tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6238723624631737882024-03-19T04:46:36.584-04:00Science @ The John Ankerberg ShowA blog dedicated to investigating the latest research on the interaction between science and Christianity.Jim Virklerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07537339232944922710noreply@blogger.comBlogger930125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-623872362463173788.post-76610943418172552852024-03-14T12:02:00.002-04:002024-03-14T12:02:55.509-04:00Atmospheric Rivers and Climate Change<p> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;">The recent floods in California resulted from </span><i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;">atmospheric rivers</i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;">. Readers may review this method of planetary water distribution in our recent post: </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2024/02/appearing-and-disappearing-lakes.html">https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2024/02/appearing-and-disappearing-lakes.html</a></span> </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A<i>tmospheric rivers </i>have become a popular meteorological <i>topic du jour.</i> It is unusual that such an important topic has not achieved more notoriety in the current lexicon of meteorology and climatology. The term <i>atmospheric river </i>was first used in 1994. The phenomenon has currently achieved a high level of awareness. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Climate change is referenced many times in our current weather and climate conversation. Many ordinary phenomena are linked to or credited to climate change. The term is used repeatedly. The existence of atmospheric rivers is commonly linked to climate change. A variable scale of impact—AR 1 to AR 5 (dependent on amount of water vapor contained and duration of the phenomenon) reminds us of the scale of hurricane strength (Saffir-Simpson wind scale: category 1 to 5), or tornado intensity (Fujita scale: F1 to F4) also based on wind speeds. The scale of atmospheric rivers from 1-5 was first proposed in 2019. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Because Earth’s climate has been in a state of ongoing change over many millennia, many analysts have insisted that climate change is mostly a natural occurrence. Fossil fuel consumption by humans has generated increased production of carbon dioxide emissions from the late 19th century to our current 21st century society. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas (GHG) capable of generating more atmospheric warming than natural events. Climate change (1) is caused by natural factors, and (2) climate change is <b><i>also</i></b> caused by the collective impact of humanity whose population has increased eight-fold since the beginning of the 19th century. It is difficult to deny the importance of fossil fuel consumption. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The recent publicity concerning atmospheric rivers has called attention to current serious flooding in California. The flooding has impacted agriculture in the <i>Golden State, </i>especially in the last several years since the atmospheric river phenomenon has intensified. The flooding has been a mixed blessing for California. Many reservoirs are currently refilling from previous drought conditions. Serious flooding in California impacts food prices across America. The Central California Valley contains only 1% of our nation’s farmland, but this region produces one-third of US vegetables and two-thirds of our nation’s fruits and nuts. The annual value of California’s agricultural products exceeds $50 billion; over $20 billion in agricultural products is exported to other countries. The valley produces more than 250 different agricultural products. It is also home to 6.5 million residents, many of whom are employed in farming.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Floods in the state of California are cyclical as are droughts. Long before old world explorers arrived in the new world, atmospheric rivers were pounding the North American west coast. Native Americans resided in the Central California Valley long before European explorers arrived. No doubt those Native Americans experienced mega-floods from atmospheric rivers in the years 212, 440, 603, 1029, c. 1300, 1418, 1605, 1750, 1810, and most recently—1861-62. Fertile sediments washing downstream from mountain ranges to the east supplied layer upon layer of fertile silt in the Santa Barbara Basin. (USGS sediment research…..<i>Wikipedia article.</i>) Several of these mega-floods were more intense than the 1861-62 series of atmospheric rivers which killed many Native American people and farm animals and devastated the Golden State economy.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The greatest historical west coast floods have occurred roughly every 200 years in the past two millennia. It is clear to modern researchers that atmospheric rivers have been a component of our climate system for thousands of years—long before climate change was given credit for amplifying them. We may be due for another mega-flooding event. California is due for “The Big One—“ a reference to a possible <i>great</i> earthquake such as occurred in 1906. But If we were to apply this term to an onslaught of atmospheric rivers, we may predict a flood of monumental proportions. Damage to California’s agriculture would be devastating.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Creator has authored a planetary environment in which the entire climate system works for the ultimate benefit of human life. In the Book of Genesis God mandates humans to “have dominion.” Humanity must apply knowledge, intelligence, and wisdom in order to “have dominion.” (Genesis 1:28) </p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"> </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"> </p>Jim Virklerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07537339232944922710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-623872362463173788.post-3109505281622783172024-02-20T12:49:00.002-05:002024-02-20T12:49:54.084-05:00Dominion Wisdom<p> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">In the first chapter of Genesis the concept of God granting dominion to humanity in terms of </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">creation care</i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;"> is an important topic. Genesis 1 is a narrative of divine creation activity. It deals with science—the geologic history of Planet Earth and the history of life, including </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">human</i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;"> life—the pinnacle of God’s creative activity. The chapter also deals with theology. God had redemption of humanity in mind before the creation event: I Corinthians 2:7—</span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">before time began</i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">; 2 Timothy 1:9—</span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">before the beginning of time</i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">; Titus 1:2—</span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">before the beginning of time</i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">; and Ephesians 1:4—</span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">before the creation of the world</i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;"> (All quotes from the NIV). Even human salvation is an act of divine creation.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">In Genesis 1, humanity was granted dominion (authority, influence, jurisdiction, or control) over many types of living things. In verses 2, 6, 7, 9, and 10, <i>water </i>was the focus of attention. Light energy had been created at the first instant of the creation event. However, light did not appear at Earth’s surface until “darkness…over the face of the deep” was dispelled. God established a permanent water cycle. Verses 6-7 describe accurately, but without much detail, the conditions necessary for a stable water cycle.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In just a few verses we are informed of the appearance of light on our planet’s surface, the reality of a stable water cycle, the appearance of swarms of living creatures on creation days five and six, and the creation of humans on day six. The Creator of All Things ultimately gives instructions to mankind to “have dominion” over the broad variety of creatures mentioned in the initial chapter.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Based on the importance of our “water world” planet, we might better understand the Creator’s mandate for human dominion. All life depends on water. Agricultural success depends on an adequate supply of water. Psalm 8:6-8 states <i>“You have given him </i>(man) <i>dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.” (ESV) </i>These verses in the Book of Job 38:25-27 mirror the Genesis mandates for humanity to exercise dominion over Earth’s water resources: “<i>Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain and a way for the thunderbolt, to bring rain on a land where no man is, on the desert in which there is no man, to satisfy the waste and desolate land, and to make the ground sprout with grass?”</i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Humanity has fallen far short of wise dominion governing the water resources of Planet Earth. Many national jurisdictions are dismantling dams along streams and rivers. In the USA, there are 91,804 dams impounding water along national streams. Many dams are being dismantled because they generated significant environmental problems. Dams have been built ranging from a few feet to hundreds of feet in height. Dams were built for various beneficial purposes—flood control, irrigation, hydroelectric power, and recreation to name a few.</p><p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Knowledge of water control infrastructure reveals serious downsides to the presence of dams all over the world. There are over 800,000 dams on Earth, including 60,000 large dams, according to <i>ResearchGate. </i>Dams (1) change the course of rivers (2) block spawning fish migration (3) trap sediments and waste (4) alter the habitat within impounded reservoirs (5) cause loss of water by evaporation (6) disrupt ecological networks such as food webs (7) impound large quantities of water, the source of some greenhouse gases such as methane and (8) reduce fertile silt on river flood plains.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the early 19th century very few dams had been constructed across the US. Public works projects consisted mainly of canals. Projects involving dams were unusual or rare. Problems involving dams mentioned in the preceding paragraph were virtually non-existent. The pure waters of the Great Lakes and our historic water resources across the country were not plagued by building of thousands of dams which have frequently produced more problems than benefits.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Great Lakes are symbols of ancient <i>transformational</i> miracles. Another transformational miracle is described in Genesis 1:7-8—the establishment of Earth’s water cycle. The last glacial episode on Earth ended about 12,000 years ago. The ice sheet bulldozed the basins of the Great Lakes before ir melted away. Present day precipitation accounts for current Great Lakes water fueled by Earth’s well-established water cycle. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"> </p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Ice Ages are transformational miracles from our Divine Creator. A well-established water cycle is a good example of a transformational miracle. Before the European settlers arrived, Native Americans had occupied the North American continent for thousands of years. Pollution of our water resources was not an issue. But with the rapid world population explosion from one billion souls to eight billion from 1800 to the present day, mankind struggles with water resources. In that light we may better understand the human dilemma concerning the building and removal of dams.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Modern societies must avoid going beyond the divine provisions of <i>transformational </i>miracles to modify the environment in a damaging manner. God’s mandate to exercise <b><i>dominion wisdom</i></b> is more clearly understood.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We link this 11-21-2017 post on transformational<i> </i>miracles<i>:</i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><i></i><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2017/11/transformational-creation-miracles.htm">https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2017/11/transformational-creation-miracles.htm</a></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><i></i><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><i></i><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><i></i><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"> <i> </i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"> </p>Jim Virklerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07537339232944922710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-623872362463173788.post-30775197632560488532024-02-13T10:42:00.000-05:002024-02-13T10:42:26.161-05:00Appearing and Disappearing Lakes<p> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">Earth’s lakes are temporary planetary features. In the experience of many Earth residents, lakes appear to be permanent features on our landscape. Who can forget memorable lake house family vacations of our youth? Or swimming, boating, and camping adventures at the lake on a weekend family getaway? Meteorologically, some news reports during recent years may affirm that lakes are geologically temporary. Planet Earth is often described as a </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">water world.</i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;"> How we manage our water resources</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">including how water is distributed to every section of the planet is linked to humanity’s wise dominion over </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: underline;">all</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;"> the earth.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">Lake Tulare in the state of California is an example of the nature of lakes which alternately appear, disappear, and reappear. Its present size is 178 square miles. Beginning in late 2022 the state of California experienced a heavy onslaught of <i>atmospheric rivers</i>. This meteorological term was first proposed barely three decades ago. The phenomenon is a fascinating description initially described by MIT climate scientists. A NOAA article describes these features as “a flowing column of condensed water vapor in the atmosphere responsible for producing significant levels of rain and snow, especially in the western United States.”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In terms of the impact of more well-known climate phenomena such as hurricanes, blizzards, or droughts, atmospheric rivers have the potential to alter physical conditions of entire geographic regions. Readers could agree that the appearance of a large lake where lush farmland existed for decades fits this description. Lake Tulare in California earns many headlines. California’s recent deluge of atmospheric rivers is stealing headlines away from more familiar meteorological events.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In the early 19th century Tulare Lake existed in California as the largest lake west of the Mississippi River. The decades long drought was unusual. In 1861, Californians were praying for relief from a two decades-long drought. The answer came with a vengeance. Thousands of humans and farm animals perished in a 43-day surge of rain. It was an early example of the atmospheric river phenomenon. Sixty-six inches of rain fell in Los Angeles—four times the normal amount. Muddy water formed for miles across California’s central valley. California residents spent much of the late 19th century trying to get rid of a natural feature which had existed for thousands of years.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Atmospheric rivers are long, narrow regions in the atmosphere, like rivers in the sky. <i>Rivers in the sky </i>imagery is appropriate. These rivers transport huge amounts of water from tropical regions. The typical atmospheric river carries an amount of water vapor roughly equivalent to the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River. Exceptionally strong atmospheric rivers can transport up to 15 times that amount. They release this water vapor in the form of rain or snow. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Practices of European explorers and California settlers have not always been characterized by wise “creation care.” The large size of Lake Tulare supplied plentiful food for native Americans populating the area for the past several thousand years. Native Americans have been threatened not only by settlers who wanted to remove the native peoples from their homeland, but also by government actions to drain Lake Tulare in the late 19th century in order to harvest its agricultural bounty. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Creator assigned significant authority to humanity to manage our planetary home with wisdom. There are many dimensions to the authority and dominion God transferred to humanity. The dominion extended to management of water and mineral resources, wildlife, and humanity itself. Our focus in this post primarily relates to water resources, but humanity’s authority and dominion is clearly broad-based. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">A familiar Bible passage in the Book of Genesis uses the term <b><i>dominion </i></b>in relation to how humanity should manage fish, birds, livestock, and<b> “<i>all the earth</i></b><i>….” </i>(Genesis 1:27). Dominion is a term Bible commentators have attempted to define. With respect to how humanity should exercise care for God’s creation, we discovered a relevant comment on having dominion over <i>all the earth</i>: “Cruel exploitation is NOT condoned while careful use without abuse is permitted and expected.” (Quote from Biblical Hermeneutics — Stack Exchange) This includes the magnificent water resources by which life is sustained on our “water world planet.”