The Science/Faith Link

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:

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.

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.” 

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.   

As we examine this topic its complexity becomes increasingly apparent. The subject of worldview overwhelms our understanding of the relationship of science and faith. One definition of worldview is “how we see and interpret 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 by him and for 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.

Advocates of faith cite divine miracles. They cite many features of our coherent universe as examples of sustaining 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 sustaining miracles as the evidence of the Divine Creator, author of thousands of consistent physical laws by which we govern our lives each day.

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 Reasons to Believe organization, has written in his 2004 volume Without a Doubt, “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.” 

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. 

  

 

  

 

 

Unidentified and Highly Mysterious

  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.

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 mysterious 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.

In the last few weeks government officials and scientists have discussed possible explanations for these unidentified and mysterious 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? 

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

Perhaps government authorities are misdirected in searching for an ordinary cause and effect physical 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 any spiritual entities to explain either positive or negative events in our physical sphere is a possible reason.

We cite excerpts from our previous 12-28-2019 post: Dr. Hugh Ross of Reasons to Believe, 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 consistent with the Bible’s description of demons. The RUFOs appear to be alive and acting in an intelligent way with malevolent intentions.”

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 both causes and effects. Scripture provides reasons for our present condition. The UAP phenomena may not possess an ordinary physical dimension; rather, we must search for a spiritual/theological dimension.

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.

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.

 

  

   

          

           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.

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 mysterious 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.

In the last few weeks government officials and scientists have discussed possible explanations for these unidentified and mysterious 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? 

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

Perhaps government authorities are misdirected in searching for an ordinary cause and effect physical 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 any spiritual entities to explain either positive or negative events in our physical sphere is a possible reason.

We cite excerpts from our previous 12-28-2019 post: Dr. Hugh Ross of Reasons to Believe, 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 consistent with the Bible’s description of demons. The RUFOs appear to be alive and acting in an intelligent way with malevolent intentions.”

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 both causes and effects. Scripture provides reasons for our present condition. The UAP phenomena may not possess an ordinary physical dimension; rather, we must search for a spiritual/theological dimension.

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.

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.

 

  

   

          

          

Artificial Intelligence or Human Intelligence---AI or HI?

 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 think. Early in life, children become aware of their own thinking skills. I was fond of pointing to the foreheads of my young grandchildren and reminding them, “That’s where we think.” Interesting discussions of human intelligence sometimes followed. Artificial intelligence first became known in the 1950s. AI is an exceedingly young discipline.  

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.

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.

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 machine.

Some Technologies relate to “self-driving cars.” The term sentient—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 perceive and feel things. Has AI achieved consciousness? The issue of “human consciousness” has been dubbed “the hard problem” by research experts.

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. 

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 genuine human intelligence (HI). Many phenomena are described under the broad category artificial. 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?

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.

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.

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.   

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.     

  

     

      

 

                        

Disease Season

 This blog writer was recently struck by the effects of two microorganisms—influenza and pneumonia at the same time. The germs so weakened him that he suffered a fall and became a hospital resident for 36 hours following a call to “911.” It was a painful and humbling experience. We were reminded of humanity’s constant vulnerability to disease. 

Our study in the Gospel of Luke uncovers many passages in which Jesus, the Great Physician, manifested one of His primary planetary missions—the ministry of healing. Luke describes over a dozen divine healing episodes. Of course, as the “beloved physician,” author Luke was also acutely aware of bodily healing. Luke’s gospel contains accounts of 13 divine healings by Jesus,—from blindness, lameness, fever, and other events, ranging from microorganism infections to paralysis, demon possession, and even death. The Son of God healed many types of diseases. These diseases are endemic to the human condition.  They include diseases caused by microorganisms in addition to classic definitions of disease—disorders of structure or function in any living organism.

In our study of Scripture, it is apparent that the disease state extends to deep time within the timeline of humanity’s existence. If we study Gen. 1:2 we might interpret “without form” as a chaotic condition. In God’s timetable, divine creation events soon restored order to the chaos described in Gen. 1:2. We wonder if viruses, bacteria, and disorders of structure or function were precursors of historic disease conditions.

