmaker” –an intelligence behind the design of the watch. In 1859, Charles Darwin published his renowned work, The Origin of Species, in which he provided a naturalistic explanation for the apparent design in life. Nearly 150 years later the debate continues, and many are concluding that the evidence does in fact point to design. Not only are those who begin with theological assumptions concluding design, but many skeptics who begin with just the scientific evidence are coming to the same conclusion. The purpose of this article is to briefly review some of the scientific evidence, consider certain historical evidence, and investigate the identity of the designer.
Click here for the full paper
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How to Make Sweet DNA
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How to Make Sweet DNA:
A Short Course on the Double Helix
By Dr. Tom Woodward, Director
 Each year in my introductory science course at Trinity College of Florida, I take one class session to allow my students to experience a simplified “candy-confection” type of DNA modeling. We employ fairly simple edible ingredients for this exercise: large marshmallows, miniature size marshmallows, and “Spice Gum Drops.” The latter come in a bag containing several dozen small gum drops of many colors, and all three ingredients are available at any typical grocery store. The last thing needed is toothpicks, to attach everything together.
Click here to read the full article
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WHAT'S WRONG AND WHAT'S RIGHT WITH INTELLIGENT DESIGN
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By Tom Gilson
Adapted from his article at www.ThinkingChristian.net: http://www.thinkingchristian.net/2010/04/whats-wrong-and-whats-right-with-intelligent-design-re-posted/
 I had a very powerful "Aha!” moment one night last week, in which I believe I felt--I actually felt--the revulsion many ID opponents have toward the theory. I was reading Thomas Woodward's Darwin Strikes Back. (He's certainly not to blame for any bad feelings I felt; his book is a helpful overview of the ongoing debate over Darwin/Design since the mid-1990's.) I think it was instead a kind of gifting moment, through which I was able to take on the other side's perspective and gain new insight.
I was reading this passage on the Cambrian Explosion, which was a period during which (according to the fossil record) many thousands of new species suddenly appeared in a short period of geological time, about 530 million years ago. Woodward writes,
"The name 'explosion' is used widely in the literature of professional paleontology in describing this dramatic fossil debut.... where we find not just gaps between slightly different forms but fossil chasms between different phyla that abruptly appear in the rocks.... The Cambrian gaps are persisting [in spite of new fossil finds]; with a defiance and stubbornness that is now legendary. What's worse, those chasms are not just enduring; they are steadily increasing in number through discoveries of new bizarre creatures... in recent decades." (Click here for full article...)
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A Tale of Two Theories
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A Tale of Two Theories
By Thomas E. Woodward
“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.”
When British novelist Charles Dickens penned those now-famous words in 1859 as the first sentence of A Tale of Two Cities, he had no idea he was making literary history. These famous words capture the paradox of France on the eve of the French Revolution. The aristocracy flaunted their hyper-luxurious living (the best of times) in the face of those who slid ever deeper into desperate poverty (the worst of times).
I see the “best of times – worst of times” as the perfect description of another powerful paradox which faces us this year. At the very moment of the ultimate celebration of the theory of evolution – the Charles Darwin Bicentennial Year of 2009 – Darwin’s aging theory seems to be unraveling with increasing speed in the face of hostile scientific evidence. In short, Darwinian evolution is now tottering on the brink of a dramatic, humiliating collapse. In terms of the earthquakes that mark the crazy history of modern science, this would be the “big one.”
For exuberant fans of Charles Darwin, 2009 is the “best of times” since their hero turns 200. By an odd quirk of history, Darwin shares the exact same birth date with Abraham Lincoln: February 12, 1809. Darwin promoters are making much of this connection between these two titans of history.
One American, Robert Stephens, has gloated that Darwin is the greater of the two arguing, “Lincoln emancipated the slaves, while Darwin emancipated the mind.” He added that Darwin freed science from the grip of its old superstition of a Creator who was responsible for life and humanity. For example, former Oxford professor Richard Dawkins confessed that evolutionary theory freed him from the anxiety that nature might contain the telltale pointers to God. Said Dawkins, “Darwin made it possible to be an intellectually fulfilled atheist.”
For such enthusiasts, the Darwin-party doesn’t die away in February. Rather, the “best of times” rolls on at full blast until November 24, when his famous book On the Origin of Species, which launched the modern theory of evolution, reaches a major milestone: its 150th anniversary.
The Year 2009 is shaping up as the ultimate Darwin-gala; universities, museums and TV networks around the world have scheduled hundreds of celebrations. Darwin’s genius will be highlighted, along with the “triumph” of his all-encompassing theory of evolution. Evolutionists, who love to repeat that their favored theory is “overwhelmingly proven by scientific facts” are also eager to seize the opportunity to bash and trash their most feared threat: the competitor theory of intelligent design (ID).