</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"> </p>Jim Virklerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07537339232944922710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-623872362463173788.post-57303831950661457182024-01-31T16:44:00.000-05:002024-01-31T16:44:16.630-05:00Re-wind of Total Solar Eclipse<p> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;">In August 2017 I was privileged to fulfill a life-long bucket list goal of observing a total solar eclipse. The rare event took place a full day’s drive from our home in far Northwest Illinois. The exact date and time of the rare astronomical event in Carbondale, IL had been publicized for several years. We had faith that the weather</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;">would cooperate to provide us with ideal conditions on the day of the eclipse. Plans were made to overnight in Springfield IL, halfway between our home and the eclipse venue. Weather in Carbondale was ideal on August 21, 2017.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">A total solar eclipse is an event few Earth residents ever witness. Successful observation depends on one’s location in the moon’s umbra. Since the Sun is much larger than the moon, straight line sun rays pass the edge of the lunar body and converge on a very small area on our planet. Observers in a high-altitude airplane would observe a small circular shadow moving across the surface of the earth. Its movement across Earth’s surface is linked to movements of a rotating and revolving Earth and a revolving moon. Depending on the exact configuration of the Sun, Moon, and Earth on the day of a total solar eclipse, the shadow races across Earth’s surface at 1100 mph or more. Residents outside the umbra see a <i>partial</i> solar eclipse.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">On 4/8/2024 North America will be treated to another outstanding total solar eclipse. The narrow path of totality will travel southwest to northeast across the Eastern US from Mexico to Canada. The 2017 event traced a generally west to east swath across the lower 48 US states. The path of totality was 71 miles wide in 2017 but projected to be 122 miles wide in 2024. The two paths of totality cross in the vicinity of Carbondale IL. Residents in this small area will be able to view totality <b><i>twice </i></b>in less than seven years. One writer calculated there is less than one chance in 40,000 that any one location could view totality twice in such a short time interval. The timeline for viewing a total solar eclipse is considerably less. On average, the figure is about 375 years. A partial solar eclipse is not particularly rare. Partial solar eclipses can be viewed thousands of miles away from the path of totality. These solar eclipses are more common but <b><i>far</i></b> less spectacular than a total solar eclipse. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Solar and lunar eclipses occur only when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are in line. Solar eclipses occur only at new moon phase; lunar eclipses occur only at full moon. Total <i>lunar</i> eclipses are not especially rare because half of earth residents can view a lunar eclipse when the moon passes into the relatively huge shadow of the earth. The moon is totally eclipsed for up to two hours.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In contrast, a total solar eclipse is visible to observers on Earth for only a few seconds to seven minutes. The 2017 total solar eclipse observed by your blog author lasted two minutes and 37 seconds. The total solar eclipse of 2024 will supply four minutes and eight seconds of totality in Carbondale IL. Thousands of people will converge on that city on April 8 as will many millions of people in cities to the northeast where totality occurs. The 122-mile-wide shadow does not linger over one location very long as it races over earth’s surface at 1100 mph.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Following is a link to our blog post of 8/23/2017 where we recounted our total eclipse experience in Carbondale, IL. The post describes many details of our experience of awe and worship:</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2017/08/eclipse-everest-experience.html">https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2017/08/eclipse-everest-experience.html</a></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Many Scripture verses call attention to signs in the Moon, Earth, and Sun—generally, a physical darkening. There have been many solar and lunar eclipses since these words of Scripture were penned. Numerically, there have been well over 2000 of each. Most eclipses are unusual and spectacular. But a quotation from <i>GotQuestions </i>is appropriate: “Trying to calculate the timing of end-times events based on astronomical phenomena is not something the Bible calls us to do.” See Matthew 24, especially culminating with verse 36: “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We prefer to highlight the “wonderful repeating clockwork of the God-authored Solar System,” a statement we infer from many articles on astronomy. As we research many statistics on dates, times, and locations of past and future eclipse events, we are overwhelmed by the mathematical expertise of many contemporary astronomers and their ability to communicate knowledge to ordinary laypeople. </p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-emoji: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"> </p>Jim Virklerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07537339232944922710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-623872362463173788.post-7174084212699389662024-01-17T18:17:00.003-05:002024-01-18T08:31:06.397-05:00Planet Earth: Governed by Cycles<p> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;">Cycles are a defining characteristic of </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: underline;">all</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;"> living things. We introduce this post by reminding readers that there is no persuasive evidence that </span><i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;">any </i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;">type of life exists </span><i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;">anywhere </i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;">else in this enormous universe. Given the truth of this statement, we devote this post to one of the defining characteristics of life on Earth—the existence of ubiquitous cycles.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;">Our last post highlighted solstices and equinoxes, </span><b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;"><i>cyclical</i></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;"> astronomical phenomena which allow for changing seasons and create ideal agricultural conditions. These unique conditions are life-friendly. For instance, recurring cyclical seasonal changes together with the well-known water cycle and numerous chemical cycles support the lives of billions of individual humans and millions of animal and plant </span><i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;">species</i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;">. Sustaining miracles described in Genesis Chapter 1 supply hundreds of environmental conditions designed by </span><i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;">The Creator of All Things</i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;">. Cycles are vitally important for our planetary operating system.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">Cycles are sequences of repeating events recurring multiple times in the same order. Cyclical events rule our daily lives even when we are not aware of them. We cite a few examples of cycles by categories:</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Physical Science: </b>energy cycles, chemical cycles</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Biological Science: l</b>ife cycles, agricultural cycles, carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, oxygen cycle, water cycle</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b>Earth Science: </b>astronomy cycles, climate cycles, geological cycles, rock cycles</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Without numerous interrelated and interlocking cyclical events the planet as we know it could not function. Knowledge of cyclical events in the natural world is an invaluable apologetic for the existence of the omniscient Creator of All Things, the Divine Designer of our intricately designed planetary home. An interesting phrase is “biogeochemical cycle” which describes interrelationships of many different types of cycles operating on our planetary home. Brittanica defines the term as “any of the natural pathways by which the essential elements of living matter are circulated.” The term is “a contraction of the biological, geological, and chemical aspects of each cycle. Elements within the biogeochemical cycles flow in various forms from the nonliving (abiotic) components of the biosphere to the living (biotic) components and back. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Human life and the lives of at least 8.7 million animal and plant species known on Earth depend on the operation of multiple cycles. Modern agriculture depends on a number of chemical cycles—the carbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle, the oxygen cycle, and the water cycle, to name only a few. Below, we <b><i>recycle</i></b> several posts from our 2012 archive. The cycle concept is highlighted in each post<b>:</b></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2012/01/jobs-water-cycle-tutorial.html</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2012/03/oxygen-for-ages.html</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2012/03/nitrogen-renewal.html">https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2012/03/nitrogen-renewal.html</a></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2012/03/carbon-sequence.html</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2012/03/cycles-by-design.html</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"> </p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><b></b><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"> </p>Jim Virklerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07537339232944922710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-623872362463173788.post-21606562241275457182023-12-31T19:18:00.000-05:002023-12-31T19:18:14.562-05:00Solstices and Equinoxes<p> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;">At the Christmas and New Year holiday season Earth residents celebrate significant astronomical milestones.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;">Annual calendars reference seasons and lesser known events such as solstices and equinoxes. We become aware of environmental phenomena such as seasonal changes resulting in changing temperatures. Each year about December 22, Northern Hemisphere residents experience the winter solstice. Events such as solstices and equinoxes, important topics in the study of astronomy, occur twice per year. </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">The winter solstice locates the season of the longest daily period of darkness and the shortest daily period of daylight during the calendar year. At about 40º N latitude, longest darkness translates to approximately fifteen hours of darkness and nine hours of daylight. The solstice also roughly locates the dates on which earliest sunset times pair with latest sunrise times.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We are aware of long and short daylight as well as early sunsets and late sunrises depending on our latitude. On a summer visit to Anchorage, Alaska, we visited stores open for business at 10:30 PM. Farther north we could have experienced “the land of the midnight sun.” Variations in day/night lengths and sunrise/sunset times depend on latitude and the time of year. In the northern hemisphere we experience the winter solstice in December. Our southern hemisphere friends experience their summer solstice in December, because their seasons are reversed. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Some may not be familiar with the effect of changing angles of sunlight striking the earth’s surface from season to season. Summer’s direct rays provide more heat than winter’s indirect rays. In winter, the same amount of heat energy is spread over a larger area. Diluted heat energy results in lower temperatures. All of these effects contribute to seasonal temperature variation. These temperature phenomena provide topics of conversation for friends and neighbors.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Meteorology and astronomy are innately related. Those sciences provide plentiful opportunities for studying and understanding cause and effect relationships. Astronomy is considered an <i>earth science </i>because what occurs in space affects events on earth. There are fascinating interconnections between the different sciences. For example, the solstices mentioned above are astronomical phenomena, but they significantly relate to weather and climate. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Teachers of astronomy use a number of devices to clarify astronomical concepts. One device was a celestial sphere consisting of a transparent plastic globe. Inside was a small earth globe students could manually rotate. On the plastic sphere prominent stars and constellations of the sky were imprinted. Students were able to visualize that they were located on the small earth globe inside<i> </i>the large sphere. In real life, earth residents gaze at the night sky and imagine individual stars and groupings of stars called constellations located on an <i>imaginary</i> sphere surrounding our planet. In reality, all celestial objects are located at various distances from our planet—some close, some light years away.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The celestial sphere model helps us understand some of the most important astronomical concepts. On our classroom celestial sphere model there were two great circles. One great circle was the “celestial equator” formed by extending the plane of the earth’s <i>equator </i>out to the plastic sphere. Another great circle was formed by extending the plane of the earth’s <i>orbit </i>out to the celestial sphere. (We cannot visualize the plane of the earth’s orbit from our plastic celestial globe model. But we <i>can</i> see where the plane of earth’s orbit crosses the model’s celestial equator.) The two great circles cross each other twice at an angle of 23.5º because earth’s axis of rotation is tilted 23.5º from the plane of the earth’s equator.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">On our celestial sphere model, astronomers have plotted celestial coordinates of two great circles—the <i>celestial</i> equator and the <b><i>ecliptic. </i></b>The <i>ecliptic</i><b><i> </i></b>is the great circle formed by the path traced by the position of the sun throughout the year. We link a post from 10/18/2011 which explains the concept of the great circle in our skies called the ecliptic: <a href="https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2011/10/bible-zodiac.html">https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2011/10/bible-zodiac.html</a> The term “zodiac” helps us understand the concept of the ecliptic.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The ecliptic locates an infinite number of sun positions. It also locates several solar positions EXACTLY<i> ON, at the HIGHEST POINT, </i>and<i> at the LOWEST POINT </i>in relation to the celestial equator. When the sun is located <i>exactly</i> <i>ON </i>the celestial equator we experience an equinox—<span style="text-decoration: underline;">equal night </span>and day. When the winter solstice occurs, the sun apparently <span style="text-decoration: underline;">stands still</span> for a few days at its lowest point above the horizon, neither rising nor falling. The sun is close to the horizon and at many latitudes the temperature is COLD. Six months later when the summer solstice occurs, the sun again <span style="text-decoration: underline;">stands still</span> for a few days at it highest location above the horizon. The sun is highest in the sky and the temperature is WARM.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">If the axis of the earth were not tilted there would be no equinoxes, no solstices, and no seasons. We close our discussion of solstices and equinoxes with a link to our 2017 post—<i>Earth Without Seasons. </i>There is much to learn about God’s master plan to provide for the physical welfare of teeming billions of Earth residents. God provides for not only man’s spiritual welfare but also man’s physical welfare.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://jasscience.blogspot.com/2017/10/earth-without-seasons.html">http://jasscience.blogspot.com/2017/10/earth-without-seasons.html</a></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"> </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 11px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><br /></p>Jim Virklerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07537339232944922710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-623872362463173788.post-31231452140944047382023-12-15T10:52:00.003-05:002023-12-15T10:52:43.949-05:00Ubiquitous Bioelectricity<p> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">We close our discussions of bioelectricity by referencing several recent blog posts. In </span><a href="http://jasscience.blogspot.com/2023/09/chemical-elements-coherently-created.html" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">http://jasscience.blogspot.com/2023/09/chemical-elements-coherently-created.html</a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;"> we mentioned the positive and negative charges present in all chemical elements which comprise ordinary matter. These electrical charges are present in </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">all</i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;"> matter and in </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">all</i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;"> of our physical body systems.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">Our body systems communicate with each other by the neural binary code which could not function apart from electrical charges. Even before our body systems communicate with each other, their architecture must be in place so the various systems are integrated. