The Science/Faith Disconnect
By: Jim Virkler; ©2011 The title of one of our first blog posts in 2007 was “The Science/Faith Connection.” Our modern secular culture does not take kindly to the concept of a connection between science and faith. The formerly strong association between science and theology began to break down after the American Civil War. Prior…
Read MoreMarvels of the Monarch
By: Jim Virkler; ©2011 Before putting the monarch butterfly discussion to rest for the summer, consider how we may communicate the marvels of the monarch to a young person in a gripping way. We may observe the tiny egg hatch into a tiny caterpillar, grow into a large caterpillar, morph into a gold be-jeweled chrysalis,…
Read MoreTrain Up a Child
By: Jim Virkler; ©2011 Forty-two second graders sat attentively for almost an hour last spring listening to my PowerPoint presentation on four stage metamorphosis and migration. To illustrate, I used my personal photo images and recounted my experiences with one of the most remarkable animals on the planet–the monarch butterfly. During the question and answer…
Read MoreJesus Is the Creator
By: Jim Virkler; ©2011 The monthly email invitation to attend the science/faith organization chapter meetings always closed with the exultation “Jesus is the Creator.” As we contemplate the intersection of science and faith in this blog, we recognize that as we discover the wonders of design, whether in the fine tuning of the cosmos or…
Read MoreSomething to Crow About
By: Jim Virkler; ©2011 Biologists who endorse neither intelligent design nor theistic acts of creation along the cosmic timeline may nonetheless marvel at the wonder of living things–their structure and their function. For those who are interested in science there are two levels of study. First, we observe the appearance and behavior of the life…
Read MoreAvian Ownership
By: Jim Virkler; ©2011 Our Creator provides multiple occasions for worship experiences. Sunday church is but one of those opportunities. Many others present themselves to the alert, thoughtful observer. Last summer a friend visited our northwest Illinois home with her three young boys. We live in a unique geologic area called the Driftless area, so…
Read MoreDual Denial
By: Jim Virkler; ©2011 Theistic evolution (TE) is currently a hot button issue in significant circles of the evangelical community, particularly on college campuses. This could turn out to be a healthy phenomenon, or it could become a trigger for divisive strife. A healthy outcome is possible if all parties approach the discussion by committing…
Read MoreConfronting Origins Issues
By: Jim Virkler; ©2011 Two issues lie beneath the radar of the usual ministry thrusts of evangelical churches. Nevertheless, they are important both ecclesiastically and culturally. One is the earth time scale issue. Is Planet Earth billions of years old or only six to ten thousand years old? The other issue is potentially more divisive.…
Read MoreSweeping Generalizations
By: Jim Virkler; ©2011 The issue of evolution generates considerable angst in our day, especially as it seems to conflict with biblical views. We might describe some exchanges between evolutionists and creationists, even old earth creationists, as intense if not heated. Currently there is a strong campaign directed at evangelicals, especially on our college campuses,…
Read MoreBelief Preferences
By: Jim Virkler; ©2011 At the Vibrant Dance Symposium in Austin, TX in October 2010, one of the plenary speakers, a theistic evolutionist, stated there was likely a naturalistic explanation for one of the “big bangs” of biology, namely, the Cambrian Explosion. This geologically sudden proliferation of dozens of diverse body plans is a profound…
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