Darwinists have used dozens of books, and hundreds of articles and media appearances to retell and, often to badly distort, the story of their clash with intelligent design. This debate is shaping up increasingly as a momentous clash between Goliath (neo-Darwinism) and the upstart David (ID theory).
This raises the question: How healthy is Darwin’s theory as it celebrates its sesquicentennial? Darwin’s theory is built on the power of natural selection – the survival of the fittest – but is it fit to survive? Is ID theory making inroads?
One part of the theory seems solid. Darwinian processes (natural selection acting on genetic variations and mutations) seem to work at the level of microevolution. By that, we mean that God built into nature a weeding-out process, which leads to the fine-tuning or minor tweaking of bodies and systems of animals and plants. This part of evolutionary theory isn’t controversial; even the strongest biblical literalists would see some validity here. The real issue is macroevolution: the development of all living things from simple one-celled ancestors; driven by purely unintelligent processes in nature.
The Worst of Times
It is right at this point, that we see increasingly ominous signs as to whether Darwinian theory will survive much longer. Let me cite five quick reasons.
First, even leading scientists who are not affiliated with ID theory are admitting that Darwin’s theory may explain the “survival of the fittest” but not the “arrival of the fittest.” A group that I describe as the OOF scientists in Darwin Strikes Back (OOF comes from the MIT Press book they published, Origination of Organismal Form) are making even greater waves now. Sixteen of these rebel scientists, known as the Altenberg 16, came together to look for a new theory that adequately explains from where new body form comes from. These are evolutionists in the broad sense, but they have made no secret that Darwin’s mechanism has struck out after 150 years of testing.
Second, Darwinists are showing a bizarre dogmatism nowadays, and have rejected the very vigorous commitment to free speech which Darwin advocated in the Origin. In his introduction he said, "I am well aware that scarcely a single point is discussed in this volume on which facts cannot be adduced, often apparently leading to conclusions directly opposite to those at which I have arrived. A fair result can be obtained only by fully stating and balancing the facts and arguments on both sides of each question, and this cannot possibly be done here." Here is a delicious modern irony: On the year of the Bicentennial, Darwin’s disciples have become ferociously anti-Darwinian. They oppose the open presentation of “facts …leading to conclusions opposite” to Darwin’s conclusions.
Third, Darwin’s favourite picture of “common ancestry” – the single tree of life which unites all life into one grand family tree – is coming under heavy assault from scholars within the Darwinian tent. Some have admitted that the tree must be “quietly laid to rest” as new strange complexities appear from the study of DNA patterns.
Fourth, scientists who plumb the depths of cellular complexity are shaking their heads increasingly at the reality they’re finding. This new world of nano-technology defies any plausible “step-by-tiny-step” scenario of evolution. A new book by biochemist Fazale Rana, The Cell’s Design, makes these discoveries accessible to the lay reader. Rana concludes, “When I contemplate these amazing systems inside the cell, I can’t help but wonder if Darwin would have advanced his theory of evolution if he knew then what we know now about biochemistry.”
Fifth, over a dozen laboratory research projects are under way around the U.S. and several foreign countries; amazing results which validate design theory are already pouring in. I told the story of the experiments by Dr. Ralph Seelke, tweaking the DNA of billions of E. coli bacteria in his lab at the University of Wisconsin. I told of Dr. Seelke’s work in Darwin Strikes Back and shared his discovery of how wimpy evolutionary processes are proving to be, once they are put to the test.
The Time of Opportunity
For Darwin’s theory and his legacy, the Year 2009 is truly a tale of not one theory but of two competing theories. For Darwin, this is the best of times (in terms of exuberant celebration) and it is the worst of times (in the steady unravelling of his macroevolutionary theory). How shall Christians respond? I suggest individuals and churches carve out time in their 2009 schedule to study this issue diligently and to present (from a biblical perspective) the fascinating story of Charles Darwin and his theory. Strive to balance both his good points and his theory’s massive problems. (See our special webpage at www.trinitycollege.edu for this balanced tally.) Use this occasion to present the case for intelligent design through Illustra Media’s two fantastic DVDs: Unlocking the Mystery of Life and The Privileged Planet.
Here is a window of opportunity too big and rich to pass up. Share the “tale of two theories” and buy up this opportunity to share the good news of a Creator who made us for a marvellous, infinite purpose – to know Him in an intimate relationship; truly the best of times that go on forever.
Thomas E. Woodward is a Research Professor and Chair of Bible/Theology Division at Trinity College of Florida. He is the Executive Director of the C.S. Lewis Society and has authored two award-wining books, Doubts about Darwin and Darwin Strikes Back.
This article appeared in the March 2009 issue of Connections, Trinity College's magazine.
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Article - Crazy for God
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Francis Schaeffer
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Os Guinness on Francis Schaeffer, Frank Schaeffer, and Crazy for God.