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In our sports-immersed culture we draw several analogies, especially in the realm of professional leagues. Team owners compete with other owners to employ the most skilled players. The players comprise the team’s architecture. Strategies sometimes involve electronic radio signaling in addition to visual and auditory signaling. Football coaches have electronic radio communication systems in place with their quarterbacks; baseball managers have radio communication systems in place with their catchers who contact the pitcher by radio on miniature receivers. It is not enough to have a good team roster—players must also communicate effectively. We link a commentary from a blog posted in 2017: <a href="https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2017/02/system-integration.html">https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2017/02/system-integration.html</a> </p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Bioelectricity is a product of the genius of the Divine Creator. If we believe the physical features in our environment were designed by God <i>In the Beginning,</i> we do not attribute characteristics of matter such as the electrical nature of atoms and molecules to a naturalistic accident.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Most non-scientists may not investigate the characteristics of matter in much detail. For example, they may be satisfied that matter is composed of atoms consisting of protons, neutrons, and electrons: Protons have a positive electrical charge; electrons possess a negative electrical charge. But there is more to the story. Exotic particles make up atomic particles. Some exotic particles are “force carriers.” Scientists discover many characteristics of matter at the quantum level—the scale of the VERY small.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We began our discussions of bioelectricity with two posts on <i>forces.</i> The Creator has permitted humanity to understand physical forces caused by bioelectricity. God created these phenomena as they relate to the miracle of human life and human consciousness.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Before we dismiss the topic of bioelectricity, we reprint two quotes of special interest to particle physicists—scientists who discover the many elementary particles which compose matter. The following quotes originate from an article in <i>Simple Science:</i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i>“The Standard Model has a defined number of key particles: elementary and composite. Elementary particles are quarks, leptons, and bosons. These particles then join together to produce the more well-known particles, such as the neutron and the </i><b><i>proton</i></b><i>. Such particles are known as composite particles, as they are composed of two or more of these elementary particles.” </i>(The same article describes an electron): “<i>A lepton is an elementary particle and a fundamental constituent of matter. The best known of all leptons is the </i><b><i>electron.”</i></b></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><b><i></i></b><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Without ubiquitous electrical charges in our bodies life would not exist. In the field of developmental biology <i>Quanta Magazine</i> states, <i>“Researchers are building a case that long before the nervous system works, the brain sends crucial bioelectric signals to guide the growth of embryonic tissues.” </i>Other researchers are intent on discovering a bioelectrical component of human consciousness. So far, this quest has not been successful. We believe human consciousness is a transcendent gift of the Creator of All Things. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"> </p><div><br /></div>Jim Virklerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07537339232944922710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-623872362463173788.post-7951896414348357402023-11-27T19:29:00.000-05:002023-11-27T19:29:56.680-05:00Bodily Bioelectricity<p> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;">Most bioscientists would acknowledge, perhaps humorously, that our bodies are “electrical machines.” A study of the the digital information transmitted by the billions of neurons inhabiting our central and peripheral nervous systems may inspire young people to choose bioscience as a career.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">Young people have been raised in the so-called “digital age.” Previous generations may not have been aware that a “digital age” for our society was on their horizon. Let’s investigate the origin of our modern “digital age.” Then we may be able to relate some of our findings to the remarkable “electrical machines”—our bodies. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Claude Shannon (1916-2001) is a scientist less well known than Albert Einstein or James Clerk Maxwell. He was a brilliant electrical engineer, mathematician, computer scientist, and cryptographer. He is responsible for an astonishing societal revolution, the <i>digital</i> revolution, which launched the information age, generally acknowledged to have begun in about 1970. The digital revolution transformed our lives in multiple ways. In the 21st century it is almost impossible to exist without being aware of the ongoing digital revolution, aka the digital age. Shannon’s seminal paper was titled, “A Mathematical Theory of Communications.” Computers evolved from digital technology. A sequence of simple binary digits, called bytes—either 0’s or 1’s—is the fundamental <b>informational code. </b>Computing steps involve input, processing, storage, output, and communication. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Without the body’s electricity our lives would be profoundly different. In reality, we would not exist without a <i>digital code </i>consisting of digital pulses of electrical current within our bodies.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">For your review, our last post is linked below:</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://jasscience.blogspot.com/2023/10/neuroscience-and-bioelectricity.html">http://jasscience.blogspot.com/2023/10/neuroscience-and-bioelectricity.html</a></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The Creator of the human body conceived of billions of neurons communicating by a storm of electrical impulses. The digital electrical impulses enable human audition, vision, as well as pressure, balance, olfaction (smell), and gustation (taste) awareness. Our body’s nervous system discriminates among countless smells, tastes, sounds, visual images, and forces. Various brain regions interpret the meaning of multiple digital <i>codes</i>. We are not only able to perceive many different sounds, but also identify the type of musical instrument producing the sound—its pitch, timbre, and loudness. The human visual apparatus is capable of sensing color, shape, and brightness. Explanations for human sensory capability is woefully inadequate. Bioscientists are far more able to offer accurate descriptions than meaningful explanations. Thousands of volumes describe human senses in intricate detail. The foregoing paragraph describes the input stage of information as merely<b><i> </i></b>a sequence of binary digits! Our bodies’ sensory system <i>decodes</i> the meaning of a sequence of simple binary digits in order to achieve a meaningful, conscious visual or auditory experience.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">How do we account for the operation of our nervous system and its digital processing capability? Bioscience authorities cite evolutionary mechanisms as “explanations” as if the mere mention of the term <i>evolution </i>is self-explanatory. An extensive review of the literature often leaves the reader with far more questions than answers. Most scientists prefer naturalistic explanations for events in our bodies. Many bodily sensory phenomena are nearly impossible to explain. For example, neurophysiologist Christof Koch, President of the Allen Institute of Brain Science, proposes: “The details of the human brain may be way beyond human capacity and capability to understand…”</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The digital code is a <i>language</i> enabling the transmission of information via billions of neurons in the human body. All languages are devised by a <i>mind</i>. The human body is f<i>earfully and wonderfully made</i><b> </b>by the God of Creation (Ps. 139:14-15.) Perry Marshal, author of books on communications technology and evolution, proposed the atheist’s riddle: “Show me a language that does not come from a <i>mind.” </i>The digital code is a language, as are all codes. The digital code by which our bodies’ neural networks communicate originates in the divine mind of God, the Creator.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"> </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Our blog deals with the interaction of science and Christianity. In our view, the facts of science strengthen and reinforce, but do not <i>prove</i>, belief in the Creator of All Things—the God of the Judeo-Christian scriptures. The scientific discoveries relating to the human body’s sensory system are difficult to attribute to a purely naturalistic explanation. </p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"> </p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"> </p>Jim Virklerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07537339232944922710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-623872362463173788.post-66168652876074968652023-10-31T21:20:00.000-04:002023-10-31T21:20:03.351-04:00Neuroscience and Bioelectricity<p> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">We have described the reality of digital electrical signals by which our central and peripheral nervous systems communicate with each other. All human body cells possess electrical properties. If this were not true, our bodies would not function. The eleven major body systems would be unable to communicate with each other and regulate conditions in the body. Billions of neurons possess action potentials by which electrical charges are sent to other neurons.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">What are action potentials? They are small “spike-like” events—nerve impulses consisting of electrical signals which transmit digital information. These electric impulses are either ‘on’ or ‘off.’ That is why the information is considered <i>digital.</i></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><i></i><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">“Action potentials are of great importance to the functioning of the brain since they propagate information in the nervous system to the central nervous system and propagate commands initiated in the central nervous system to the<i> </i>periphery.” (<i>Neuroscience Online, McGovern Medical School.</i>)</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Bio-electricity is a flow of electrically charged ions, not a flow of electrons. Ions are formed when an atom gains or loses one or more electrons. A familiar example is the formation of common table salt. An atom of sodium gives an electron to an atom of chlorine. The sodium atom becomes a positive ion and chlorine becomes a negative ion. Proteins provide ion channels through which charged ions move across the cell membrane, carrying their charges with them. This movement may accurately be termed an electric current.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We link several posts from Aug./Sept. 2014 in which we referred to electrical signals flowing through neurons. These posts may be easier to understand than the information presented in the above paragraphs:</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://jasscience.blogspot.com/2014/09/electric-intellect.html">http://jasscience.blogspot.com/2014/09/electric-intellect.html</a></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://jasscience.blogspot.com/2014/09/brain-causes-effects-and-design.html">http://jasscience.blogspot.com/2014/09/brain-causes-effects-and-design.html</a></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://jasscience.blogspot.com/2014/08/an-ear-for-truth.html">http://jasscience.blogspot.com/2014/08/an-ear-for-truth.html</a></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://jasscience.blogspot.com/2014/08/digital-human-hearing.html">http://jasscience.blogspot.com/2014/08/digital-human-hearing.html</a></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">How could a storm of digital electrical pulses be converted to a coherent visible image by the human brain and impart conscious awareness of thousands of different shapes and colors in our field of vision? Our field of vision is usually not an experience in still photography. Mostly, our eyes process a plethora of movement moment by moment. Our normal vision consists of uncounted thousands of data points—all in living color!</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Charles Darwin confessed that it was “absurd” to propose that the human eye evolved through spontaneous mutation and natural selection. But he never abandoned his firm belief in evolution. Neither do the majority of 21st century professional biologists reject the evolutionary paradigm. According to <i>Wikipedia, </i>between 770 thousand and 1.7 million neuron fibers from retinal ganglion cell axons send digital electronic signals from the retina to the brain through the optic nerve. The human brain imparts meaning to the digital data. The foregoing sentence is an example of description, but the statement is short on explanation.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We long for meaningful explanations of human eye/brain function. Scientists are more adept at offering descriptions; less adept at offering explanations. This does not indicate there are no explanations for certain phenomena in the world of our experience. In the world of the scientist, however, many are fascinated by the process of discovery. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The miracle of human vision does not yield to easy explanations. In personal research dealing with human vision, we frequently encounter statements such as “…scientists don’t fully understand how our brains do it” or “…(retinal) neurons that encode objects respond in complicated ways.” </p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Our blog posts credit the power of the Ultimate Designer/Creator. He is the Author of the laws of nature. But He is also the God of Creation. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><i></i><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"> <i> </i> </p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><br /></p>Jim Virklerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07537339232944922710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-623872362463173788.post-52986765262281099962023-10-19T16:46:00.000-04:002023-10-19T16:46:07.245-04:00Body Systems Analysis<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Of all eleven human body systems, the nervous system is known as the control and communicating system for all other body systems. The study of biology consists of eleven major systems, integrated to produce a highly functional human body. We list eleven recognized systems: (1) circulatory, (2) digestive, (3) endocrine, (4) integumentary (skin), (5) lymphatic, (6) muscular, (7) nervous, (8) reproductive, (9) respiratory, (10) skeletal, and (11) urinary (excretory).</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Our past post—<i>Systems Integration, </i>linked below<i>—</i>discusses both human body systems and other physical systems surrounding us. Our current post serves as an introduction to a more detailed treatment of only one body system—the nervous system.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2017/02/system-integration.html">https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2017/02/system-integration.html</a></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">The systems of the human body are finely tuned to function effectively not only individually, but as an integrated unit. At any one moment, the expression “feeling well” describes the optimal functionality of <b><i>all</i></b> body systems working together. Many people tend to focus on temporary malfunctions of even <b><i>one</i></b> body system. For instance, the common cold is an infection in the <i>respiratory </i>system; a skin rash is a problem with the <i>integumentary system; </i>an upset stomach is a disturbance in the <i>digestive </i>system; a UTI results from germs attacking the <i>urinary </i>system; muscle soreness is a dysfunction of the <i>muscular </i>system; an upset stomach is an imbalance in the <i>digestive </i>system.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We wonder why humans do not suffer continual discomfort when so many body systems potentially could go awry. The simple answer is that Our Creator has designed body systems to cope with minor (and sometimes major) physical symptoms produced by stress and disease. But God also gifted humanity with ability to treat stress and disease and maintain health with prudent diet and personal habits as well as modern medical interventions such as therapy and surgery. In our times, Our Creator has bestowed technological, agricultural and medical gifts to humanity in order to support a burgeoning human population of over eight billion.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In our opening paragraph, we highlighted the human nervous system which integrates all other body systems. We enlarge upon this concept with a discussion of the nervous system and its two main divisions—the <i>central</i> nervous system and the <i>peripheral</i> nervous system. The central nervous system is composed primarily of the brain and spinal column. It is difficult to avoid awareness of our peripheral nervous system. Our muscular system, our circulatory system, our skin (integumentary system), and our skeleton are a few examples.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Integrally related to the nervous system is one of the four fundamental forces as defined by physical scientists. It is the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><i>electro</i></span><i>magnetic</i><b><i> </i></b>force. How is the nervous system related to the electromagnetic force? </p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">For reference, we link <a href="http://jasscience.blogspot.com/2023/09/creator-of-forces.html">http://jasscience.blogspot.com/2023/09/creator-of-forces.html</a></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Billions of nervous system cells called <i>neurons</i> use electricity to transmit information and regulate the human body. The body’s ‘electricity’ is used for communication and control of the eleven integrated human body systems. There is an electrical dimension to all matter.