Man’s largely winning battle against disease has resulted in the startling human  population explosion since 1800, from one billion to almost 8 billion. Together with agricultural, nutritional, hygienic, and energy innovations, the Creator has enabled humanity to solve human problems of long standing. The battle against disease, however, is still being waged.

Our recent hospital stay reminded us of the startling rise in hospital and medical technology, including the newest medicines and the skill manifest by medical doctors. When we returned home we were overcome with gratitude to God for modern medical technology, not to mention the healing ability of the body itself. We are reminded of improved COVID immunity for which we are thankful. This is an example of the linkage between science and faith!

           

Fission or Fusion?

 The Creator of All Things conceived the dimensions of time, space, matter, and energy when He brought the universe (the heavens and the Earth) into existence (Genesis 1:1). In our contemplative, devotional moments we may marvel at the reality of each dimension of our existence. Our current post discusses the plentiful energy within matter. Gifted scientist Albert Einstein conceived of matter and energy as “two sides of the same coin” according to his famous equation e = mc2:  energy = mass times the square of the speed of light (a VERY large quantity).   

Fission and fusion have been linked with discussions about energy for many years. The concept of energy has been a part of our science knowledge for centuries. Energy has been defined as the “capacity for doing work.” Students deal with the topic of energy early in their study of science. Our civilization could not function without a plentiful supply of energy. 

Atomic fission is the opposite of fusion. In each of the two processes the composition of atomic nuclei is altered to create energy. A tiny bit of the atom’s mass is converted into huge amounts of energy in both processes.  

In 1945 the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were each struck by an atomic bomb developed by US scientists. The atomic bomb had been under secret development by our scientists for several years beginning in 1939. A neutron strikes and splits a uranium nucleus, forming smaller atoms. In this process tremendous quantities of energy are released. The energy release is the basis for the destructive power of the atomic bomb. Subsequently, scientists conceived a way of capturing the atomic energy for peaceful purposes: heating water and generating a different sort of energy—electricity—a staple of power to operate our factories and accomplish tasks in our homes. There are many nuclear power plants in the world generating electricity. Before important discoveries concerning electricity several hundred years ago, most work was accomplished manually by humans.

In fusion, smaller atoms such as hydrogen are chemically combined to produce larger atoms such as helium. Our Sun produces light and heat by a fusion reaction. Once again, a tiny amount of mass is converted into huge quantities of energy. The term mass/energy equivalence relates to the truth of the previous statement.

Just as the secrets of atomic fission were discovered slowly, first in theory, then applied to real phenomena, the secrets of fusion are still being discovered. Our gain of scientific knowledge of man’s use of fusion is slow and laborious. In the last decade of my teaching career there was a flurry of fascination with so-called “cold fusion.” If fusion could be achieved successfully without applying enormous heat and pressure—that would be a monumental discovery for the benefit of humanity!

In December 2022 US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm made the startling announcement of a major scientific breakthrough. Scientists had performed an experiment in which more energy was produced by a fusion experiment than was originally supplied to the experimental apparatus. What could be better than generating more energy than we contribute? The promise of cheap energy which does not generate carbon pollution as do fossil fuels holds great promise for mankind. The caveat appears to be that, even if amazing fusion technology is possible, a practical solution appears many decades away. There is no guarantee that useful fusion technology is probable.

Understanding the two methods of energy generation may be difficult for the non-scientist. But it is not difficult for the non-scientist to understand two facts related to the downside of both fission and fusion: (1) Fission: Even for peaceful purposes of electricity generation there is danger of a nuclear meltdown with release of harmful radioactive substances. In addition, the nuclear weapons arsenals of many of the world’s countries is beyond comprehension. The cost of development of nuclear bomb technology has been staggering. (2) Fusion: Several world nations have collaborated on fusion research in the mountains of Italy. The US share is $3.9 billion; other nations contribute about $20 billion. Moreover, the laser energy needed to achieve fusion is still currently many times the fusion energy produced. The optimism that we have achieved a stunning breakthrough may be misplaced. 

The Creator has endowed human scientists with the ability to discover and utilize a wealth of energy resources. Man’s ability to discover multiple sources of energy and use them for our benefit is one of many evidences of God’s love for humanity. 

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (I John 3:1a NIV) God lavishes us with love not only in the realm of theological faith but also in the realm of science.