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Os Guiness
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If asked what is the deepest relationship imaginable, many people would say it is between lovers, or between husbands and wives. The case can be made, however, that from a Christian perspective, no relationship is more mysterious and more wonderful, yet sometimes more troubling, than that of fathers and sons. The depth and wonder begin with all we know of the relationship of God the Father and God the Son, while the troubled aspects stem from the Fall. Consider Absalom's rebellion against King David in the Old Testament, Edmund Gosse's exposure of his father Philip, the Oedipal drive in the writings of Sigmund Freud—and now Frank Schaeffer's Crazy for God, a memoir that is his personal apologia at the expense of his famous father, Francis Schaeffer, who was the founder and leader of the worldwide network of L'Abri communities.
To read entire article click here
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Apologetics & ID Rumblings
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Featured Book of the Month
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According to the modern version of Darwin’s theory, DNA contains a program for embryo development that is passed down from generation to generation; the program is implemented by proteins encoded by the DNA, and accidental DNA mutations introduce changes in those proteins that natural selection then shapes into new species, organs and body plans. When scientists discovered forty years ago that about 98% of our DNA does not encode proteins, the non-protein-coding portion was labeled “junk” and attributed to molecular accidents that have accumulated in the course of evolution.
Recent books by Richard Dawkins, Francis Collins and others have used this “junk DNA” as evidence for Darwinian evolution and evidence against intelligent design (since an intelligent designer would presumably not have filled our genome with so much garbage). But recent genome evidence shows that much of our non-protein-coding DNA performs essential biological functions.
The Myth of Junk DNA is written for a general audience by biologist Jonathan Wells, author of Icons of Evolution. Citing some of the abundant evidence from recent genome projects, the book shows that “junk DNA” is not science, but myth.
Click here to purchase
Click here to view past featured books
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About Apologetics.org
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The goal of the Apologetics.org website is to empower Christians and engage skeptics by making available through our articles, blog and bookstore high-quality materials that effectively defend the truths of Scripture.
“Apologetics” comes from the Greek word apologia, which means a reasoned defense of a system or idea. In ancient Athens, apologetic discussions often took place in the agora, or marketplace. Apologetics.org is our marketplace of ideas where skeptics and believers come together to present, discuss and defend their points of view. We stimulate and challenge one another, testing Christianity’s truth claims.
The apologetics.org website covers two broad areas, General Apologetics and Intelligent Design. In General Apologetics we consider and debate questions about the Bible, the coherence of theism, morality, Christianity and other religions, the nature and purpose of apologetics, prayer, metaphysics and other issues related to the truth of Christianity.
In Intelligent Design, we consider and debate the ID movement vs. Neo-Darwinism. ID holds that there are features of the universe and life that are best explained by deliberate, intelligent design, and that design in nature is sometimes formally detectable. |
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Darwin’s Tree Suffers Base Blow
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Darwin’s “tree of life” icon is suffering another blow.
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The root of multicellular life was supposed to be the simplest, most primitive animal. Now, scientists are seriously considering that the mother of all animals was a complex animal with a gut, tissues, a nervous system and amazing light displays: a comb jelly.
To read entire article click here
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Thomas Nagel Calls Intelligent Design Scientific and Constitutional
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Prominent Atheist Professor of Law and Philosophy  Thomas Nagel Calls Intelligent Design Scientific and Constitutional to "Mention" in Science Classes
Prof. Thomas Nagel, a self-declared atheist who earned his PhD. in philosophy at Harvard 45 years ago, who has been a professor at U.C. Berkeley, Princeton, and the last 28 years at New York University, and who has published ten books and more than 60 articles, has published an important essay, "Public Education and Intelligent Design," in the Wiley InterScience Journal Philosophy & Public Affairs, Vol. 36, issue 2, on-line at http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118493933/home (fee for access US $29.95).
Prof. Nagel's paper is a significant and substantial opening, at America's highest intellectual level, that encourages all intelligent, educated, informed individuals — particularly those whose interest in this issue derives from intellectual curiosity, not the emotional advocacy excitement for any side — that it is legitimate as a matter of data, science, and logic, divorced from all religious texts and doctrines, to consider that intelligent design may be a valid scientific approach to understanding how DNA and the complex chemical systems of life came to attain their present form. Prof. Nagel's article is well worth the price to put it in the library of any inquiring mind.
As anyone who has watched TV's Crime Scene Investigation knows, scientific investigation of a set of data (the data at the scene of a man's death) may lead to the conclusion that the event that produced the data (the death) was not the product of natural causes — not an accident, in other words — but was the product of an intelligence — a perpetrator.
Read More...
This report originally appeared on evolutionnews.org. It was written by Edward Sisson, attorney and author on intelligent design matters.
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