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Neurons are among the most fascinating body cells. A typical neuron is composed of a cell body possessing many characteristics of other human body cells. In addition, neurons have dendrites protruding from the cell body. They resemble tree branches or roots. The branching dendrites sense chemical or physical conditions in our bodies, as well as light, sound, heat, odor, and taste in our environment. The dendrites transmit messages in the form of <i>digital electrical signals</i> to the cell body and into the axon, a long, thin appendage of the cell body. Digital electrical signals reinforce other digital signals from other neurons. Ultimately, the digital signals arrive at the human brain, part of central nervous system.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In review, the peripheral nervous system primarily senses conditions in our environment and sends this information to the central nervous system. Many brain centers receive the digital information and ‘figure out’ its meaning. Conscious humans respond appropriately. Scientists have identified many brain locations where complex physical phenomena are integrated. The nervous system integrates ten other body systems, each of which possesses its own intricate beauty.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In Psalm 139:14 King David, in the pre-scientific age, composed a <b><i>prescient</i></b> passage of scripture. Prescient relates to <i>knowing in advance. </i>In our modern day we have discovered details of all human body systems.<i> </i></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i>“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” </i></b>Psalm 139:14 (NIV).</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p><p> </p>Jim Virklerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07537339232944922710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-623872362463173788.post-60398959499415013222023-09-27T12:30:00.001-04:002023-09-27T12:30:33.190-04:00Chemical Elements: Coherently Created<p> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">We begin this post with a short and incomplete chemistry primer. When readers recapture memories from their secondary school chemistry courses, one of their first memories relates to the definition of an element. Chemical </span><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;"><i>elements</i></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;"> such as hydrogen, oxygen, iron, or gold are naturally occurring chemical elements in our physical universe. They cannot be broken down or separated into simpler substances. Water is not an element because it can be separated into the elements hydrogen and oxygen. Therefore, water is a chemical </span><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;"><i>compound</i></b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"> Another early memory from our initial course in chemistry concerns <b><i>atoms— </i></b>tiny, basic units of elements. We could not describe elements without stating that elements are composed of atoms. We understand that atoms are incredibly tiny. There <i>may be</i> three trillion atoms in a minuscule speck of dust. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Elements and atoms which compose elements possess a “coherent order.” This phrase is meaningful in our English language. It means systematic or logical and often refers to operation of a device serving a specific purpose. Each component of an element serves a purpose such as behaviors of atoms in any chemical reaction.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">How many different substances exist on our planet? Almost 100 elements exist in nature, but many substances are compounds—chemical <i>combinations</i> of elements. New substances are formed when elements or compounds chemically combine. Other substances are <i>mixtures</i> in which the components are <i>not</i> chemically combined. The substances are merely mixed together in the same container. Raisin Bran serves as an example; raisins are mixed with bran flakes, but no new substances are formed. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Six hundred thousand inorganic compounds and 16 million organic compounds are known to exist. Organic compounds are chemical combinations of elements carbon and hydrogen included as components of their molecules. (When compounds are formed an element’s electrons are shared with or donated to another element to produce a chemical combination.) Carbon is the main element in organic compounds and is essential for life on Earth. Without carbon, life as we know it could not exist. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">Chemical compounds exist because elements have been created in a “coherent order.” This allows the production of millions of compounds. Elements are assigned an atomic number. Here are the atomic numbers of a few important elements: Hydrogen-1, Carbon-6, Nitrogen-7, oxygen-8, aluminum-13, iron-26, gold-79. The atomic number not only identifies the element, but also tells how many protons are possessed by that element. Oxygen has eight protons and eight neutrons. Elements generally have a similar number of neutrons and protons—sometimes a few more neutrons.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">No additional elements exist in nature other than those already discovered and described. Neutrons, particles with no electrical charge, contribute <b><i>binding energy</i></b> to prevent positively charged protons in the atomic nucleus from chaotically flying off into space. (Like electrical charges repel.) The strong nuclear force is an intelligently designed feature provided by the Creator of forces.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">We could not close our short chemistry primer without reminding readers about atomic number and atomic mass. We referenced atomic number in the above paragraphs. Atomic mass tells us the total number of an element’s protons plus the number of the element’s neutrons. Oxygen has an atomic mass of 16, roughly calculated by adding the number of protons (8) to the number of neutrons (8) in the nucleus of an oxygen atom. </p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">During my personal career as teacher of physical science and earth science, I found it easy to connect the wonders of our curricular science subject matter to my belief in the existence of God, the Creator of All Things. A good example is the subject of chemical elements from today’s blog topic. I cannot, rationally, believe that the <i>coherent order </i>of the periodic table, as it relates to the reality of the Creator’s actions, points to anything other than the existence of a rational, coherent MIND and a Divine Creator who created our present world. In other words, I subscribe to the creativity of God, the Creator of All Things. We need an observant and analytical mind to discover the truths relating to the Creator. </p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"> </p>Jim Virklerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07537339232944922710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-623872362463173788.post-23177194577574760602023-09-21T13:37:00.000-04:002023-09-21T13:37:00.277-04:00Observers of Forces<p> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The four fundamental forces discussed in our last post were described by scientists only in the last several hundred years. These forces (strong nuclear, electromagnetic, weak nuclear, and gravitation) govern</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">everything</i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">that occurs in our everyday experience. The importance of the fundamental forces of nature had not been recognized by scientists in the days before the “scientific age” which commenced approximately 1600 AD.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As we look for evidence of the existence of God as the Creator of our cosmos we cannot fail to encounter the four fundamental forces in science literature and experience them with our senses. Our lives are totally immersed in them. The human sensory system ordinarily includes the familiar five senses: sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch. Some scientists include less familiar bodily senses such as balance, muscle awareness, temperature, hunger, thirst, and pain. Not only do these forces exist, but we are able to sense them. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Knowledge of science supplies multiple opportunities for humanity to observe the power of our Creator. Our experience in the scientific age affords us insights unheard of in the centuries prior to the scientific age. God created the forces which objectively act on matter to produce an organized, coherent environment. God also endows humanity with sensory abilities to make subjective judgments concerning the orderliness of the universe, its intelligently designed features, and the characteristics of the Intelligent Designer/Creator.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Forces are most simply defined as pushes or pulls when matter interacts with other matter. We are not ordinarily aware of the push or pull forces holding protons together with other protons or neutrons in the nuclei of uncounted trillions of atoms composing matter surrounding us each moment of our lives. Those interested in a more esoteric treatment of forces could research contact forces such as friction and non-contact forces such as gravity and magnetism.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Humanity is awash in electromagnetic forces upon which our society depends for ordinary work, entertainment, and communication. What would we do without cell phones, computers, electric vacuums, toasters and a multitude of other electric appliances in our home? The spectrum of electromagnetic radiation energizes modern society. Discoveries related to electromagnetism began in the 19<sup>th</sup> century. My grandparents lived during a significant segment of that century before the invention of radios and telephones. Nevertheless, they were intrinsically aware of the four fundamental forces and their ability to perceive them with their bodily senses.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">“As we observe the wonder of our surroundings, we focus on its beauty at different levels. Perhaps we ponder the aesthetic beauty of the great outdoors. The wonders of the beach, mountains, and sky grip our senses. At deeper levels we observe the interactions of matter, forces, and energy and how their interactions impinge upon us. Life scientists help us focus on the wonders of living inhabitants within our physical creation. They describe living things according to their physical and behavioral characteristics. The behavior of matter and living things lends itself to empirical studies--careful observation, description, and analysis, the starting points of our worship experience.”</span></i><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> (Reprinted from our blog of 7/15/2013: Worship Stimulants)</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>Jim Virklerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07537339232944922710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-623872362463173788.post-78435724787509826082023-09-02T10:58:00.000-04:002023-09-02T10:58:03.661-04:00Creator of Forces<p> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">A sizable fraction of citizens would agree: The world in which we live was created by God. Consciously or unconsciously, when we observe our world we observe evidence of the Creator’s work each moment of our lives. God fine-tuned the parameters of the physical universe when He created the </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">heavens and the earth </i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">in the beginning (Genesis 1:1).</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">One of the foremost discoveries of modern scientists is the existence of <b><i>four fundamental forces</i></b>. In one way or another these four fundamental forces relate to virtually everything we observe and experience each moment of our lives. YouTube science commentator Arvin Ash listed a few everyday activities pervaded by one or more of these forces—the sun shining, brain activity, water evaporating, every process…every chemical reaction, every movement, every thought. Other scientists propose similar lists. <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Scientists identify four fundamental forces of nature:</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">STRONG NUCLEAR FORCE</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">When we observe any type of matter, scientists realize if the strong nuclear force were not acting, the matter would chaotically disintegrate. In reality, atoms and the particles that compose atoms—protons and neutrons—<i>are</i> held together in the nucleus of the atom by the strong nuclear force, over 100 times stronger than the next strongest force, but acting only over incredibly small distances. We could say particles within atoms <b><i>cohere. </i></b>They <b><i>hold together</i></b> by the strong nuclear force. </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">The Apostle Paul penned the New Testament epistle to the Colossians. A familiar New Testament passage (Colossians 1:16-17) states: <i>“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things </i><b><i>hold together</i></b><i>.” </i>Casual readers of scripture may wish to state that the New Testament author is proposing a scientific truth in a pre-scientific age. Bible commentators have speculated on these possibilities. They are known as “concordists.”</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Before discussing the other three fundamental forces, we refer to our visual perception of every phenomenon in our world. These perceptions would be non-existent in a world where atomic particles did not cohere (hold together). In addition, the elements and compounds in DNA would not exist. Life would be impossible without the strong nuclear force.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">ELECTROMAGNETIC FORCE</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Surrounding an electric current is an electric field. Surrounding a magnet is a magnetic field. Scientists in the 19th century discovered that these two forces are related. They work together to generate an electromagnetic force, about 100 times weaker than the strong nuclear force. Together they generate various electromagnetic “waves” which supply our societies with many types of communication and information transmission. We could not see or otherwise communicate by radio, television, internet or other media capabilities without electromagnetic forces. Heat travels through space from the sun by infrared waves. They spread out, and their range is infinite.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Various waves (photons—energy packets) of electromagnetic force occur in infinite frequencies and wavelengths. Electromagnetic forces such as visible light enable us to observe the shapes and colors of surrounding objects and perceive the reality and beauty of our environment. We worship Our Creator for His infinite wisdom.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">WEAK NUCLEAR FORCE </span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">This force is several million times weaker than the strong nuclear force. It relates to radioactivity and acts over short distances. The weak nuclear force changes a neutron to a proton in a process called beta decay. Hydrogen is fused into helium. Large quantities of energy are released. The weak nuclear force is present within our sun. Without the weak nuclear force our universe as we know it could not exist.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">GRAVITATIONAL FORCE</span><span style="font-kerning: none;"> </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Gravitational force is trillions of times weaker than the strong nuclear force and It acts over infinite distances. Gravitation is an attractive force. Objects with mass attract other objects with mass. The force of gravity is perceived by young children learning to walk. Children soon learn to orient their bodies in response to gravitation. All objects are attracted to our planet by gravity. The Earth continues in its predictable orbit around our life-giving sun. Gravity also holds Earth’s atmosphere close to the planet surface to the obvious benefit of air breathing life.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Scientists first began to think seriously about universal forces several centuries ago. Strong and weak nuclear forces were described only in the last 100 years. We link one of our 2008 blog posts. The post discusses an early theological insight (possibly also a scientific insight) discussed by the Apostle Paul in the New Testament book of Colossians:</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://jasscience.blogspot.com/2008/08/all-things-hold-together.html">http://jasscience.blogspot.com/2008/08/all-things-hold-together.html</a></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> </span></p>Jim Virklerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07537339232944922710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-623872362463173788.post-14688405695898909612023-08-17T13:08:00.000-04:002023-08-17T13:08:22.072-04:00Hawaiian Wildfires - 2023<p> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">In the past week we have been horrified by the pathetic destruction resulting from Hawaiian wildfires. Some citizens are quick to credit climate change as </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">the</i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;"> cause for specific weather disasters on our planet. Our people are focused on discovering causes and effects for natural phenomena such as weather and climate as well as causes and effects for topics along a broad range of total human experience.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">The Hawaiian fire is likely the greatest natural disaster ever to strike our 50th state. The governor stated global warming was likely to blame. Global warming has been supplanted by climate change in our meteorological lexicon. Climate change is blamed for many inconvenient, harmful, or disastrous weather events on Planet Earth. Several commentators have dubbed the Maui fires a “compound disaster”—a textbook case of many different agents acting together. Sudden and intense flash drought, high winds generated by a hurricane hundreds of miles away, low humidity, higher than normal temperatures, and replacement of native Hawaiian plants with highly combustible invasive lawn grass species spreading across large areas, all contributed to a weather disaster of apocalyptic proportions.</p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">The well-known El Nino climate phenomenon may have been indirectly responsible for this weather disaster in Hawaii. El Nino is a planetary condition causing periodic changes in surface trade winds’ speed and direction. It randomly occurs every few years. Their frequency is from two to seven years. El Nino events have great significance with respect to weather events around the world. This results in warmer ocean water in some places and upwelling cooler water at other locations. Ocean life is altered considerably. Likewise, anomalous droughts, temperatures, and other atmospheric conditions are generated in distant places around the planet. So far in 2023, many weather disasters have occurred related to El Nino.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">How was El Nino indirectly responsible for making the Hawaiian wildfires worse? In El Nino years hurricanes in the Pacific are stronger, while those generated in the Atlantic are weaker. Even though Hurricane Dora was hundreds of miles south of Hawaii, the atmospheric pressure gradient resulted in intensely strong winds—gusts up to 120 mph. Strong winds blew burning embers on Maui at “a mile per minute.” This factor was likely the <i>most</i> important in producing the “compound disaster” of the Hawaiian wildfires. Add a little low humidity, high temperatures, and drought to the dry invasive lawn grasses, and the Hawaiian wildfire disaster results.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">A memorable personal event comes to mind from 1982. My parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in that year. My cousin bestowed an anniversary gift to his aunt and uncle. The cousin resided in Alaska, but his 50th anniversary gift to his aunt and uncle was a trip to Alaska combined with a vacation in Hawaii. 1982 was the beginning of a very strong El Nino event. At the conclusion of their Hawaiian vacation they were preparing to fly home, but the flight was delayed on the Hawaiian runway by high winds. My parents waited on the airliner, buffeted by strong winds of Hurricane Iwa, the strongest hurricane ever to strike Hawaii. A Wikipedia article details the harrowing outcomes of Hawaiian hurricane Iwa. By God’s grace, they were soon able to fly home to New Jersey.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Planet Earth’s weather systems are the product of Our Creator’s intelligent design. Earth’s complex climate system, including the El Nino phenomenon, sustains the well-being of over eight billion planetary residents. We have taken the position in past blogs that Earth is a place to thrive rather than a place of brokenness and despair. We encourage our readers to view weather disasters in the context of Planet Earth’s “population explosion” from one billion in 1800 to eight billion in 2023. </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">How do our world’s agriculturalists manage to provide food for today’s teeming billions? Is it surprising that there is an increasing number of weather and climate events generating disastrous events affecting <i>many</i> <i>more</i> billions of people? We grieve at all weather disasters taking human lives, but are aware of precautions humanity must take to avoid them.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">“Activists constantly talk about the existential threat climate change poses and the deaths natural disasters inflict—but they never quite manage to total up these deaths. One reason is that it’s easier to bend the data about disaster frequency than to bend death statistics. Death tolls tell a very clear story: People are safer from climate-related disasters than ever before.” (WSJ opinion article, 2021)</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">We link a past post which elaborates on planetary fires. The article deals with topics discussed in our current post in greater detail:</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> </span></p>Jim Virklerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07537339232944922710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-623872362463173788.post-14059856459854474522023-07-22T15:01:00.002-04:002023-07-22T15:01:57.597-04:00The Creator of All Things<p> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">Theologians often use the term </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">The Creator of All Things</i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;"> in reference to God. This term enriches our understanding of the Supreme Being. It includes His creation of the dimensions of time, space, energy, and matter. These dimensions originated “In The Beginning.” The creation and relationship of these four dimensions is an inscrutable truth.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">God <i>created</i> ALL things—physical things, as well as the four dimensions mentioned above. He created ALL things for the enjoyment of humanity. I Timothy 6:17 counsels us, “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, <b><i>who gives us richly all things to enjoy.</i></b><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Our Creator has bestowed the gift of music on humanity. God created musical geniuses from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th century eras. God created humanity with musical aptitude and talent. We could even say He created music, art, and sculpture for our enjoyment. Likewise, we credit God with creating tech talents for humanity. </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Throughout the history of music, talented musicians have produced inspiring compositions. Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) composed numerous works in various musical styles including two oratorios. The better known oratorio is <b><i>The</i></b> <b><i>Creation</i></b>, composed about 1800. This is a lengthy musical work for choir, soloists, and instrumental ensembles. It is one of the great masterpieces of Haydn’s choral/orchestral repertoire.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">This musical masterpiece focuses on God’s creation, described in the first few chapters in Genesis. The oratorio deals with (I) the creation of Earth’s physical features from the original “water world” and the creation of plant life, (II) the creation of animal life, and (III) the creation of Adam and Eve. It features arias, recitatives, and choral selections. </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">We recall personal family events from the post World War II years of 1947-1952. </span>The small religious denomination to which our family belonged sponsored family summer camps in various states. The camps afforded opportunities for expanded ministry sometimes unavailable in their home churches. One treasured camp yearbook produced by church members in 1949 relates the following incident from one of the church camps. We reprint an excerpt verbatim from my personal tribute ‘letter to the editor’ published in our local northwest Illinois newspaper in 2017:<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>“My personal recollections of Bob Michel extend to the days shortly after he returned from his heroic military service in World War II. His Peoria (IL) family were members of the Apostolic Christian Church denomination. Following World War II the church leadership sponsored national summertime family camps in various states. I remember three camps from 1947-1949 where Bob, a young man in his mid-20s, was enlisted by camp leaders for his marvelous musical talent. He directed the 100-voice camp choir. As a pre-teen from New York State I especially remember the 1948 and 1949 gatherings where Bob displayed his talent as a baritone-bass soloist and in a few short days helped the choir produce classic choral anthems at a high performance level.</i></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i>Quoting from the now-yellowing 1949 camp yearbook entry from Aug.1: ‘Our hard-working friend, Bob Michel, loses no time in getting the camp choir started. With zest he attacks the toughest wrinkles in rhythm and harmony, correcting our blunders good-naturedly.’ A later entry in that yearbook from Aug. 7 states, ‘As the audience sits very quietly in expectation, the choir continues its program under the direction of Bob Michel with his wife, Corrine, at the piano…The choir sings the following selections: Exaltation, Hallelujah Amen, Pilgrims Chorus, O Lord Most Holy, </i><b><i>The Creation (The Heavens Are Telling)</i></b><i>, and Great and Glorious. These are challenging anthems for any choir to master, not to mention summer choristers assembling at church camp for just a few days.’</i></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">I recall entering the camp auditorium and listening to Bob Michel’s summer camp choir singing <b>The Heavens Are Telling </b>in 1948 or 1949 as a selection at their closing concert. The memory of that experience has remained with me for many decades. The text of that choral selection Follows:</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> <i>The Heavens are telling the glory of God,</i> </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> <i>The wonder of His work displays the firmament.</i></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i> In all the lands resounds the word,</i></span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i> Never unperceived, Ever understood…..</i></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Robert H. Michel (1923-2017) served in the US House of Representatives for 38 years, serving as Republican Minority Leader from 1981-1995. He has been described as “a politician for the ages.” When he was a young man, he offered glory to God and called attention to the act of divine creation with his music at summer church camps.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>Jim Virklerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07537339232944922710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-623872362463173788.post-11887754063360239722023-07-14T12:32:00.000-04:002023-07-16T08:25:57.703-04:00It's In My Genes<p> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">The statement “It’s in my genes” is sometimes used to rationalize both positive and negative personal traits. Another statement expresses a similar sentiment: “It’s in my DNA.” The topic of genetics is thereby assigned credit for many human physical traits, behaviors and functions. Are unique behavioral traits generally beyond our personal control? These questions have been posed by many behavioral scientists. In the medical profession, some specialists have developed expertise in diagnosing and treating rare genetic diseases. Other medical personnel can explain the genetic basis of diverse hair color, skin pigmentation, blood type, or dominant handedness.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">Human genetics is a fascinating topic for study. When we understand human genetic heritage we become aware of God’s creative action described in Genesis 1:26: “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” After God created man, he gifted humanity with the ability to reproduce (Gen. 1:28). He also created all other species with the ability to reproduce. <span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">In our present day we may cite many citizens who are apparently dissatisfied with their physical genetic heritage. In some cases their responses go far beyond personal grooming presentations of hair color, tanning, body piercing, tattooing, cosmetic surgery, excessive dieting, and even the more extreme and controversial attempts at gender transitioning. In our day societal response to manifestations of personal genetic heritage range along a broad spectrum. The Creator has gifted humanity with free will and degrees of consciousness other life forms do not possess. </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Speaking of personal genetic heritage, the local church where we worship is populated by many young families just embarking upon child rearing. At the close of each Sunday service, the foyer is filled with many young parents with their very young children in tow. Many families in our church congregation have experienced the miracle of new human life. Here is our 2018 post entitled “Life’s Developmental Miracle, linked below:</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://jasscience.blogspot.com/2018/02/lifes-developmental-miracle.html">http://jasscience.blogspot.com/2018/02/lifes-developmental-miracle.html</a></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">One cannot observe young families without being aware of the miracle of reproduction and how they are conceived and develop. The miracle of human fetal development and birth gives us cause to worship the God of Creation who has authored life itself. Our planet teems with life. Our universe was created with the existence of human life as God’s ultimate creative goal. The presence of millions of other species on our planet may be regarded as a divine creative<i> bonus. </i>They supply <a href="http://www.apple.com"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"> </span></a>food for humans, not to mention enjoyment. The post above was the first in a sequence. Here is the second post:</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://jasscience.blogspot.com/2018/02/epigenetics-buzzword.html">http://jasscience.blogspot.com/2018/02/epigenetics-buzzword.html</a></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">We linked the above post to illustrate that the science of <i>genomics </i>(the study of an organism’s genome—the complete set of DNA-generated material) is a topic for advanced study. The DNA of humans is a complex and wonderful biomolecule, but knowledge of DNA is merely the beginning of the story! Epigenetics extends far beyond our knowledge of DNA. It posits that environmental factors such as diet, temperature, oxygen level, humidity, light cycles, and more harmful environmental factors such as drugs or other chemical substances such as tobacco and opioids, generate negative bodily effects.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Do human genetic characteristics result from our genes and our DNA? In the wisdom of our Creator genes and DNA are created entities in our physical body. In that sense we may pose the truth that the humorous statements “It’s in my genes” or “It’s in my DNA” are evidence of the creative activity of God.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Our Creator has also implanted <i>consciousness </i>in humanity. When we produced the following post, we were exulting in the birth of another grandson whose conscious interactions with his family were developing. We link one more post from 2014:</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://jasscience.blogspot.com/2014/01/emergence-of-consciousness.html">http://jasscience.blogspot.com/2014/01/emergence-of-consciousness.html</a></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Life is a miracle. We give thanks to the God of miracles.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> </span></p>Jim Virklerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07537339232944922710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-623872362463173788.post-10310859286122471262023-06-17T20:27:00.001-04:002023-06-17T20:27:39.910-04:00Visible Evidence of the Divine Designer<p> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">For some people there is insufficient proof for the existence of God. We acknowledge that the concept of proof is often subjective. Some people are more readily persuaded than others. The concept of God’s existence was a metaphysical issue even for the people of Bible times. I Corinthians 2:14 states, “The natural person does not accept the things of the spirit of God, for they are folly to them, and he is not able to understand them, because they are </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">spiritually</i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;"> discerned.” (ESV)</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">The first letter of Paul to the Thessalonian Christians expresses a modern <i>scientific</i> mandate: “…test everything; hold fast what is good.” (I Thess. 5:21 ESV). As we observe many phenomena in our natural world, we have been given appropriate scriptural advice. It was an exhortation to follow <i>empirical</i> scientific principles. “Test everything” is a formula for discovering evidence for what is <i>true. </i>This formula certainly includes careful observational skills. The mandate was true in biblical times; it remains true today.<span style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Devotional volumes frequently offer advice for discovering the reality of God. Their advice implores us to carefully observe the wonders of our universe from the tiniest insects to the vastness of outer space with its billions of galactic structures. We learn about God by observing what He created. Some humans are reinforced in their belief in God’s existence by observing the wonders of God’s creation. For others, these observations do not rise to the level of sufficient proof. </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Insects are members of the phylum arthropoda which accounts for 84% of life forms on our planet. Insects comprise 90% of arthropods. There are approximately one million insect species already catalogued with an additional million+ yet to be discovered and catalogued. The most plentiful <i>order</i> (a taxonomic term) of insects consists of an incredible 350,000 <i>species</i> of <b><i>beetles</i></b>. There are 28 additional orders of insects with progressively smaller numbers of species. We do not mention these statistics in an effort to create an army of entomologist researchers within our readership. Instead, we hope our readers will exult in the creative diversity of life on Planet Earth. Our planet <b><i>teems </i></b>with life—plentiful, attractive, beautiful, diverse life!</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">It is easier to believe in the reality of God’s existence if we become empiricists. If our readers are fascinated by our statistics on the plentitude of beetles, we suggest they search out graphic material as well as printed literature on the topic. The beauty of beetles, their diversity, color, morphology, and functionality are staggering. We do not minimize the value of the same types of traits for other animals in phylum arthropoda. When we narrow our focus solely to beetles, we are astonished by what we discover. Why did God create so many beetles? Many scientists have been asking similar questions for many years. Beetles have served many functions within our complex ecosystems. It is doubtful we understand a small fraction of beetle function.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Another topic atheists and agnostics have posed relates to the enormity of the universe and its billions of galaxies. Was God a wasteful Creator? Let us speculate on proposals Dr. Hugh Ross of <i>Reasons to Believe</i> has offered many times in his writings: “The universe is mind-bogglingly massive…..If the universe were ever so slightly less massive….physical life of any conceivable kind would be impossible. On the other hand, if the universe were ever so slightly more massive…..no planet like Earth and no physical life would be possible if the universe were not precisely as massive as it is…..the universe must possess its precise mass/mass density for any planet and any physical life to possibly exist.” <i>Designed to the Core, RTB Press, 2022.</i></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Our tiny Planet Earth and its millions of different species would not exist without a massive universe as we know it. “The Lord has made everything for its purpose…..” (Proverbs 16:4a ESV)</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">In the New Testament Book of Romans the Apostle Paul instructed us about the God of Creation: “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made…..” (Romans 1:20 ESV)</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">From small beetles to a massive universe, we rejoice in God’s omniscience. </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>Jim Virklerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07537339232944922710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-623872362463173788.post-9666272637577512012023-06-13T13:04:00.000-04:002023-06-13T13:04:26.263-04:00Bees--Highly Beneficial Insects<p> </p><p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">We recently highlighted a few statistics concerning insects. We stated that as many as 97% of the world’s insects are beneficial to humanity. This statistic does not begin to highlight the scope of insect roles. We may wish to consider the monetary or life-sustaining health benefits insect species provide. It would be difficult to quantify the benefit to humanity with a percentage figure.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Insects are near the base of many food chains. They are primary consumers; most insects feed on plants. Bees feed on and collect plant products. They produce honey and pollinate food crops. All individual food chains in an ecosystem constitute the <i>food web</i>. Because of the interrelationships of <i>all </i>living things on the planet, the benefits of insects, especially bees, may bespeak the virtual survival of the entire human race. A careful study of the interrelationships of living things within our planet’s many ecosystems reminds us of the wondrous complexity of the design features programmed by the Creator.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">We recently reviewed a video dealing with the fascinating topic of bees. This video is a Moody science film produced in 1962 entitled <i>City of the Bees. </i>The idea of reinforcing science knowledge with the principles of theology was a relatively novel concept at the time. Moody Science films made substantive references to the instructions of God in the moral and physical spheres, especially in tandem with scientific knowledge.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">There are about 20,000 species of bees on Earth. The <i>City of the Bees </i>video states bees are the most important insect in the world. Few would disagree. There is substantial diversity among bee species. Honeybees are social insects, but only about 9% of bee species are highly social. The term <i>eusociality</i> means “a high degree of sociality.” They exhibit (1) division of labor (a highly integrated labor force), (2) cooperative care of broods, and (3) generational overlap. They manifest some unique behavioral traits more typical of highly intelligent creatures such as man. One example is described below.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">The <i>City of the Bees </i>video highlighted Karl von Frisch (1886-1982) who shared a Nobel prize for his specific studies in animal behavior (ethology). Von Frisch studied honeybee behavior such as their ability to direct fellow honeybees to a food source. Scout bees were filmed during their unique body “waggle” which directionally signaled hive members where to find food, as well as how far away the food was from their present hive location. The “waggle” dance of the worker bee was correctly <i>interpreted</i> by hive-mates—a skill almost as remarkable as the worker bees’ directional signaling. A polarized light compass is built into the hive-mates’ visual organs to aid in direction-finding.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Honeybees have ability to control their hive population in various ways. The video states that some of the honeybees’ instinctive behavioral patterns are somewhat ruthless. For example, the queen bee and workers are summarily disposed of when their role in the hive has been fulfilled. Instinctive responses are appropriate for the purposes of the immediate welfare of hive-mates, but it may not be appropriate in every case for humanity. Without them, the planet’s population may ultimately suffer disastrous famine. Humanity receives instruction and wisdom from natural phenomena, including the ruthlessness mentioned above.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">The video explains that God has given the human race rules and behavioral guidelines such as the ten commandments and other scriptures. Along with divine “rules” provided in His Word, humanity has been gifted with <b><i>free will. </i></b>Humans may freely choose to obey or disobey God’s moral and behavioral mandates. Human free will is a priceless gift from God. In turn, we are gifted with salvation through Christ if we choose by our free will to believe in Him.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Moody Science Films were produced by the Moody Institute of Science. They were also termed <b><i>Sermons From Science. </i></b>We fondly recall visiting the 1964-65 World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows NY where Moody Bible Institute and Sermons for Science had an attractive pavilion. For readers who are fascinated by the relationship of science and faith, here is a past post dealing with the science/faith link as it relates to Moody Science Films and Sermons From Science:</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://jashow.org/articles/sermons-from-science/">https://jashow.org/articles/sermons-from-science/</a></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>Jim Virklerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07537339232944922710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-623872362463173788.post-54107637359569802132023-05-20T21:29:00.000-04:002023-05-20T21:29:05.846-04:00Insect Multiplicity<p> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">Many young children are naturally fascinated by insects—their intricate morphology and their unique capabilities. We recall many past adventures with our own children and young grandchildren in our yard and in our neighborhood. We have referenced many insect behaviors in our past blog posts, including ants, digger wasps, cicadas, praying mantises, walking sticks, grasshoppers, and monarch butterflies including their larvae, the milkweed caterpillars. We were thankful for these experiences which triggered a powerful sense of wonder in our children.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Your blog author’s 5-year old grandson is a case in point. He is fascinated by the healthy natural wonders highlighted in many YouTube videos available online. In the past year his interests have transitioned from dinosaurs to sharks to snakes to a current fascination with ‘insect wars.’ Most of these videos highlight the ever present need for food to nourish and sustain not only insects but <b><i>all</i></b> living creatures. They call attention to many insects’ predatory search for food. God’s instruction for mankind from Genesis 9:3 stated, “Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.” Food is at the top of the list of physiological necessities for living things along with air and water. </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Before I agreed to access YouTubes similar to the <i>Monster Bug Wars </i>feature noted above, I questioned our grandson if the predatory <i>insect wars</i> videos distressed him. He responded with a definite “No.” We have discussed Bible passages such as Job 38:39-41 and Job 39:27-30 and other scriptural teachings that God provides food for the sustenance of all living things He created.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">God extravagantly provides food for <i>all </i>living things on Planet Earth. Concepts such as the <i>food chain </i>and the <i>food web </i>allude to living creatures’ acquisition of food common to all living things. Predatory activity is a vital component in the necessary flow of energy to sustain life’s activities. Healthy ecosystems depend on adequate nutrition for <i>all</i> living creatures. Human thriving is ultimately dependent on a healthy insect population.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Insects are the base of the food chains we may have studied in our science classes. The bad news is that many species of insects worldwide are declining in numbers. Statistics vary between 40-70% decline, but some alarming estimates report that biomass of insects is decreasing up to 2% per year worldwide. </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Beneficial insects comprise a great majority of insect species. According to various data sources, the percentage may be as high as 97%. We cite only three examples. (1) Bees are probably the most beneficial insect species owing to their ability to pollinate food crops. (2) Beetles are natural <i>decomposers</i> comprising 90% of all insect <i>orders</i> on the planet. The human population could not survive without an adequate food supply. Neither could humanity be comfortable without a natural ‘beetle clean-up committee!’ (3) In terms of our appreciation of beauty, the much publicized Monarch butterfly supplies profound joy for our population. The disturbing news is that the migrating Monarch species has declined more than 80% in the last three decades. This is due to reduced habitat; specifically, milkweed plants on which the Monarch larvae feed. We frequently read reports of the hazards of agricultural pesticides and herbicides which may be responsible for the decline of the Monarch population. </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">In the midst of bad news we report that CCD (Colony Collapse Disorder) which destroyed many honeybee hives several years ago is much improved. We posit that in terms of human food sources, this recovery is highly significant. We must work to sustain healthy ecosystems. Knowledge of insects, far and away the most prolific form of life on our home planet, causes us to rejoice at God’s wisdom in creating diverse life on our unique planet.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">We close with a few statistics on insects. An incredible 900,000+ <i>different</i> species of insects have been catalogued, but uncatalogued species of insects exceed that number by multiples. Insects belong to the phylum arthropoda, the most common of 36 animal phyla. Arthropods include various classes, including insects—the most numerous worldwide class of arthropods by far. Insects compose over 80% of all life forms on Planet Earth. The remaining life forms provide startling diversity. A study of these taxonomic groups supplies a biological treat for those observers who wish to study the subject of worldwide animal species diversity.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Estimates of the numbers of insects existing on Earth range up to 10 quintillion—1 followed by 19 zeroes! At any time there may be up to 200 million insects for every human on the planet. Insect biomass is 17 times the biomass of all humans on Earth. </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">We recall many times in our experiences with children and grandchildren, whether field explorations or watching YouTubes, when we vocalized the concept that “God had great ideas!” We are reinforced in that concept when we study insect diversity and multiplicity.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>Jim Virklerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07537339232944922710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-623872362463173788.post-72833140547617642402023-05-05T13:11:00.001-04:002023-05-05T13:18:00.324-04:00Seasons and Cycles<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">In early May Earth residents are about half way through the annual seasonal weather cycle. Observers in northern latitudes experience rising temperatures, longer day lengths, increased plant growth, enlivened wildlife, and general optimism concerning changes resulting from these seasonal cycles.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Two Old testament books are our personal favorites commenting on cyclical phenomena—the Book of Job and the Book of Ecclesiastes. In our past Science/Faith blog entries, we have stated that the Bible is <i>not</i> a textbook on science, but Bible references to cycles in nature are spiritually thought-provoking. Bible authors cite <i>observable cyclical </i>phenomena about which there can be little disagreement.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Bible authors such as Job and Solomon possessed superb powers of observation. Both authors commented upon many cycles related to weather. It is possible to identify hundreds of cycles in our environment. The discipline of science is inexorably related to cycles—predictable events or phenomena which recur or repeat. The writers of the books of Job and Ecclesiastes made numerous scientific observations, many related to ubiquitous cycles in the world of nature. </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">We begin by highlighting the outcomes of Earth’s orbital cycle. Our planet returns to its position on its elliptical orbit each year. This is the epitome of a cycle. Our elliptical orbit generates many other cycles, including the repeating cold to warm to cold cycle of Earth’s annual temperature. This repeating phenomenon has been in place for countless millennia. Embedded in the cycle of variable temperatures are other cycles: shorter day lengths, then longer, followed by shorter. Especially in middle latitudes of our planet’s two hemispheres, lengthening and shortening day lengths with concomitant rising and falling temperatures give birth to cycles of plant dormancy followed by productivity, then harvest and a return to dormancy once more. These interlocking cycles result in increased food production impossible if temperature and day length cycles did not prevail. The Creator of Heaven and Earth designed various climate zones from which we harvest great quantities of food- producing crops.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">This 2017 post discusses deleterious effects on Planet Earth without well-defined seasonal cycles:</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2017/10/earth-without-seasons.html">https://jasscience.blogspot.com/2017/10/earth-without-seasons.html</a></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">In the book of Ecclesiastes, the author, called the Preacher, Teacher, or Quester, is accurate in his description of cycles. He discusses astronomical cycles of the sun rising, setting, and returning to its place, along with circulation of wind: <i>“…Around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns.” </i>(Eccl. 1:6b ESV) Most impressive are descriptions of Earth’s water cycle in Job 36:27-28 and the first chapter of Ecclesiastes. God “draws up the drops of water”—a citation of liquid water from streams, lakes, or the ocean which first evaporates, later condenses back to liquid water and finally falls as rain. Water vapor is <i>always </i>invisible. Clouds, fog, and mist are composed of small droplets of liquid water. Each small droplet contains thousands of tightly packed molecules of liquid water: H20. When these droplets disassemble, the water molecules break apart and become a vapor, but the vapor is still H20 in its chemical composition. Raindrops fall back to earth. Water has completed its cycle. Many everyday phenomena function effectively because successful cycles repeat over and over. </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Bible authors did not understand the force of gravity in the pre-scientific age in which they lived. The author of Job, however, understood the effects of a force holding astronomical bodies together. Job 37:31 speaks of binding the chains of the star cluster of the Pleiades or loosening the belt of Orion—a clear citation of knowledge of astronomy in Job’s day. David Guzik in <i>Enduring Word Commentary </i>comments on Job 38:31: “Job probably understood the arrangement and patterns in the starry sky, yet he could not even begin to explain the natural forces which governed this arrangement.” In our 21st century science we credit the gravitational attraction of the Sun and Planet Earth for holding the Earth in a predictable gravity controlled cycle.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">The Lord Himself in Job 38:32 asks, “Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season?” This term almost certainly refers to the apparent annual cyclical movement of celestial constellations across the sky. This predictable cycle of constellation movement is ultimately due to the force of gravity enabling the consistent orbital path of Planet Earth. Readers may review this link to our past post:</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://jasscience.blogspot.com/2011/10/bible-zodiac.html">http://jasscience.blogspot.com/2011/10/bible-zodiac.html</a></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">God’s creation is orderly and coherent. He has established numerous cycles in order to make human life more satisfying and enjoyable. Authors of Scripture often highlight divinely designed features of our inhabited world.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p> </p>Jim Virklerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07537339232944922710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-623872362463173788.post-14188626940221347082023-04-17T18:08:00.000-04:002023-04-17T18:08:46.405-04:00Social Contagion<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">There are two types of contagion. Most people define contagion as an infection by a pathogen - a bacteria, virus, fungus, or even a parasite. We label this type of contagion <b><i>pathogenic contagion.</i></b> Historically, the 19th century discovery by Louis Pasteur in relation to <i>germ theory </i>was a momentous event in human history. Pasteur discovered invisible bacteria caused infections and disease in living organisms. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">A different type of contagion, becoming well-known in our day, is <b><i>social</i></b><i> </i><b><i>contagion</i></b><i>.</i> There are no physical bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites involved in this type of contagion. However, this form of contagion from one person or group to another person or group could be morally devastating. It consists of harmful ideas or behaviors.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">First, we briefly discuss <i>pathogenic contagion—</i>physical infections caused by pathogens. In 1861 Louis Pasteur developed his revolutionary germ theory. He discovered that food became spoiled from the action of pathogens such as bacteria. He became known as the father of bacteriology and microbiology. Humans and other living things became ill by the action of bacteria in our environment which, in turn, affected our bodies adversely. Tiny viruses were not visualized until 1935 through electron microscopes, but in the 19th century Pasteur determined that <i>unseen</i> pathogens sometimes caused disease. He utilized his discoveries to treat and prevent disease. He originated pasteurization for milk and beverages by heating them to higher temperatures. This process resulted in destruction of bacteria and prevented milk spoilage and undesirable fermentation events caused by bacteria. Many more discoveries were made in following decades.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">In contrast, s<i>ocial contagion</i> is described as the spread of unusual or bizarre behaviors or symptoms which disperse spontaneously through a human population or group. In our day we recognize that social contagion is exacerbated by non-traditional social media unknown just a few short years ago. These media platforms utilize appealing audiovisuals. Examples are Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instant Messaging and Snapchat to name a few. This is a far cry from the days of our grandparents and great-grandparents who were content to access information on their rotary dial telephones, radio receivers, and daily newspapers.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">A popular term today is <i>“influencer.”</i> There are ubiquitous influencers in today’s society. These people modify the traditional sexual and social mores we have established in our culture. Increasingly, corporate entities have come out favoring non-traditional agendas. We see their influence in media advertising to a significant degree. Some public libraries have sponsored aggressive drag queen story hours. A few public school library personnel have touted book collections openly promoting transgender themes. The audio, visual, and textual impact of these influencers is stunning. Young people, in particular, are vulnerable to the constant onslaught of influencers from personnel in media, politics, entertainment, public education, and advertising. In recent weeks a famous corporate beverage firm has touted support of transgenderism in their advertising. The social phenomenon of transgenderism has accelerated greatly in the past 10-15 years. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">In the Middle Ages a phenomenon called the “dancing mania” afflicted a significant portion of the population. Great numbers of people would dance uncontrollably, sometimes for days at a time. We propose that the power of social contagion was operative in historic time in the dancing mania phenomenon. It was a case of mass hysteria. Social contagion manifests itself in a variety of ways. Could social contagion be a psychic phenomenon and possibly result in physical injury where unusual, non-traditional ideas are spread and multiplied within the populace? </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">In an address to Congress in 2021 the President stated his administration “has the back” of the transgender community. His direct quote was, “To all transgender Americans watching at home, especially the young people. You’re so brave. <i>I want you to know your president has your back.</i>”</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">All of the influencers noted above are parties to the <i>social contagion </i>of transgenderism. They pronounce the benefits of transgenderism as “settled science.” Quite the opposite is true. Science has shown a human’s gender is fixed at birth. Holy Scripture (Gen. 1:27b) states “Male and female created He them.” (Read also Matthew 19:4) God did not create “gender fluidity.” Gender is not fluid, contrary to some commentators and ordinary citizens who promote “gender fluidity.” Separate genders were created in God’s divine mind when He created humans. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">With multiple <i>influencers </i>vying<i> </i>for the attention of young people in media and social venues, we approach the topic with interest and wisdom. Statistics on the frequency of children, adolescents, young adults, and adults who identify as transgender are mostly less than 2%. In our younger population the transgender population is at the upper range of this figure. But an incredible 5.1% of young adults are gender non-conforming. Following is a quote from a 3/7/23 article in AFPI (America First Policy Institute) by Jonathan Pidluzny and Alex Campana:</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> <i>Why are huge numbers of young people, for the first time in recorded history, </i></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i> suddenly demanding radical pharmaceutical and medical interventions so that they</i></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i> can present themselves as members of the opposite sex? A leading theory that a</i></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i> social contagion has taken hold posits similarities between skyrocketing rates of</i></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i> trans-identification today and previous instances of peer contagion like anorexia.</i></span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">The transgender phenomenon is a difficult modern cultural issue - more so in view of the weakening of our national system of values. Media and government authorities no longer no longer support a Christian worldview and value system. Secular values rule as never before. Court decisions cannot be counted on to support long-established Judeo-Christian behavioral norms. We plead for mercy from God to adhere to HIS divine value system </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>Jim Virklerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07537339232944922710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-623872362463173788.post-72811032707993419022023-03-31T09:56:00.000-04:002023-03-31T09:56:43.279-04:00Science Conceptions and Misconceptions<p> </p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Who can exist without the benefits of science in this “Age of Science?” The current Age of Science in which we live has generated other Ages: technology, digital, computer, information, electronic, electromagnetic, and mechanical to name a few. Our society is immersed in positive and negative commentary about science and science-generated outcomes. </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">In the 16th and 17th centuries the Christian worldview influenced the development of what has become known as the “Scientific Revolution.” In our current day the discipline of science has enhanced our lives in many ways. In most respects our lives have benefitted from the scientific endeavor. Our Science/Faith blog is predicated on the knowledge of science and how science supports belief in the Creator and in the beauty and coherence of the physical laws the Creator authored. Science, however, can be a threat to humanity—for example, when technology produces weapons of war or artificial intelligence (AI) with its frightening potential.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Industrial advertisers describe science as beneficial to our human condition. At the turn of the millennium the DuPont Company used “The Miracles of Science” in their advertising. Recently television advertisements for animal food products have stated “Science did that.” The power of science can be appropriately or inappropriately used as it was by our recently retired Chief Medical Adviser to the US president, Anthony Fauci. He boasted “<b><i>I</i></b> represent science.” The use of <b><i>science </i></b>as a descriptor or modifier possesses both strengths and shortcomings. The terms “It’s scientific” or “Established science” could signal a variety of meanings. We are exhorted to “Follow the science.” Are there any hidden agendas in play? </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">The previous three paragraphs discussed a number of issues related to the endeavor of science and the role of scientists. Even though the root word of science in several languages is <b><i>knowledge</i></b>, our understanding of science is more complex. The discipline of science is difficult to define for many people.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">We studied the website of <i>Science</i> <i>Learning</i> <i>Hub</i>. Based in New Zealand, the website discussed many myths of the “nature of science.” Following is an abbreviated account of the “myths” section of the article. Along with <b>many</b> positive features, the site addresses cautions about the nature of science for readers’ consideration:</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">The Scientific Method</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">: <i>There is no one particular scientific method.</i></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">Experiments</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">: <i>These are not the main route to scientific knowledge. They are not a commentary on ethical, moral, aesthetic, social, and metaphysical questions.</i></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">Science methods</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">: <i>These methods can answer amazing things, but science methodology is not a cure-all.</i></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">Proof</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">: <i>Science does not always provide absolute proof. </i></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">Unchanging science</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">: <i>Science is not always absolute and unchanging.</i></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">Creativity</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">: <i>Science is often creative, not dull or boring.</i></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">Objectivity</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">: <i>Scientists are often influenced by their own subjective biases or preconceptions.</i></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">New ideas</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">: <i>Science innovators may encounter resistance from people accustomed to thinking only in a certain way.</i></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">Science modeling</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">: <i>Models are used to predict reality, but they are not indicators of reality.</i></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration: underline;">Hypotheses</span><span style="font-kerning: none;">: <i>These are tentative explanations. Prior experience, background knowledge, and careful observation skills are necessary for good hypotheses formation.</i></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Readers should not assume your author is negative concerning the beauty and benefits of science. We are intensely positive about science, especially as it amplifies our vision of reality and love for our Creator who established all physical and spiritual realities of our human existence. He is the <b><i>Creator of All Things. </i></b>We give thanks to <b><i>Him.</i></b></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> </span></p>Jim Virklerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07537339232944922710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-623872362463173788.post-13163857215057808132023-03-14T17:07:00.001-04:002023-03-14T17:11:16.756-04:00The Science/Faith Link<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Several years ago I proposed to a friend that science and personal faith are mutually supportive. I discussed the purpose of our science/faith blog and our goal of demonstrating that science discoveries strengthen personal Christian faith. My friend stated that the relationship of science and faith was an unusual link. He echoed the sentiments of many others who agree with this statement. It is almost a secular/cultural mantra that there is a disconnect between science and faith, especially Christian faith. We reviewed one of our posts from 2008 entitled “The NOMA Principle.” We cite information from that post in the following paragraphs:</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Stephen Jay Gould was a self-proclaimed agnostic paleontologist and historian of science who helped construct several support pillars of evolutionary science until his death in 2002. He is also famous for articulating the NOMA Principle. NOMA is an acronym for “Non-overlapping magisteria” (domains of knowledge.) This famous expression means science and religion are distinct and separate domains. Science should not influence religious beliefs and religious beliefs should not influence science.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Gould admits the magisteria of science and religion do not stand far apart. They “…bump right up against one another, interdigitating in wondrously complex ways along their joint border.” But according to Gould, the two domains should respect one another. “We get the age of rocks, and religion retains the rock of ages; we study how the heavens go, and they determine how to go to heaven.” </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Someone may suggest that the cell’s complexity and functionality points to a Divine Creator as an explanatory option. According to secularists in the field of science, this explanation must not be assigned credibility in the science classroom because the action of a divine Creator is a religious concept. On the other hand, naturalistic explanations of origins which deny the possibility of God’s actions are not acceptable to Christians. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">As we examine this topic its complexity becomes increasingly apparent. The subject of <b><i>worldview</i></b><i> </i>overwhelms our understanding of the relationship of science and faith. One definition of <i>worldview </i>is “how we <i>see</i> and <i>interpret</i> the world.” Christian theists see science as affirming the actions of God in sustaining the coherence of matter. We quote the startling passage in Colossians 1:16-17: “For by him (Christ) all things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created <i>by</i> him and <i>for</i> him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (NIV). These verses, even in the pre-science days of New Testament authors, are a powerful commentary on reality.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Advocates of faith cite divine miracles. They cite many features of our coherent universe as examples of <i>sustaining</i> miracles. Secular scientists commonly see all miracles as an example of “God of the Gaps.” In other words, when we do not understand certain features of physical reality, some observers are quick to assume “God did it.” In common parlance many secular scientists believe “God of the Gaps” is a “cop-out.” People of Christian faith, however, cite <i>sustaining</i> miracles as the evidence of the Divine Creator, author of thousands of consistent physical laws by which we govern our lives each day.</span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">We propose that advocates of faith in God, rather than quarantining themselves from secular scientists, should present theistic believers as wholeheartedly supportive of the science/faith interface. Kenneth Samples, a scholar with the <i>Reasons to Believe</i> organization, has written in his 2004 volume <i>Without a Doubt</i>, “Historically speaking, science and Christianity have more often been allies than enemies. The time has come to demonstrate how the Christian worldview is uniquely compatible with science, while the naturalistic worldview suffers from serious science-related inadequacies. To discover the mutual support between science and the Christian faith one may begin by reviewing the history of the scientific enterprise. A latecomer on the scene of human history, modern science emerged around the middle of the seventeenth century.” </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Science and faith are now inextricably linked. They are mutually supportive. Our prayer is that both scientists and people of faith could endorse this truth. </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"><i></i></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> </span></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> </span></p>Jim Virklerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07537339232944922710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-623872362463173788.post-70103681863890904242023-02-22T13:26:00.002-05:002023-02-22T13:28:02.565-05:00Unidentified and Highly Mysterious<p> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px;">UAPs—unidentified aerial phenomena—formerly known as UFOs, have garnered much publicity the past few weeks. The Chinese “spy” ballon which first appeared over the Aleutian Island Chain, then crossed mainland Alaska and dipped down over many continental US states was shot down by the military off the coast of South Carolina. The Chinese government stated it was launched to carry out meteorological research. This explanation fell short of satisfying US authorities in view of its advanced spying capabilities over our country’s mainland.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">The term UFO calls to mind extra-terrestrial beings or aliens from outer space. The more novel and modern term—UAP—reminds readers of unusual events in our skies. It is a more inclusive and general term, but it could also refer to <i>mysterious</i> unidentified objects or conscious beings sailing in the skies above us. Our challenge is to identify the origin and purpose of these phenomena. Living with uncertainty on a subject of such import is unsettling in our present day.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">In the last few weeks government officials and scientists have discussed possible explanations for these <i>unidentified </i>and <i>mysterious </i>phenomena. Their explanations generally fall within several possibilities: (1) they are produced by foreign intelligence gathering authorities, or (2) are airborne trash, clutter, or drones, or (3) they are produced by extraterrestrial visitors. Our government officials have generally discounted category (3), but citizens still search for answers. Many people feel the government knows more than they tell. If this is true, our citizens have good reason for concern. Why are foreign entities spying on our country? What is the purpose of the plentiful drones? Will they use the intelligence they collect for nefarious purposes? </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Beliefs have changed concerning alien creatures or spacecraft. The possibility that aliens exist from distant locations in outer space is frightening, especially if the aliens may be focused on conquering or subjugating Planet Earth’s human population. A recent Gallup poll finds that in 2021, 41% of our citizens believe UAPs involve alien spacecraft—up from just 33% in 2019. This is a startling short-term change. </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Heightened uncertainty pervades the topic of UAPs since late January 2023. The Chinese “meteorological research balloon” incident has been followed by three additional objects over northern Alaska, the Canadian Yukon, and Lake Huron. These were possibly privately owned balloons shot down by the US military.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">There has been a recent uptick in UAP sightings ever since the official government hearings in 2021 and 2022. This may have occurred because of the diminished stigma surrounding UAP reporting. It is certain that the reports of the Chinese spy balloon and the recent shoot-downs of smaller balloons have piqued public interest in the captivating reality of UAPs.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">There is no scientific explanation for unidentified objects and their unique behavior. No credible physical explanations have been forthcoming for a large number of unexplained sightings. Their origin and purpose is hidden in mystery. </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Perhaps government authorities are misdirected in searching for an ordinary cause and effect <i>physical</i> explanation for UAPs. Government scientists have mostly ruled out extraterrestrial visitors as a viable possibility for UAP phenomena, but scientists may also rule out the occult or the supernatural as an option. It may be a mistake to rule out the occult, the paranormal, or even a Satanic dimension of the UAP phenomenon. Their aversion to citing <b><i>any</i></b><i> </i>spiritual entities to explain either positive or negative events in our physical sphere is a possible reason.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">We cite excerpts from our previous 12-28-2019 post: Dr. Hugh Ross of <i>Reasons to Believe, </i>stated, “…Believers in extra dimensions stand on firm scientific ground…a scientifically credible possibility exists that Residual UFOs (RUFOs) come from beyond the four familiar dimensions of our present universe…If one takes the extra dimensional hypothesis to mean that entities could come into the universe from a spiritual realm one can see a remarkable correspondence between science and scripture. The Bible describes a Creator who is beyond matter, energy, and the space-time dimensions of the universe. It also describes spirit beings who are able to enter the universe and exhibit physical effects…A close examination of RUFOs shows that they are <b><i>consistent</i></b> with the Bible’s description of demons. The RUFOs appear to be alive and acting in an intelligent way with <b><i>malevolent </i></b>intentions.”</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Our citation of demons in connection with UAPs may be surprising. The topic should not come as a surprise as we contemplate today’s world. If we acknowledge the dire condition of our present world—political turmoil, war, rumors of war, and moral degradation—we may identify <i>both</i> causes and effects. Scripture provides reasons for our present condition. The UAP phenomena may not possess an ordinary <i>physical</i> dimension; rather, we must search for a <i>spiritual</i>/<i>theological</i> dimension.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Scripture refers to the “ruler of this world” in reference to Satan. The Gospel of John (John 12:31) states the ruler of this world will be cast out in the future. Two chapters later (John 14:30) Jesus says the ruler of this world “is coming.” In John 16:11 the ruler of this world “is judged.” In I Peter 5:8 the devil is personified as a roaring lion prowling about, seeking whom he may devour. This is a commentary on malevolent activities of demonic beings. Satan is described as the “prince of the power of the air” in Ephesians 2:2. Christians should take comfort that God is more powerful than Satan. We need not fear our spiritual adversary.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">From 11/2019 to 1/2020 we published ten posts on the topic of UAPs. The posts are archived. We invite readers to search this topic in greater depth.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> </span> UAPs—unidentified aerial phenomena—formerly known as UFOs, have garnered much publicity the past few weeks. The Chinese “spy” ballon which first appeared over the Aleutian Island Chain, then crossed mainland Alaska and dipped down over many continental US states was shot down by the military off the coast of South Carolina. The Chinese government stated it was launched to carry out meteorological research. This explanation fell short of satisfying US authorities in view of its advanced spying capabilities over our country’s mainland.</p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">The term UFO calls to mind extra-terrestrial beings or aliens from outer space. The more novel and modern term—UAP—reminds readers of unusual events in our skies. It is a more inclusive and general term, but it could also refer to <i>mysterious</i> unidentified objects or conscious beings sailing in the skies above us. Our challenge is to identify the origin and purpose of these phenomena. Living with uncertainty on a subject of such import is unsettling in our present day.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">In the last few weeks government officials and scientists have discussed possible explanations for these <i>unidentified </i>and <i>mysterious </i>phenomena. Their explanations generally fall within several possibilities: (1) they are produced by foreign intelligence gathering authorities, or (2) are airborne trash, clutter, or drones, or (3) they are produced by extraterrestrial visitors. Our government officials have generally discounted category (3), but citizens still search for answers. Many people feel the government knows more than they tell. If this is true, our citizens have good reason for concern. Why are foreign entities spying on our country? What is the purpose of the plentiful drones? Will they use the intelligence they collect for nefarious purposes? </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Beliefs have changed concerning alien creatures or spacecraft. The possibility that aliens exist from distant locations in outer space is frightening, especially if the aliens may be focused on conquering or subjugating Planet Earth’s human population. A recent Gallup poll finds that in 2021, 41% of our citizens believe UAPs involve alien spacecraft—up from just 33% in 2019. This is a startling short-term change. </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Heightened uncertainty pervades the topic of UAPs since late January 2023. The Chinese “meteorological research balloon” incident has been followed by three additional objects over northern Alaska, the Canadian Yukon, and Lake Huron. These were possibly privately owned balloons shot down by the US military.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">There has been a recent uptick in UAP sightings ever since the official government hearings in 2021 and 2022. This may have occurred because of the diminished stigma surrounding UAP reporting. It is certain that the reports of the Chinese spy balloon and the recent shoot-downs of smaller balloons have piqued public interest in the captivating reality of UAPs.</span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">There is no scientific explanation for unidentified objects and their unique behavior. No credible physical explanations have been forthcoming for a large number of unexplained sightings. Their origin and purpose is hidden in mystery. </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p>
<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Perhaps government authorities are misdirected in searching for an ordinary cause and effect <i>physical</i> explanation for UAPs. Government scientists have mostly ruled out extraterrestrial visitors as a viable possibility for UAP phenomena, but scientists may also rule out the occult or the supernatural as an option. It may be a mistake to rule out the occult, the paranormal, or even a Satanic dimension of the UAP phenomenon. Their aversion to citing <b><i>any</i></b><i> </i>spiritual entities to explain either positive or negative events in our physical sphere is a possible reason.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">We cite excerpts from our previous 12-28-2019 post: Dr. Hugh Ross of <i>Reasons to Believe, </i>stated, “…Believers in extra dimensions stand on firm scientific ground…a scientifically credible possibility exists that Residual UFOs (RUFOs) come from beyond the four familiar dimensions of our present universe…If one takes the extra dimensional hypothesis to mean that entities could come into the universe from a spiritual realm one can see a remarkable correspondence between science and scripture. The Bible describes a Creator who is beyond matter, energy, and the space-time dimensions of the universe. It also describes spirit beings who are able to enter the universe and exhibit physical effects…A close examination of RUFOs shows that they are <b><i>consistent</i></b> with the Bible’s description of demons. The RUFOs appear to be alive and acting in an intelligent way with <b><i>malevolent </i></b>intentions.”</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Our citation of demons in connection with UAPs may be surprising. The topic should not come as a surprise as we contemplate today’s world. If we acknowledge the dire condition of our present world—political turmoil, war, rumors of war, and moral degradation—we may identify <i>both</i> causes and effects. Scripture provides reasons for our present condition. The UAP phenomena may not possess an ordinary <i>physical</i> dimension; rather, we must search for a <i>spiritual</i>/<i>theological</i> dimension.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Scripture refers to the “ruler of this world” in reference to Satan. The Gospel of John (John 12:31) states the ruler of this world will be cast out in the future. Two chapters later (John 14:30) Jesus says the ruler of this world “is coming.” In John 16:11 the ruler of this world “is judged.” In I Peter 5:8 the devil is personified as a roaring lion prowling about, seeking whom he may devour. This is a commentary on malevolent activities of demonic beings. Satan is described as the “prince of the power of the air” in Ephesians 2:2. Christians should take comfort that God is more powerful than Satan. We need not fear our spiritual adversary.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">From 11/2019 to 1/2020 we published ten posts on the topic of UAPs. The posts are archived. We invite readers to search this topic in greater depth.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"> </span></p>Jim Virklerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07537339232944922710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-623872362463173788.post-90440991115296321482023-02-08T16:42:00.002-05:002023-02-08T16:52:08.675-05:00Artificial Intelligence or Human Intelligence---AI or HI?<p> <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;">One of the most important concepts discussed in our day is intelligence. Dictionaries offer several definitions of intelligence, including mental acuity and the skilled use of reason. When humans reason, they </span><i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;">think. </i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;">Early in life, children become aware of their own </span><i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;">thinking</i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;"> skills. I was fond of pointing to the foreheads of my young grandchildren and reminding them, “That’s where we </span><b style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;"><i>think.”</i></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;"> Interesting discussions of human intelligence sometimes followed. Artificial intelligence first became known in the 1950s. AI is an </span><i style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;">exceedingly</i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;"> young discipline. </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;"> </span></p>
<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;">Cognitive thinking skills have been commonly researched. In the last 60 years artificial intelligence (AI) has risen from a young discipline to a mature topic of frightening proportions. The term AI was first coined in 1956 in a conference at Dartmouth College. Computer technology drives virtually all artificial intelligence phenomena. A study of the history of computer technology reveals that many of today’s senior citizens’ earliest and fondest memories of electronic communications relate to primitive telephones—certainly not the more advanced computer technology powering the current craze for AI. Currently we hear so much about AI we may feel that the phenomenon has been a feature of modern technology for many years. This is not true. The time frame of 1974 to 1980 became known as the “AI Winter.” From 1987 to 1993 there was another “AI Winter.” Artificial Intelligence was not yet a topic of major concern.<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">We have studied several significant AI phenomena giving us cause for concern. We start with a humorous story concerning Russian chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov, defeated by the AI “machine” Deep Blue in 1997. He claimed it was a bad day for him, but the problem, according to Kasparov, was that the computer was not too fast, but too slow.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">AI aims to imitate the cognitive abilities of a human being such as the capability for decision-making. Its capabilities are intimately linked to startling advances in computer technology and have led computers to perform increasingly complex tasks which previously could only be delegated to a human. Rapid technological change will transform the classroom for the next generation of learners. Educators must now cope with the possibility that student research papers could be generated by an AI <i>machine.</i></span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Some Technologies relate to “self-driving cars.” The term <i>sentient</i>—the ability to receive and feel things is an outcome of machines that are somehow “aware of” their own existence. We wonder if AI is “sentient,” able to <i>perceive</i> and <i>feel</i> things. <b>Has</b> <b>AI</b> <b>achieved</b> <b>consciousness?</b> The issue of “human consciousness” has been dubbed “the hard problem” by research experts.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">AI—artificial intelligence—simulates HI—human intelligence. Non-iiving machines are able to process language, recognize barcodes and group and sort materials according to what the barcodes tell them. They are also capable of driving our automobiles with human hands displaced from the steering wheel. </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">The subject of AI produces abundant human responses and emotions. Anything artificial is often viewed with suspicion in our day while the adjective genuine is highly valued as a descriptor of quality and desirability. AI may generate scorn when compared with <i>genuine </i>human intelligence (HI). Many phenomena are described under the broad category <i>artificial. </i>In many cases our technologists have substituted non-genuine or artificial products for genuine ones. We wonder how our readers react to the massive tradeoff of the genuine for the artificial. Are we living in unprecedented times? Is our society transitioning to something sinister and disturbing? Or could we attribute the changes to “progress” and assign a positive spin to the changes?</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Another term currently in use which may be confused with AI and HI is Machine learning (ML). Technologists who first originated concepts of ML designed their machines to duplicate human thinking. Their machines were supplied with unlimited data. The machines could categorize data in the same way human minds do.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">We close with a personal incident from decades ago. I was selected to deliver a short speech at my high school graduation. My assigned speech topic was “Industry” (not my own first choice). My Class Adviser offered a suggestion. A new buzzword was circulating at the time: Automation. This term may have been a reference to early ML (machine learning). Many decades later we are aware, more than ever before, of human intelligence, artificial intelligence, and related topics such as machine learning. Society treads on fascinating, sometimes dangerous ground.</span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">Mankind has been created in God’s Image. The theological and philosophical truth of this statement is apparent when we look at the mind and realize the human mind originates in the creativity of God himself. GNT translates Genesis 1:26-27: “Then God said, “And now we will make human beings: they will be like us and resemble us…So God created human beings, making them to be like himself.” The thought of modifying the body to be different from the way God created him or her is profoundly troubling. </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;">The consequences of creating AI, a new sort of intelligence, from God’s original created work, the human mind, are sobering. But we must reconcile such concepts with God’s mandate to “Subdue the Earth” a subject of many challenging courses in theological seminaries. We search for divine wisdom to correctly interpret such theological mandates. </span></p>
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<p style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none; font-kerning: none;"> <b><i> </i></b><i> </i> </span></p>Jim Virklerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07537339232944922710noreply@blogger.com